May 16, 2025

Especially for the Oude Kerk, Kimsooja is creating a new series of Bottari, a recurring motif in her work. Bottari are traditional Korean wrapping cloths used to carry belongings while travelling. For this exhibition, Kimsooja aims to create bottari that symbolise the city’s character as a place of arrival and departure. To do so, we are looking for worn clothing from a wide variety of cultures and communities that make up the rich tapestry of Amsterdam. These garments will be incorporated by Kimsooja into her Bottari. Read here more about the collection campaign here.

Kimsooja covers the windows of the Oude Kerk with a filter film that breaks the sunlight into a spectrum of rainbow colours. This creates a dynamic interplay of light and colour on the walls and the church floor. In the context of Gothic architecture, where light holds spiritual significance, this installation invites visitors to reflect on themes such as identity, transition, and the connection between the earthly and the divine.

Located in the old harbour district of Amsterdam, the area around the Oude Kerk was for centuries the place of departure and arrival. When Amsterdam became a global city in the seventeenth century, the neighbourhood around the church was already home to various migrant communities. Many of them signed their marriage certificates here. Sailcloth was dried in the church, and fishermen repaired their nets. Countless seafarers found their final resting place in the church, and the trading companies had their offices around the building. In the early 20th century, Chinatown developed in the area around the Oude Kerk, which is considered the oldest Chinese neighbourhood on the European mainland.

The exhibition 'To Breathe - Mokum' will run from May, 24 until November, 9. You can find more information about the exhibition on the website of the Oude Kerk here.