THE INAUGURAL EXHIBITION OF RWESERO
Art is closely linked to the human kind: it enters into all activities of people. Nevertheless, it has been neglected by cultural and education project actors. As it was overlooked for so long, it was not valued by cultural investors and art specialists. Consequently, Rwandan art has gained very limited support.
The Rwandan art is made of three components that have evolved differently: the fine arts or visual arts, the performing arts (dance, music, poetry), and the minor craft arts (ironwork, jewellery-making, pottery and basketry).
While sculpture is considered to be the main form of art in sub-Saharan Africa, especially in West and Central Africa, the Rwandan society has favored the performing arts. Sculpture and above all painting have been valued only recently. In the past sculpture was only used in the decoration of domestic tools and objects; the making of statues and masks has been introduced recently. The classic painting has been developed by the Art school of Nyundo. However, the use of colors is widespread in the basketry and in the decoration of the interior of houses, especially in the Migongo region. Although the Migongo decoration is nowadays widespread, it had been ignored both abroad and in Rwanda.
Therefore, since dance, poetry and music were favored by the royal court and
the chief courts, they have improved and developed, sometimes at the expense
of other genres.
Thanks to the influence of the western culture conveyed through the Art school
of Nyundo, the Rwandan art has quickly internalized new forms of expression
and transmission of its visions, representations and fantasies.
The inaugural exhibition of Rwesero
Using their respective tools, the artists express their world vision in general and their vision of Rwanda in particular. They paint or sculpt diverse aspects of culture, gests and behaviors of the Rwandan people. Mostly, they envision a world full of hope. Their models are inspired mainly from everyday life following the 1994 genocide and tragedies. A number of art products made after 1994 depict certain scenes of the genocide, of the exile and massive return of the Rwandan population. The gruesome scenes are mixed with representations expressing happiness.
The scenes of reunion, the sharing of beer, life full of challenges following the genocide, struggle for life and hope for life, these are main themes from which some universal topics are drawn: dance, music, animals, women, the beauty of nature, all these elements intend to explain why the artist is trying to use the traditional values conducive to the pride of their ancestors. The need to educate a new people more united, stronger and proud of their cultural identity and their history that was crafted by their forefathers is the ideal of Rwandan artists whose works are displayed in this exhibition.