Liquid Compass c. 1860

This is a liquid compass by A. van Emden which resides in the Rijksmuseum. The object invites us to reflect on a critical chapter in the history of global exploration and its deep ties to identity and power. Compasses like this were not merely navigational tools, they were instruments of empire. They enabled European explorers and traders to chart unknown territories and establish trade routes, leading to the exploitation and colonization of indigenous lands and people. Looking at this compass, we must consider the perspectives of those whose lands and cultures were disrupted by its use. The compass symbolizes a specific kind of power, one that charted courses for some while erasing others. Consider the human stories behind each voyage, the ambitions and the costs, and the complex layers of identity and history woven into its very existence.