ADE Expo: Soundsystem Culture | Curated by Ikael Melchizedek
ADE Expo: Soundsystem Culture | Curated by Ikael Melchizedek
ADE Pro x ADE Arts & Culture presents: Soundsystem Culture Expo, curated by Ikael Melchizedek
On ADE Saturday at the ADE Culture Hub, this exhibition gathers a group of artists working in painting, sculpture, print and jewellery, each presenting work that speaks to values rooted in resilience, truth, community and awareness. These values touch directly on the spirit of sound system culture and the beliefs that have carried it forward for generations: truth as a foundation, resilience in the face of struggle, unity across difference, and creativity as a form of healing and connection.
The artist's practices are diverse in form and yet connected: The paintings invite a closer look at questions of identity and belonging, drawing lines between personal expression and collective experience. The sculptures capture memory in material, giving shape what otherwise might remain intangible. The prints communicate with clarity and urgency, demanding us to pause and reflect. The jewellery on display is not only decorative but symbolic, designed to be worn and lived with as an extension of what is felt in the body.
Taken together, these works all create an environment that asks for reflection and awareness on sound system values. They encourage us to consider how art can make visible values that often exist quietly in the background of our lives. It suggests that truth and justice require attentiveness, that unity grows through shared experience, and healing begins with recognition. The story of this exhibition is one of reminder, call, and possibility for change.
Artist Lineup:
Ikael Melchizedek - Multi disciplinary artist and curator Ikael Melchizedek will bring together works of clothes, jewelry and paintings to give his perspective of Rastifarian Culture.
Kebra Ethiopia Sound - The renown Sound System collective from Johannesburg, will provide a photo series of their community and the coming together of people through sound systems and dances
Kirstof West - Kristof West, better known as TOFF YOUTH, is a Trinbagonian multidisciplinary artist based in Amsterdam. His work moves through memory, drawing from his Caribbean roots and community. From documentaries on the Steel Pan to Carnival-inspired visuals, TOFF YOUTH creates with intention- grounded, grateful, and always himself.
Rossel Chaslie - Rossel Chaslie is a draughtsman and animator who migrated from Suriname to the Netherlands. His drawings are contemporary while also engaging with art-historical references.
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IMPORTANT NOTE! This exhibition is only accessible by presenting a valid ADE Pro Pass or ADE Lab Pass.
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Check out Unity's tips to Celebrate Safe during ADE:
♥ I love my ears
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