Outdoor exhibition 'KIND OF' in Kerkrade
On Monday, July 31, the outdoor exhibition 'KIND VAN' started on the Martin Buberplein in Kerkrade. KIND VAN is a project of foundation Open mind around portraits and stories of children of parents with mental health and/or addiction problems.
In the Netherlands, 1 in 6 children grows up as a child of a parent with mental health and/or addiction problems. This project by the foundation Open mind with a traveling outdoor exhibition makes the theme of children of parents with mental health and/or addiction problems, also known as KOPP/KOV, visible and discussable in an accessible way. In this way, the foundation Open mind and its partners, including the municipality of Kerkrade, want to get this subject out of the taboo.
Stories of experience
KIND VAN shows portraits with stories of experience of nineteen KOPP/KOV between the ages of 20 and 80. Adults also fall under this term; they will always remain a child of their parents. These 'children of' are not sufficiently seen and heard in our society. This is compounded by feelings of shame they experience. Breaking this taboo is important to ensure that KOPP/KOV receive the attention and support they deserve.
Photographer Sevilay Maria makes it almost palpable in the photographs how those portrayed have become strong, by literally stepping out of the shadow of their parents' problems. They no longer have to remain silent; they are seen and heard. The personal stories tell what these "children of" experienced in their youth, its long-term impact and how they deal with it now.
Want to know more?
KIND VAN - parents with mental and/or addiction problems - moves to a different municipality in the Netherlands every three weeks. The current schedule and locations can be found on the website www.stichtingopenmind.nl/kind-van.
Where to see: Martin Buber Square (between HuB. and Council House, across from the Geldwijzer store)
When to see: from July 31 to August 21