Writing History

Who writes history?

Writing History explores how the stories told about an event shape how that event is understood while it is unfolding. The news reports used by the robot reveal a clear shift: in the early years, gas extraction was mainly presented as a story of prosperity and progress. Later, increasing attention was given to subsidence, earthquakes and their consequences. These risks were not unknown; warnings and critical voices had emerged from an early stage. Yet the dominant narrative, promoted in part by the government and NAM, focused on economic benefits and downplayed the risks.

By continuously writing and erasing these historical headlines, the installation shows that history is shaped not only by what happens, but also by which stories receive space, which voices are heard and which perspectives become dominant. It raises questions central to Museum aan de A: Who writes history? Who determines which stories about Groningen are told, and from whose perspective?