Five female visual artists are set to exhibit their work at the Brulhart gallery in Geneva Switzerland from April 18 to July 4.
Titled 'Fierce Femmes', the exhibition is set to be an exploration of numerous art expressions and storytelling mediums fused together to portray the journeys of Rwandan women and the perseverance, strength and determination woven into each of their stories. Fierce Femmes is also intent on exploring the resilience of Rwandan women from every timeline and how they have or are contributing to the country’s development, cultural evolution and unity.
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The exhibition will feature the works of exquisite visual artists such as Cynthia Butare, Odile Uwera, Teta Chel, Christa Uwase and Natacha Miziguruka. Curated by Jemima Kakizi, the exhibition Fierce Femme aims to amplify the narratives of Rwanda women three decades after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, and the gusto with which they have approached and handled a post Genocide Rwanda, while simultaneously paying homage to the women who paved the way and walked so the current generation of Rwandan women could run and conquer.
"Showcasing the diverse talents of five remarkable visual artists from personal journeys to societal reflections, each artist offers a different perspective on what it is to be a Rwandan woman 30 years after the Genocide against the Tutsi. As a Rwandan I honor the women that paved the way for us, fought for rights and shaped our today. They inspire me to advocate for equality and amplify the voices of Rwandan women in art and society,” Kakizi says.
"I hope the art work in the exhibition inspires reflection and celebrates the impact Rwandan women have had on shaping Rwanda into the remarkable country it is today,” she adds.
According to Kakizi, all of the five visual artists have specific themes and visions for their contributions to the exhibition and one of the most intriguing ones is Cynthia Butare’s &039;Rwandan Women Weaving Threads of Change' series. The visual installation has been described as an acute depiction of how instrumental Rwandan women have been in shaping the country’s narrative within and beyond, and how their efforts foreshadow a progressive future ahead for the country.
"Rwandan Women Weaving Threads of Change captures the essence of Rwandan women as they navigate the blend of tradition and modernity, reflecting on the realities of their history and contemporary backgrounds. Each photograph serves as a testament to their journey, preserving it for Rwandan culture yet redefining it for the generations to come. The collection celebrates their journeys, their strength and acknowledges their significant role in molding Rwanda’s future with grace and relentless determination,” Butare, a Geneva-born Rwandan photographer and filmmaker told The New Times.
One of the interesting aspects of the exhibition is the overall sound portion incorporated into it that has been co-curated by Jemima Kakizi alongside Ceri Chillier, whose role doubles as exhibition instigator and sound curator. Chillier’s interactions with the Rwandan landscape began in 2010, during the One Laptop per Child initiative where after she transitioned into teaching music and arts at an international school in Kigali, which was proceeded with a doctorate degree that explored music and multinational cultural flows and post conflict identities. Chillier’s role in the exhibition as sound curator entailed procuring a compilation of music, dance and poetry to be fused with the various art installations to foster a more intimate engagement with the art enthusiasts attending the exhibitions.
"I am thrilled to be collaborating with my Rwandan colleagues to bring my vision for this exhibition to life and contribute to its soundscape. I hope that those that explore the visual art pieces in the exhibition also get immersed into the soundscape of Rwanda. Poetry, music and dance hold profound importance within Rwandan culture, and they deepen connection with the artistic narratives being portrayed,” Chillier says.
Natacha Muziguruka’s contribution to the exhibitions is one of the more enchanting and innovative approaches to displaying visual art. For the past 15 years Muziguruka has been a functioning poet, performer, actress and curator. Some of the recurring themes within the scope of her work entail the female body, resilience and feminine freedoms. Her contribution to the exhibition includes a contemporary artistic dance aimed at evoking themes such as feminine freedoms, in which she intends to incorporate photography with fashion, film and theatre.
"We aim for public places like streets to become spaces where women dare to own their bodies and behaviors, rather than a source of backlash for them. I want my work to convey the desire for the streets to be home, and that metaphorical home will be explored through fashion. The piece also incorporates theatre, film, fashion, sculpture and photography presented with a touch of afro fusion,” says Muziguruka.