During the residency at SBK Amsterdam in July 2024, Nina Boas explored the work of her father, Philip Boas. Through his batik-inspired art, she delved into themes such as intergenerational trauma and decolonization. The residency culminated in a presentation in which Boas used projection, archival images, live drawing, and voice recordings. Through a ritual that combined a fairytale with somatic movements, she aimed to initiate a healing process and share her father's story. This experience invited the audience to engage deeply with the complex legacies of cultural heritage and trauma.

Nina Boas' research focuses on new ways to deal with cultural heritage and trauma. It addresses how we confront our colonial past and its impact on contemporary art. How can we revive forgotten or neglected artworks and tell their stories? And how do trauma and cultural heritage affect new generations of artists? During the residency, she developed an augmented reality collage with one of her father's works as a marker point. This digital collage combined images and questions that could be viewed via a phone

Healing Batik is an extended artistic research project led by Nina Boas, exploring the work of her father, Philip Boas, and its place within Dutch museum collections and the broader historical and cultural context it connects to. By using methods of embedment, ritual, and somatic practices, Nina examines how her father’s batik-inspired art, created during the 1980s and 1990s, reflects deeper narratives related to intergenerational trauma, cultural heritage, and decolonization.

Philip Boas' work, often archived and rarely displayed, serves as a focal point for a dialogue about the ways in which cultural artifacts are preserved, overlooked, or reinterpreted over time. The research investigates the intersections between personal histories and larger socio-political contexts, exploring how trauma and colonial histories resonate across generations. Through this project, Nina seeks to breathe new life into forgotten or marginalized artworks, questioning how we might reframe and retell their stories in a contemporary context.

The project also incorporates immersive experiences, including rituals that blend storytelling, live drawing, projections, archival materials, and somatic movements. These multidisciplinary approaches are intended to engage audiences in a deeper understanding of the layered legacies of cultural heritage and trauma, facilitating a collective healing process.

Healing Batik is not only an exploration of a personal narrative but also a broader inquiry into how art can serve as a medium for dialogue, healing, and transformation. By connecting the past and present, the project encourages a re-evaluation of the ways in which we relate to our shared cultural heritage and challenges us to find new pathways for understanding and reconciliation.