Dr. Gerlov van Engelenhoven is an assistant professor at Leiden University Centre for the Arts in Society (LUCAS), teaching courses on postcolonial memory, law & culture, and cultural interaction. His most recent book is titled Postcolonial Memory in the Netherlands: Meaningful Voices, Meaningful Silences. It was published open access by Amsterdam University Press in 2023. From 2024 to 2028, he runs a new research project called Listening to Silence: Silence as Empowerment in Contemporary Dutch Postcolonial Memory, funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) through a Veni-grant. In this project, Engelenhoven interviews decolonial activists, curators and artist who actively use silence in their practice.

More information about Gerlov van Engelenhoven

Fields of interest

• postcolonial memory
• voice, silence and empowerment
• law and culture
• participatory action research
• the Moluccan community in the Netherlands

Research

In Dutch society, discussions about remembering the colonial past, voice is often used as a metaphor for empowerment ('we must raise our voices'), whereas silence is often used as voice's negative counterpart, signifying a loss or lack of power ('we will no longer be silenced'). Yet, silence is expressive: sometimes it even speaks louder than words, as can be seen in silent protests and vigils. In this research project, I explore the empowering potential of silence in collaboration with decolonial activists, curators and artists. Perhaps the problem was never people's ability to speak, but society's ability to listen.

Grants and awards

2020: PhD, Summa Cum Laude
2024-2028: Veni grant (NWO Talent Program)

Other judicia

2016-2020: Doctoral scholarship at GCSC (Giessen, Germany), funded by the German Universities Excellence Initiative

2019: Subsidy awarded by the Justus Liebig University, Gießen, within the category “Lehraufträge mit Schwerpunkt Genderthematik” (“Lectureships with an emphasis on issues of Gender”), for self-designed seminar “Hashtag-feminists vs. mansplainers: the polarization of feminism in online discussion”

2016: BKO (Dutch Basis Qualification Certificate for University Education)

Curriculum Vitae

Education:
2020 Justus Liebig University, Giessen:
PhD (Summa Cum Laude)
Supervised by Prof. Greta Olson (Gießen) and Prof. Frans-Willem Korsten (Leiden)

2014 Leiden University:
ICLON Master of Education (Art and Culture)

2012 Leiden University:
Research MA Study of Art and Literature (Cum Laude)

2010 Leiden University:
BA Literary Studies

Current occupation:
Assistant professor at Leiden University Centre for the Arts in Society (LUCAS)
- Veni researcher (from 2024 to 2028)
- Lecturer of BA International Studies course 'Cultural Interaction: Conflict and Cooperation' (co-designed)
- Lecturer of the BA course Memory and Decolonization (self-designed)

- Committee member of the Education Committee
- Advisory board member for Frame: Journal of Literary Studies
- Co-initiator of the research group Environmental Humanities

Key publications

Van Engelenhoven, Gerlov et al. (eds.). Villains: Constructing Narratives of Evil (edited volume). Saeculum, 2023.

Van Engelenhoven, Gerlov. "Articulating Postcolonial Memory Through the Negotiation of Legalities: The Case of Jan Pieterszoon Coen's Statue in Hoorn". Law, Culture and the Humanities, 2023: Articulating Postcolonial Memory Through the Negotiation of Legalities: The Case of Jan Pieterszoon Coen’s Statue in Hoorn - Gerlov van Engelenhoven, 2023 (sagepub.com)

Van Engelenhoven, Gerlov. Postcolonial Memory in the Netherlands: Meaningful Voices, Meaningful Silences. Amsterdam University Press, 2022: Postcolonial Memory in the Netherlands (oapen.org)

Van Engelenhoven, Gerlov. “Tussen spreken en zwijgen. De kracht van stilte in het werk van Maria Dermoût.” Indische Letteren, 2022.

Van Engelenhoven, Gerlov. “Spreken en zwijgen in de Molukse identiteitsconstructie.” Toma Terus: 70 jaar Molukkers in Nederland (eds. Wim Manuhutu, Glenda Pattipeilohy, Henry Timisela). Walburg Pers, 2021.

Van Engelenhoven, Gerlov. “From indigenous customary law to diasporic cultural heritage: reappropriations of adat throughout the history of Moluccan postcolonial migration.” International Journal for the Semiotics of Law 34/3, 2021: From Indigenous Customary Law to Diasporic Cultural Heritage: Reappropriations of Adat Throughout the History of Moluccan Postcolonial Migration | SpringerLink

Van Engelenhoven, Gerlov. “The Case of Telefilm De Punt’s Online Discussion Forum: Participatory Space for Societal Debate or Echo Chamber for the Polemical Few?” Violence and Trolling on Social Media: History, Affect, and Effects of Online Vitriol (eds.: Sara Polak, Daniel Trottier). Amsterdam University Press, 2020: https://doi.org/10.5117/9789462989481

Publications