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，在造成多达100万人死亡的暴力事件发生20年后，作家、艺术家、电影制片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时做出的艰难选择。情况发生了很大变化：自1994年以来，一代年轻人已经长大成人，卢旺达经历了前所未有的经济成功。2012年8月，澳大利亚人权委员会“翻译自由”网络在基加利举办了一个研讨会，讨论如何通过过渡时期司法程序和艺术调解种族灭绝后的生活。我们谈话中出现的一个关键问题是，卢旺达人对国际上传播的本国形象缺乏控制。卢旺达的照片主要由来访的外国人拍摄，很少有卢旺达摄影记者和艺术家能够进入国际网络。为了弥补这一差距，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的协助下，卢旺达参与者将得到指导，发展自己独特的叙事。“可视化卢旺达的转型”项目将使这些图像通过在萨默塞特大厦的展览接触到广泛的国际观众，由文化和种族灭绝专家佐伊诺里奇博士，卢旺达艺术家克里斯蒂安·尼亚姆佩塔和Autograph ABP主任马克·西利MBE策划。该展览将在卢旺达种族灭绝二十周年之际举行，并将成为多名卢旺达摄影师首次在国际上展出的关于种族灭绝后生活的展览。萨默塞特之家位于伦敦市中心，拥有广泛的营销网络，为汇集新观众提供了理想的平台。这个著名的庭院是纪念活动的一个值得尊敬的环境，展览将向参观者介绍以前从未见过的图像，这些图像反映了过去，庆祝种族灭绝以来的变化。我们举办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、媒体组织和画廊经常派遣国际摄影师到卢旺达拍摄图像，用于筹款和提高认识活动、新闻报道和展览。通过与卢旺达摄影师直接接触，这些专员可以支持当地艺术家，同时也获得了对种族灭绝后生活的独特见解。一个国家代表自己的方式影响着国家身份，国际关系，旅游业和全球公众的看法。但在暴力冲突之后，政府、外国援助机构和非政府组织往往只关注卫生、减贫和教育等发展优先事项。通过突出艺术在改变国家和国际观念方面的作用，我们将通过我们的政策简报，为越来越多的证据提供帮助，证明艺术家可以通过哪些方式帮助冲突后恢复。合作对整个项目的成功至关重要。策展是国王，Autograph ABP和卢旺达艺术家Christian Nyampeta之间的合作。在卢旺达，我们与Carole Karemera（Ishyo Arts），John Mbanda（The New Times），Illume（创意机构）和Inema艺术中心等合作。本次展览有可能表明，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，它将确保国际上看到卢旺达撰写的纪念灭绝种族二十周年的叙述。

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.