RIBBONS is an ongoing artwork made from memorial ribbons laid at commemorative events, memorial sites, and ceremonies around the world — in remembrance of war, dictatorship, oppression, and violence against humanity.
During a live art performance, artist Renee van Bavel sews these ribbons together, creating a shared, unifying, and colourful work of art: RIBBONS — a symbol of peace and human connection.
RIBBONS invites us to reflect on the past, the times we live in, and our place in the world.
With RIBBONS, Renee van Bavel is touring museums and festivals, presenting the art performance at places such as the Humboldt Forum in Berlin in 2025, the Democracy Festival Mitmacht in Berlin, the CPPD Festival in Lisbon, Portugal, and the Fluctoplasma Festival in Hamburg in October 2026.
RIBBONS – Live at the Democracy Festival Mitmacht in Berlin 2026
RIBBONS – Live at the Humboldt Forum in Berlin in 2025
RIBBONS at the CPPD Festival in Lisbon in 2026
At the CPPD festival “After the Carnations – Cycles of Decolonisation and Democratic Futures” (24–25 April 2026) at the Biblioteca de Alcântara – José Dias Coelho in Lisbon, Renee van Bavel presented the live art performance of RIBBONS in the library garden.
For more information about the CPPD Festival: LINK
With sincere gratitude to all the memorial services, foundations, and institutions that have contributed their ribbons and supported this artproject RIBBONS
- Belower Wald Memorial
Gedenkstätte Todesmarsch im Belower Wald - Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum
Gedenkstätte und Museum Sachsenhausen - Bergen‑Belsen Memorial
Gedenkstätte Bergen‑Belsen - National Monument Kamp Vught
Nationaal Monument Kamp Vught - Berlin Wall Memorial
Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer - Westerbork Memorial
Herinneringscentrum Kamp Westerbork - The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe – Berlin
Denkmal für die ermordeten Juden Europas - The Memorial to the Homosexuals Persecuted under National Socialism – Berlin
Denkmal für die unter dem Nationalsozialismus verfolgten Homosexuellen - The Memorial to the Sinti and Roma of Europe Murdered under National Socialism – Berlin
Denkmal für die Sinti und Roma Europas, ermordet unter dem Nationalsozialismus - The Memorial and Information Point for the Victims of the Nazi ‘Euthanasia’ Murders – Berlin Gedenk‑ und Informationspunkt für die Opfer der NS‑“Euthanasie”‑Morde
- The Netherlands Auschwitz Committee
Nederlands Auschwitz Comité - The February Strike Memorial – Amsterdam
Februaristaking Amsterdam - Netherlands War Graves Foundation / National War Cemetery – Loenen
Nederlandse Oorlogsgravenstichting Loenen - The National Committee for 4 & 5 May – The Netherlands
Nationaal Comité 4 en 5 mei – Nederland - National Committee 15 August 1945 – Commemorating the End of World War II in the Dutch East Indies
Nationaal Comité 15 augustus 1945 – Herdenking het einde van de Tweede Wereldoorlog in Nederlands‑Indië - Canadian Cemetery