RAUL BALAI

ON VIEW:

DRADEN VAN ONS SLAVERNIJ VERLEDEN NOORD HOLLAND @ VARIOUS LOCATIONS // 2026

This is a participatory project in 7 locations trough out the province of North Holland (NL).

If you want to contribute to create a 35m wall tapestry; contact the organisation or find them on insta 


COMING UP:

PAPER BIENNIAL @MUSEUM RIJSWIJK // Sep 2026 – Feb 2027


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SELECTED PROJECTS


[ RESUME & PORTFOLIO ON REQUEST > REACHME [~at~] RAULBALAI.COM ]

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PLANT(A)IN PINEAPPLE & PIDGIN 2025

Series of 9 handmade paper works with wax print fabric, combined with a handmade booklet (ed. 90). Created during an artist in residency at blaXTARlines in Kumasi, Ghana. Part of an exchange program with CBK Zuid Oost, Amsterdam. 

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OSO DRESI 2024

SIte specific installation at Historical House Museum van Loon in Amsterdam. Wooden body with trompe l'oeuil, light boxes, ink drawings and video. Part of the exhibition 'Home and The World', curated by Thomas Berghuis

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I SHOULD LOVE YOU MORE THAN PIZZA 2021

This installation,  a chapel made of cardboard boxes, filled with plastic flowers , rescue blankets and votive candles, takes its title from the internet meme "I love you more than pizza". Responding to the essay 'What if We’re All Coming Back?' by Michelle Alexander. Part of the exhibition 'A Fair Share of Utopia' at NEST, Den Haag curated by Manon Braat


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DECODING THE ATLANTIC WORLD 2021

An installation made of flag fabric, projection and the "replica" of the VOC ship the Amsterdam at the National Maritime Museum. A collaboration with Jarrett Erasmus (SA) and the Sites of Memory foundation.

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I TALK TO GOD CONSTANTLY IN FACT SHE LETS ME CALL HER ME ongoing

Series of sculptures, casted Jesus figures and adapted rosaries. Inspired by internet memes about Christ,  departing from 'Amethyst Rocks' by Saul Williams.

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EIGENHEIMERS 2020/2021

'Eigenheimers' is a family history. It is one of three works created for the city of Amsterdam drawing commission in 2020/2021. The works are part of the collaboration FRERARA with Raquel van haver and Fre Calmes. Which resulted in a series of three zines that combine all the works created for the commission by the artists.

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EDGELANDERS  - AMSTERDAM ON TRIAL 2023-2025

Multidisciplinary participatory project spanning installations, performances, video and more. A fictional trial against the city of Amsterdam for not fadhering to the human rights for undocumented people in the city. Shown a.o. at De Appel , podium Mozaiek and Brakke Grond, Amsterdam.

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KUKA KAKA CUCU 2021

Art booklet series in riso print , comissioned by Extrapool and printed by Knust-Press. About turning back migration within my own family and where we would end up.

Order here.

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KWATTA 2019-2021

Originally created as performance for SOKL, an ongoing series of decolonial actions in public space in Belgium. Adapted as an installation for 'When Stones Awake', an exhibition at Platform Post Nijmegen, The Netherlands, curated by Youri Appelo.

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el bastardo

aka Raul Balai

Through my work I examine power structures that determine how history is told and reproduced, and how this shapes today's society. Stories about migration and colonialism are a recurring theme in my work. I use various disciplines to explore and investigate these topics. In recent years, this has often resulted in installations.


Exhibited  at  De Appel - Amsterdam, The Netherlands / Documenta 15 - Kassel, Germany / The Rembrandt Museum - Amsterdam, The Netherlands / Contour Biennale - Mechelen, Belgium / The Amsterdam Museum - Amsterdam, The Netherlands / New York Historical Museum - New York, USA / M_HKA - Antwerpen, Belgium / Galleri Image - Aarhus, Denmark/ Foundation for Contemporary Art -Accra, Ghana [a.o.]


[ RESUME & PORTFOLIO ON REQUEST -> REACHME [~at~] RAULBALAI.COM ]