17 June 2002
Dear Friends,
I am pleased to inform you that we put online the virtual exhibition
Genocide Monument with the stunning artwork of Ghanaian sculptor Kofi
Setordji. http://www.vmcaa.nl/genocide [2].

1) VIRTUAL EXHIBITION GENOCIDE MONUMENT
Accra based Setordji worked two and half years on this work of art which
consists of about 300 pieces. Setordji made a travelling monument from
wood, metal, clay, waste materials and paint, that consists of a number of
sculpture groups and objects. This artwork that weighs more than a ton,
depicts the victims, refugees, politicians, judges and eyewitnesses. The
directness of the imagery speaks to the conscience of the viewer. Rows of
numbered terracotta faces painfully depict the anonymity of the thousands
of victims: the monument was created in memory of the more than 800,000
direct and indirect victims.

On the website ( in English and Dutch) the images of the work, information
on the monumental project and a biography of Setordji; an infocentre about
the Rwanda genocide and other genocides.

Genocide Monument is the most recent production of the Virtual Museum of
Contemporary African Art- an initiative of foundation Africaserver.
www.africaserver.nl [3]
Feel free to make a link. We appreciate to be informed.

2) The DOCUMENTARY "Genocide Serenade" (28 minutes)
A special section on the abovementioned website has been created with
information about the newly released documentary "Genocide Serenade".
Three fragments of the video can be watched.

When Kofi Setordji saw the television images of a bulldozer shovelling
hundreds of bodies into a ditch in Rwanda in 1994, as if they were no more
than waste, he decided it was time to act. He considered it his duty as an
artist to show the world what had happened. For two and a half years Kofi
Setordji worked on his monument, which consists of 300 pieces.

He posed himself questions like: What is it that is making man waking up
one day, deciding to exterminate a whole group of people? What is the role
of the international community and of politicians.

Dutch filmmaker Maarten Rens, followed Kofi Setordji for several weeks in
February 2002.
The intensive collaboration resulted in the creation of an extraordinary
documentary.

One comment on the film by Fleur van Dissel (filmmaker):
'The strong sculptures of the perpetrators and victims of this horror stare
at you in a penetrating manner. As a viewer, you are taken to the world
behind these masks as Maarten Rens follows Kofi with his camera in close
proximity, zooming in on these human-like sculptures. If you ignored the
interpretation, you would be able to allow the emotional release that is
experienced to break through even further. This is a meeting between two
creators in which you feel that fundamental curiosity and engagement
triumph.'

For more in formation for viewing or obtaining the vhs tape
contact the producer: Foundation Africaserver
+31-20- 531 8499 or e-mail: [email protected] [4]
With kind regards,
Fons GEERLINGS, director
www.africaserver.nl [3]
www.vmcaa.nl [5]

With kind regards,
Fons Geerlings, director