"#LauraNsengiyumva is a Belgian artist of Rwandan origin, born in 1987. [...] Focusing on decolonial critique, her work responds to a need to materialise this in order to create new social relationships. [...] The roughly 250 pages of our report contain a whole series of recommendations for ‘the #decolonisation of the #Brussels Capital Region’s public space’. We worked on it for a year and a half, alongside 14 experts, at the request of the Brussels Secretary of State #PascalSmet. Today, I feel more conflicted than proud, especially because of the follow-up to our proposal concerning the infamous equestrian statue of #LeopoldII on the Place du Trône. On the one hand, because the ambient anti-wokism of our group did not want to mention clearly my work #PeoPL as the source of inspiration. On the other hand, because in spite of courageous stands taken for the whole city, the recommendation of this specific case still ends in the status quo. [...] . At the end of 2017, behind closed doors, a senior member of the Royal Museum for Central Africa (#RMCA) tried to make me aware of the radical nature of the artistic gesture I was trying to accomplish 'Would you like us to melt your father?' "
https://www.eye-to-eye.online/laura-nsengiyumva/
#Belgium #Congo #colonisation