Human zoo’ exhibition in Paris... The controversial work, created by white South African artist Brett Bailey, is supposed to be a thought-provoking look at the 19th-and 20th-century practice of exhibiting people from the colonies in human zoos for public amusement. The exhibition is due to open at the Théatre Gérard Philipe at Saint Denis, and the Centquatre cultural centre in northern Paris at the end of November. Both venues are in areas with high non-white populations. Bailey insists “Exhibit B” aims to improve awareness of the racism of Europe’s colonial past, while challenging viewers to question their role as voyeurs in contemporary human tragedies (one of the “tableaux” features a modern-day asylum seeker bound to an aeroplane seat with gaffer tape). But not everyone agrees. A petition has been launched in Paris mirroring a successful appeal in the UK for the exhibition to be cancelled on the grounds that it is just as racist as the colonial-era human zoos it purports to condemn. “The idea that a human zoo of this type ... can be used as a vehicle to reduce racism is ridiculous,” petition organisers – “Contre Exhibit B” – wrote on appeals website change.org. “This exhibition is an insult to the people living in the areas where the exhibition is to be shown who are forced to confront and understand racism on a daily basis. “Freedom of expression is not a good enough justification for our cultural centres to put on this kind of horror show.” Source : France24
Posted on: Sat, 29 Nov 2014 13:35:50 +0000
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