http://www.vmcaa.nl/genocide
After last month's project by British artist Jenny Polak, with its entry into the shrouded halls of US detention centres, we turn this month to an even grimmer subject - a virtual monument to the more than 800 000 victims of genocide in Rwanda.
The site is based on an actual installation of about 300 pieces in wood and mixed media made by the Accra artist Kofi Setordji. The artwork , which took two and a half years to complete, depicts the victims, refugees, politicians, judges and eyewitnesses implicated in the genocide.
Entering the site, clicking on to sketched outlines takes one through to animated photographs of the wooden sculptures - for instance, the shadow of a vulture flies over the wooden death masks of the victims. A text asks a question intended to involve the viewer.
Somewhat heavyhanded, but a brave and gut wrenching attempt at memorialising a terrible event. Genocide Monument is the most recent production of the Virtual Museum of Contemporary African Art- an initiative of Foundation Africaserver - www.africaserver.nl
