About The Exhibition
Belfast Exposed presents a solo photographic exhibition ‘Beasts of Burden’ which showcases new works by Paul Seawright. This insightful exhibition will be showcased as part of the Belfast International Arts Festival 2021. The exhibition opening night will take place during Late Night Art on the 7th October at 6pm - 9pm.
In ‘Beasts of Burden’, Paul Seawright turns his attention to Rwanda. In the Rwandan genocide of 1994, members of the Hutu ethnic majority murdered an estimated one million people, mostly of the Tutsi minority in just 100 days. The genocide spread throughout the country, as ordinary citizens were incited by local officials and the Hutu Power government to take up arms against their neighbours. 25 years later a distinctive project, “Cows for Peace”, pairs perpetrators with their victims. In the project, the groups meet and raise a cow together to reconcile and develop a sustainable future.
In 2019, Paul Seawright accompanied the group as a photographer, creating ‘Beasts of Burden’. Seawright’s images examine what is invisible within this space: the tension of the place but also the delicate nature of the caretakers when working with these animals, the landscape where these atrocities occurred but also a non-judgemental look at the people still inhabiting the land, without revealing sides or social standing. Beasts of Burden offers a powerful look at Rwanda post-conflict and the nature of trauma, reconciliation, and community.
“We are privileged that Paul Seawright has decided to share his recent work on the reconciliation within Rwanda with Belfast Exposed. Following the shocking genocide in Rwanda, the government’s creative Cows for Peace programme, created to bring its broken communities together, is one that can inspire communities across the world.” – Deirdre Robb, Chief Executive, Belfast Exposed
On our YouTube page, we have a collection of videos where Paul talks about his photographic career.
Paul discussed Beast of Burden with acclaimed contemporary artist and Chancellor of Ulster University, Colin Davidson in an insightful Artist Talk. To watch the talk you can click here.
If you would like to see the installation process of Paul's exhibition you can watch here.
The Artists
Paul Seawright
Professor Paul Seawright is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Ulster University and has an international profile as an artist and researcher. His photographic work is held in many museum collections including The Irish Museum of Modern Art, Tate, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, International Centre of Photography New York, Arts Councils of Ireland, England and Northern Ireland, UK Government Collection and the Museum of Contemporary Art Rome. In 2002 he was commissioned by the Imperial War Museum London to undertake a war art commission in Afghanistan and his photographs of battle-sites and minefields have subsequently been exhibited in North America, Canada, Ireland, Spain, France, Germany, Korea, Japan and China. In 2003 he represented Wales at the Venice Biennale of Art and in 1997 won the Irish Museum of Modern Art/Glen Dimplex Prize. He is represented by the Kerlin Gallery Dublin.
Events
Thursday 7th October | 6:00pm - 9:00pm | Belfast Exposed
Free4th November 2021 | 6pm | Belfast Exposed
FreeAcknowledgements
‘Beasts of Burden’ is generously sponsored by Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Belfast City Council.