Translating Freedom: Visualising Transformation in Rwanda

一个国家如何表达种族灭绝后生活的复杂性？在卢旺达，在导致多达100万人死亡的暴力事件发生20年后，作家、艺术家、电影制作人和记者一直在努力传达政府、当地组织和平民在重建国家的过程中做出的艰难选择。许多事情发生了变化：1994年以来，一代年轻人成长起来，卢旺达经历了前所未有的经济成功。2012年8月，AHRC“翻译自由”网络在基加利举办了一次讲习班，讨论如何通过过渡司法程序和艺术调停种族灭绝后的生活。我们谈话中出现的一个关键问题是卢旺达人对他们国家在国际上流传的形象缺乏控制。卢旺达的照片主要是由来访的外人拍摄的，很少有卢旺达摄影记者和艺术家能够进入国际网络。为了应对这一差距，国王文化研究所于2013年11月在基加利资助了一个摄影讲习班。在尼日利亚摄影师Andrew Esiebo和Magnum摄影记者Dominic Nahr的帮助下，卢旺达参与者将得到指导，发展他们自己的独特叙事。“可视化卢旺达转型”项目将使这些图像能够通过在萨默塞特宫举办的展览接触到广泛的国际观众，该展览由文化和种族灭绝专家Zoe Norbridge博士、卢旺达艺术家Christian Nyampeta和Autograph ABP总监Mark Sealy MBE策划。这次展览将恰逢卢旺达种族灭绝二十周年，并将成为第一个由多名卢旺达摄影师举办的关于种族灭绝后生活的展览，在国际上展出。萨默塞特宫拥有伦敦市中心的地理位置和广泛的营销网络，为聚集新观众提供了一个理想的平台。这个著名的庭院是一个受人尊敬的纪念活动场所，展览将向参观者介绍以前从未见过的反思过去并庆祝种族灭绝以来变化的图像。我们展览的主要目标之一是将委托摄影的人与卢旺达摄影师联系起来。国际非政府组织、媒体组织和画廊空间经常派遣国际摄影师前往卢旺达，为筹款和提高认识活动、新闻报道和展览拍摄图像。通过直接与卢旺达摄影师接触，这些专员可以支持当地艺术家，同时还可以获得对种族灭绝后生活的独特见解。一个国家表现自己的方式影响着国家认同、国际关系、旅游业和全球公众的看法。但往往在发生暴力冲突之后，各国政府、外国援助机构和非政府组织只把重点放在卫生、减贫和教育等发展优先事项上。通过突出艺术在改变国家和国际认知方面的作用，我们将有助于提供越来越多的证据，证明艺术家可以通过我们的政策简报帮助冲突后恢复。合作对整个项目的成功至关重要。该策展由King‘s、Autograph ABP和卢旺达艺术家克里斯蒂安·尼姆佩塔合作举办。在卢旺达，我们正在与Carole Karemera(Ishyo Art)、John Mbanda(The New Times)、Illume(创意机构)和Inema艺术中心等合作。这一展览有可能表明卢旺达人可以制定研究议程，研究产生的影响活动可以影响国际创意产业，大学可以在突出全球不平等方面发挥积极作用。最重要的是，它将确保卢旺达撰写的纪念种族灭绝二十周年的叙述在国际上广为人知。

How can a country express the complexities of life after genocide? In Rwanda, twenty years after the violence that killed up to a million people, writers, artists, filmmakers and journalists have been working hard to communicate difficult choices made by the government, local organisations and civilians whilst reconstructing the country. Much has changed: a generation of young people have grown up since 1994, and Rwanda has experienced unprecedented economic success. However, internationally the country is still primarily associated with the moment of genocide.In August 2012, the AHRC "Translating Freedom" network hosted a workshop in Kigali to discuss how life after genocide is mediated through transitional justice processes and the arts. One key issue emerging from our conversations was Rwandans' lack of control over images of their country circulating internationally. Photographs of Rwanda are predominantly taken by visiting outsiders and very few Rwandan photojournalists and artists have access to international networks. In response to this gap, King's Cultural Institute have funded a photography workshop in Kigali in November 2013. Facilitated by Nigerian photographer Andrew Esiebo and Magnum photojournalist Dominic Nahr, Rwandan participants will be mentored in developing their own unique narratives. The "Visualising Transformation in Rwanda" project will enable these images to reach a wide international audience through an exhibition at Somerset House, curated by culture and genocide specialist Dr Zoe Norridge, Rwandan artist Christian Nyampeta and Autograph ABP Director Mark Sealy MBE. The exhibition will coincide with the twentieth anniversary of genocide in Rwanda and will constitute the first exhibition about life after genocide by multiple Rwandan photographers to be shown internationally. Somerset House, with its central London location and extensive marketing networks, offers an ideal platform for bringing together new audiences. The famous courtyard is a respectful setting for commemoration activities and the exhibition will introduce visitors to previously unseen images that reflect upon the past and celebrate change since genocide.One of our key objectives for the exhibition is to connect people who commission photography with Rwandan photographers. Too often, international NGOs, media organisations and gallery spaces send international photographers to Rwanda to take images for fundraising and awareness raising campaigns, news stories and exhibitions. By engaging with Rwandan photographers directly these commissioners could support local artists whilst also gaining unique insights into life after genocide.The ways in which a country represents itself influence national identity, international relations, tourism and global public perceptions. But often in the aftermath of violent conflict, governments, foreign aid agencies and NGOs focus exclusively on development priorities such as health, poverty reduction and education. By foregrounding the role of the arts in changing national and international perceptions, we will contribute to a growing body of evidence about the ways in which artists can assist with post-conflict recovery through our policy briefings.Collaborations are vital to the success of the entire project. The curation is a partnership between King's, Autograph ABP and Rwandan artist Christian Nyampeta. In Rwanda we are working with Carole Karemera (Ishyo Arts), John Mbanda (The New Times), Illume (creative agency) and Inema Arts Centre, amongst others. This exhibition has the potential to demonstrate that Rwandans can set research agendas, that impact activities resulting from research can affect international creative industries, and that universities can play an active role in highlighting global inequalities. Above all, it will ensure that Rwandan-authored narratives commemorating the twentieth anniversary of genocide are seen internationally.