Us in the Frame

Join us on Thursday, 17 July, for the opening of  Us in the Frame by Ajamu X. On this festive evening, we will explore what it means to archive from Black queer perspectives together with the artist and guest speakers J.G. Basdew, JeanPaul Paula, and Bete van Meeuwen. No traditional panel, but a rhythmic, instinctive curated programme filled with space for encounter, nuance and vulnerability. During this event, artist JeanPaul Paula will show a performance that is physical, concentrated and ritualistic in nature, with the body acting as both a sculptural and political medium.

In light of Pride Amsterdam 2025, Foam is proud to present Black Queer Archiving: Questioned at the Intersection by darkroom & fine art photographic artist Ajamu X in collaboration with guest curator J.G. Basdew.

The exhibition reflects on the importance of black queer archiving, with a specific focus on photography and lens-based practices, while exploring the position that black queer image-makers currently occupy within the Dutch photographic and cultural landscape.

Renowned British artist, activist, and archivist, Ajamu X, has been invited to create new work specifically for this occasion. His selection is deeply intentional: Ajamu X previously lived in Ganzenhoef, studied in Maastricht (Jan van Eyck), and has a long-standing familiarity with the Dutch cultural context. His artistic practice offers a rich foundation for reflecting on themes such as queer intimacy, Black bodies, and archiving from both a personal and collective perspective.