Luz Brilhante e Cintilante (2023–2025)
Raquel van Haver (Colombia, 1989)
Ivan Barbosa (Netherlands, 1979)
Jute, oil paint, charcoal, resin, hair, paper, tar, and soundscape (by Barbosa)
Centring the experiences of over 20,000 Cape Verdeans living in Rotterdam, Luz Brilhante e Cintilante (“Bright and Sparkling Light”) is a monumental work by Raquel van Haver that draws from photo archives, personal stories, and community-based research.
Van Haver creates what she calls “loud” paintings—dense, highly textured compositions that explore the cultural and spiritual richness of gatherings and rituals. Using a tactile blend of oil, tar, chalk, ash, and bottle caps, she brings to life intimate narratives of community, identity, and belonging. The layering of materials mirrors the overlapping stories that make up the collective memory and diaspora history of Cape Verdeans in Rotterdam.
Van Haver is a Colombian-born Dutch artist based in Amsterdam. Her work navigates themes of urbanism, spirituality, and the human experience. She has exhibited at institutions including the Dordrechts Museum, the Stedelijk Museum, and BOZAR Centre for Fine Arts in Brussels. In 2018, she was awarded the prestigious Dutch Royal Award for Modern Painting.
