The Haitian Freedom! sculpture, commissioned by Christian Aid and National Museums Liverpool for its permanent home in the new International Slavery Museum, which opens on 23d August – the day Haitian slaves started their fight for freedom – becomes a key exhibit.
The museum will feature dynamic displays about the story of the transatlantic slave trade and its legacy addressing issues such as freedom, identity, human rights, racial discrimination and cultural change.
Haiti became the first independent black republic in 1804. Today, in part due to of unfair terms of trade and hefty international debt repayments, it’s the poorest country in the western hemisphere. According to UN statistics 82% of its rural population lives below the poverty line and 70% of the population is unemployed.
Unfair trade rules make it impossible for local farmers to compete with food imports from richer countries. As a result many thousands flood into the cities to find jobs. But few find work and many resort to joining the armed gangs which dominate most of the slum areas.
The contemporary sculpture, made out of recycled objects such as metal car parts and raw junk found in the dangerous slums of the capital, Port-au-Prince, was created by Haitian artists Eugene, Celeur, Guydo and Mario Benjamin in collaboration with youth groups run by Christian Aid partner APROSIFA, which works with young people to give them an alternative to gang life and lobbies for basic education and health care.
Eugene, one of the sculptors said: ‘Haitians fought for their freedom many years ago, but that’s not freedom if you don’t have anything, no food, no electricity, no books and can’t send your children to school. People in my country are fighting for this every day.’
The sculpture has already received the support of Christian Aid’s trade ambassador and award-winning actor and playwright Kwame Kwei-Armah. He said: ‘The Freedom! sculpture is a reminder that art can ask the question that politicians sometimes cannot. The sculpture is here to say what we can do. We can send the message that we no longer want anywhere in the world to be enslaved by poverty and by unjust trade rules.’
David Fleming, Director of National Museums Liverpool said: ‘This remarkable sculpture is an important work of art in its own right, but it also symbolises the links between the historic transatlantic slave trade and contemporary issues of freedom, enslavement and global inequalities. It is fitting that its permanent home will be in the International Slavery Museum, due to open on the anniversary of the revolution which created Haiti.’
People are encouraged to take campaigning action at www.pressureworks.org to help change unfair international trade rules and debt terms as part of the fight for freedom and basic human rights today. For more information about the museum visit www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk
Eugene, one of the four Haitian artists who created Freedom! will be available for interviews at the press view of the International Slavery Museum at 12pm-2pm on Monday, 20th August 2007.
For images, video and interviews with Christian Aid representatives contact Kati Dshedshorov on 020 7523 2452 / 07984 185838 kdshedshorov@christian-aid.org For interviews with representatives of the International Slavery Museum contact Joanna Rowlands on 0151 478 4779 joanna.rowlands@liverpoolmuseums.org.uk
Notes to editors:
The Freedom! sculpture was created by Haitian artists Eugene, Céleur and Guyodo from Atiz Resistans in collaboration with world-renowned artist Mario Benjamin and young Haitians who are members of youth groups run by Christian Aid partner organisation APROSIFA.
The International Slavery Museum will feature dynamic and thought-provoking displays about the story of transatlantic slave trade, addressing issues such as freedom, identity, human rights, reparation claims, racial discrimination and cultural change.
Christian Aid UK is an international development charity working in 50 countries with more than 700 partner organisations helping some of the poorest communities regardless of race, religion or background. It is also a campaigning organisation challenging systems that keep people poor and lobbying for social justice. www.christianaid.org.uk