L'Archive: A Memorial to the Victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi

The Centre national des arts plastiques (Cnap) is inaugurating a new memorial in the public space in tribute to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

This permanent work by artist Grada Kilomba stands on the Habib Bourguiba Esplanade in Paris, overlooking the Seine. It was inaugurated on 2 June 2026 in the presence of Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, and Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda.

The work was created as part of a public commission launched in 2023, based on a concept paper prepared by the association Ibuka France. The commission was initiated by the French Ministry of Culture and implemented by the Cnap. Installed in the public space, the memorial reflects the intention to create a place for remembrance, transmission and reflection dedicated to the memory of the more than 800,000 victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi.

Entitled L'Archive, the work consists of two black brass stelae resting on a slab of lava stone. Through its understated form and evocative power, it invites visitors to engage with this history and the responsibility of passing it on.

To mark the inauguration, a dedicated section explores the genesis of the project, the various stages of its development, and the archives produced throughout the public commission process. This resource extends the discovery of the work while shedding light on its artistic, historical and memorial dimensions.

Explore the dedicated section

Through this project, the Cnap reaffirms its commitment to supporting contemporary creation in the public realm and its role in developing artistic projects that address issues of memory, transmission and collective reflection.