Graphic Design: Marius Schwarz & Farah Fayyd 21 Jun 2026
15:00 - 17:00
Book Presentation: Open Archief 4.0 – A History that Never Arrived
Join on 21 June 2026 for the final publication launch of the Open Archief residency project with researcher Wassila Abboud, who’s joined by contributor Françoise Vergès.
Developed through Open Archief 4.0, Abboud’s publication, A History that Never Arrived – Mediations on the Liminalities of Mahdi Amel, engages with the archive of Lebanese Marxist philosopher Mahdi Amel, exploring how revolutionary histories continue to shape political realities in the present.
Drawing on her research, Françoise Vergès reflects on the histories of communism and internationalist movements across the Global South during the 40’s to 80’s, tracing unexpected connections between anti-colonial struggles that emerged across different geographies. She also addresses how colonial techniques of governance, surveillance and social control were tested and developed in places such as her home of Réunion, and were later used within the French metropole, revealing the circulation of colonial power.
The conversation explores questions central to both Abboud and Verges’ work: how revolutionary and decolonial movements experience defeat and setback; how state repression, liberal integration and anti-communism shaped the trajectories of anti-colonial struggles; and what forms of domination continue to saturate our contemporary life. Vergès draws on her own familial history growing up in Réunion and Algeria, within a communist social context. Both Abboud and Verges think through what these unfinished struggles can teach us about the present.
Programme
15:00 Doors Open
15:10 Introduction
15:30 Presentation by Françoise Vergès
16:10 Discussion led by Wassila
16:20 Audience Q&A
16:35 Drinks
Publication
A History that Never Arrived—Mediations on the Liminalities of Mahdi Amel
Wassila Abboud devoted herself to transcribing, translating and reactivating the rare twenty-minute recording of the 1987 lecture Culture and Revolution الثقافة والثورة by the Lebanese Marxist philosopher Mahdi Amel. As part of the Open Archief residency project, Abboud uses this archival material, not as a reflection of a period in history but instead of a political condition (‘of permanent revolution’) that remains unresolved.
Open Archief
Open Archief is made possible by the support of its founding members Beeld & Geluid and Nieuwe Instituut, as well as the ongoing support of the International Institute of Social History and Framer Framed. We also want to thank the many artists, researchers, designers, community members and heritage professionals that have devoted their time and energy to uphold and co-create every output of the project. To learn more about the project, visit www.openarchief.com.
This event is in English. Admission is free, pay what you can.
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This event may be photographed and filmed. Kindly let us know in advance if you prefer not to have your picture taken. For seated programmes, places are always made available for wheelchair users. Please speak to the host before the programme begins.
Framer Framed is supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science; Amsterdam Fund for the Arts; Municipality of Amsterdam; and VriendenLoterij Fonds.
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Links
Book Launch / The living archive / Colonial history / Middle East / Residencies /
Agenda
Presentation: Open Archief 4.0 with mo Futures and Wassila Abboud
Final event Open Archief 2025-2026, a collaborative project that explores the potentials of making archival material accessible
Re:Use Clinic - The Question of Culture
A conversation on the legacies of the MENA and Iranian Left within archive collections and heritage institutions.
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