Toespraak van staatssecretaris Frans Timmermans ter ere van de expositie van Fiona Tan en Saskia Bos op de Biënnale in Venetië

Ladies and gentlemen, if we want to have a chance in present society to solve the huge problems we are facing, we will have to start with being more relaxed about our identity. And we can only achieve that by looking at the world through somebody else’s eyes.

Gelegenheid: Opening expositie Fiona Tan en Saskia Bos op de Biënnale in Venetië

And if you would allow me to make some political remarks. Yesterday, two things happened that are very important to me. One was an electoral result in the Netherlands which shows that many people are afraid. Afraid that there is someone out there who wants to take something away from them. Something which is fundamental to their identity. And that is a very existential fear.

At the same time, there is a momentous speech in Cairo of the American president who said: ‘I have something to offer and I extend an open hand to all cultures. And especially to the religion that is seen as wanting to take something away from us. And ask them to grasp my hand and try and find solutions together’. I think this is what Fiona Tan’s work is all about.

When she has you listening to Marco Polo, he’s not talking about his travels. Marco Polo is talking about himself in that prisoner journal. Trying to define who he is, by jotting down his memories. And you will see an interesting combination of memories and fantasies which define him and his era. By looking at far away places and far away people.

And I think this is the essence of Fiona Tan’s work and I am very proud that this ‘professional foreigner’ is part of Dutch society. Because we need people like her to help us overcome the fears we have today. I am sure that ten years from now, millions of people in the Netherlands will say ‘why was I so afraid? There was no reason to be so afraid’. With people like Fiona Tan I am sure we will get there.

Thank you