On May 21, Rwanda’s arts and cultural scene witnessed ‘Interlude Rwanda’, a new artistic exhibition that is happening for the very first time in the country.
The six-month art program, which runs until October 25, promises a vibrant array of site-specific art installations and collaborative projects in unique locations across the country.
While involving long traditional elements for exhibition, the initiative looks to transform the country’s cultural landscape through contemporary creativity and exploration of its rich territory.
In particular, central to Interlude Rwanda is the exhibition at the Rwanda Arts Museum, formally Presidential Palace aptly dubbed "Reconnecting Memory Through Art”.
The exhibition stands as a confluence of the nation’s past, present and future, connecting historical reflections with forward-thinking artistic expressions from local artists.
The initiative was founded by Bonita Mutoni, a Rwandan contributing to the country’s transformation, specializing in luxury-high-end tourism and Cristina Romelli Gervasoni, an Italian and seasoned business strategist.
Also featuring in the project are local artistes including King Dusabe, Brave Tangz, Medard Bizimana, fashion designer Moses Turahirwa, Ibisazi Designers – Nyabyo (IDN), Paradis Imfura Nishimwe, and Tchaka Tambwe among many others.
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Essence of the art project
"Reconnecting Memory Through Art” invites visitors to have a sneak peek into Rwanda’s history and heritage through a modern lens. The exhibition features a diverse collection of art pieces, each uniquely contributing to the narrative of reconnection and more of continuities.
According to exhibition host, Nicolas Bellavance-Lecompte, an Italian design curator and art director, the debut initiative merges the idea of heritage, geography, tourism, arts and culture together to create a unique experience for Rwandans and foreign community alike.
For instance, Lecompte said, when visitors come to Rwanda, they tend to visit other places like Musanze ---the largest town in Northern Province, normally a gateway to various tourist attractions, including mountain gorillas, caves, volcanoes, and luxury hotels--and end up not taking time to explore what the country has to offer in terms of cultural initiatives and discover artists from the country.
"This initiative is meant to support the culture scene as we displayed only Rwanda’s based artists in design and architects. We also wanted to showcase a new scene to give a new chance to new voices from the cultural scene to emerge from international perspectives.”
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Among the notable installations is a wooden abstract that resembles an animal that guards and welcomes the visitors as well as plastic pieces of different colours collected to resemble birds in the sky which, in many cultures, is a symbol for the wish of a better future.
Another standout art piece is a ‘Technological Grave’ in the form of office chairs made up of old gadgets like keyboards, mouse, wires, smartphones and more, which are no longer in use but have been recycled to repurpose their use.
Equally, a sort of black ‘bench’ resembles a snake linked to a former president Juvenal Habyarimana’s. Besides, there are other 50 seats set in a room. They reflect to family households’ members in time of serious matters, talks, relaxation, and more.
The exhibit also features a room decorated with wooden beds and painted pictures which shows interaction between two persons informed of sharing intimacy, ‘bed room stories’ and other related couple’s matters.
Among other things, the exhibition unfolded across other venues including the King’s Palace in Nyanza and Peace Heaven Islands at the Twin Lakes located at the base Volcano Muhabura and close to the border of Rwanda and Uganda in the northern part of Rwanda, on the outskirts of Musanze.
Highlighting the work of trailblazing multidisciplinary Rwandan artists, Lecompte explained that the project serves as an inaugural innovative cultural platform for the region.