The Collection Illuminated by Marwan Magroun

The next in the series of exhibitions entitled The Collection Illuminated by ... is guest-curated by Rotterdam photographer Marwan Magroun. Magroun’s personal pick of images from the museum’s rich and varied collection expresses his fascination with the city of Rotterdam and its population.

Demolished housing and low-skilled work

The selection includes photos by Ton den Haan, Robert de Hartogh, Carel van Hees and Peter Martens. Their pictures show the hardships of life in Rotterdam in the 1970s and 80s: a world of demolished housing and low-skilled work. Immigrant children play in the street in ragged clothing. Young Surinamese toughs hang out on the Kruiskade or the Schouwburgplein.

Child of immigrants

Himself the child of immigrants, Magroun sees his own past reflected in these images. He says his selection shows the continuous rapid changes occurring in immigration and diversity.