The Rwanda Project: The Eyes of Gutete Emerita 1996

"The Rwanda Project: The Eyes of Gutete Emerita" (1996) by Alfredo Jaar is an installation piece that uses a powerful visual metaphor to address the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The work consists of hundreds of 35mm slides, each one a different image. The piece is designed to create a sense of overwhelming visual density and confusion, mirroring the chaos and brutality of the genocide. In the center of the image, a single eye peers out from the mass of slides. This eye is the only detail that is fully visible, forcing the viewer to confront the individual impact of the genocide. Jaar's installation uses the medium of photography to highlight the human cost of violence and oppression.