Navigators

Çiğdem Yüksel
Çiğdem Yüksel, a Turkish-Dutch visual artist and photographer, has dedicated nearly a decade to projects centered around migration, history, collective visual memory, and identity. Çiğdem envisions a space where migration stories are not only shared but also celebrated. ‘I wish for the guests to delve into the depth, complexity, and beauty inherent in migration, through what they see and read.’

Ernest van der Kwast
Ernest van der Kwast is a writer, presenter, and program maker. Migration is a recurring theme in his literary works, notably in titles such as Mama Tandoori. Ernest emphasizes, ‘Fenix provides an opportunity to showcase and experience the profound impact of migration, a force that unites us all. Through art, beauty, stories, and visions, Fenix celebrates the richness and diversity that migration brings.’

Khadija Arib
Born in Morocco, Khadija relocated to the Netherlands, where her father was already residing as a guest worker. She is a former politician, served as an active member of the political party PvdA for over twenty-three years, culminating in her tenure as Speaker of the House of Representatives from 2016 to 2022. She coordinated an employment initiative for women with a migration background at the Ministry of Social Affairs. Since 2024 she serves as the chair of the Schiphol Social Council.

Matea Šafar
Matea Šafar is the Artistic Director-Manager of Stichting de Vrolijkheid, a foundation that commits to the well-being of children, young people, and families residing in Dutch asylum seeker centres through art. As a child, she fled with her mother from Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Netherlands. Driven by her profound connection to art and migration, Matea finds a personal resonance with Fenix. ‘I want the guest to encounter a broadened perspective on migration and migrants.'

Naema Tahir
'After several migrations between several countries, I know how difficult it is to start over and over again. But I also know how wonderful it is,' says Naema Tahir. She specialized as an international lawyer focusing on the human rights of migrant workers. In her book Brieven in Urdu (Letters in Urdu), Naema talks about the stories of emigrated women. 'Migration embodies both loss and rediscovery of home and belonging. It's a dynamic that resonates universally.'

Nizar El Manouzi
Nizar El Manouzi is an actor, presenter and producer. His involvement with Fenix stems from a passion for telling stories and sharing experiences. 'I feel strongly connected to Fenix because it celebrates and recognizes the diversity and stories of people who have experienced migration. As someone with a migration background myself, I recognize the immense power of these stories in fostering understanding and forging connections between communities.

Pete Wu
'Art is about being human – migration is one of the most impactful traffic flows you can imagine,' says writer and journalist Pete Wu. Migration is one of the major themes of his journalistic work. Pete made his debut in 2019 with the non-fiction book, The Banana Generation, a book about contemporary Chinese Dutch individuals navigating dual identities and lives.

Sheila Sitalsing
Sheila Sitalsing grew up in Surinam and Curaçao. After earning her Masters in Economics she transitioned into a career in journalism, spanning three decades. She writes for Dutch daily De Volkskrant and is a presenter for radio programme Met het Oog op Morgen. Sheila hopes the Fenix guests will connect with the art and experience. ‘As someone who's always on the move, I understand the feeling of never quite belonging yet feeling at home everywhere. I hope Fenix can capture that sentiment.’