At Cultura Nova in the pop-up pavilion, we present the unique vampire film Nosferasta: First Bite, together with several other works of art. This exciting short film tells the story of the first Black vampire Oba.

Practical

The Bonnefanten Pop-up Museum at Cultura Nova is open daily and free for everyone!

Please note: opening times vary per day.

Friday Aug 25 : 9 pm - 12 am
Saturday Aug 26 : 2 pm - 10 pm
Sunday Aug 27: 2 pm - 10 pm
Monday Aug 28: 5 pm - 10 pm
Tuesday Aug 29: 5 pm - 10 pm
Wednesday Aug 30: 2 pm - 10 pm
Thursday 31 Aug: 5 pm - 10 pm
Friday Sept 1: 5 pm - 10 pm
Saturday Sept 2: 2 pm - 10 pm
Sunday 3 Sept: 12 pm - 5 pm

Location: Festivalplein, Burgemeester van Grunsvenplein, Heerlen

Nosferasta: First Bite

Nosferasta: First Bite is about the Rastafarian vampire Oba and the vampire Christopher Columbus. Columbus uses his supernatural powers to bend the world to his will and exploit America through colonialism and slavery. In 1492, he bites Oba, an enslaved man, who nearly drowns during an escape attempt at sea. Oba also becomes a vampire and is Columbus' faithful companion for centuries. Together they spread the colonial infection across the Americas. Until Oba is introduced to Rastafari' s and weed in 1992, and he suddenly understands that he has been brainwashed by Columbus. He knows he must stand up for his community. An uprising is then inevitable.

Nosferasta: First Bite is an action film with wry humor that unwittingly takes you into an important historical story. The "discovery" of America by Christopher Columbus was the start of centuries of exploitation of the entire continent and its people. Europeans enslaved American and African people and forced them to work on huge plantations. This is how Europeans became rich, while ruthlessly destroying entire cultures.

For a very long time in history class, we in the Netherlands did not learn about this dark side of colonialism. On the contrary, the Dutch "VOC mentality" was praised. Nosferasta updates the image we have of history. It explores the shocking feelings of guilt and complicity that come with this awareness. At the same time, it acknowledges how difficult it is to unlearn mindsets you have been taught from childhood. At its core, Nosferasta asks the question: how can you decolonize what is in your blood?

Russian Box
Outside the museum pavilion is a special building. It was conceived by world-famous Italian architect Aldo Rossi, who also designed the Bonnefanten museum building in Maastricht. The Russian Box (1989) resembles the Russian Matryoshka dolls, which can be pushed together from large to small. The Russian Box was donated to the Bonnefanten in 2020 and is now on display for the first time!

Want to know more about the Russian Box?