Beasts of Burden: Solo Exhibition

Solo Exhibition OF ‘Beasts of Burden’ which showcases new works. This insightful exhibition was showcased as part of the Belfast International Arts Festival 2021.

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