Paperbomb

IMAGINE ALL BOMBS ARE MADE OF PAPER...

Nezilla: Paperbomb, 2022, sculpture, Paradiso, St. Moritz, Suisse Nezilla: Paperbomb, 2022, sculpture, Paradiso, St. Moritz, Suisse

Monumental yet fragile - Nezilla's sculpture PAPERBOMB is a symbol of peace, remembrance and friendship. She is currently embarking on a journey to exhibition sites in France that are historically linked to wars. 

Inspired by the 1,600 origami cranes of the Hibakusha Sadako Sasaki, which are considered a universal symbol of peace, Nezilla transfers the message into a new medium. The formal design of the installation, which, despite its metallic construction, refers to the fragility of the material paper, reflects the ambivalence of destruction and creation as well as war and peace. Massive and inescapable, it challenges viewers to come to terms with its presence. In this way, the PAPERBOMB mirrors the role of the individual between fragility and permanence in the fight for peace: If we do not fight for peace, then it does not exist.

A first message of peace was conveyed by Phillippe Hansch, Director of the World Centre for Peace, Freedoms and Human Rights (Centre Mondial de la paix – Verdun), who presented the PAPERBOMB at the JEJU FORUM FOR PEACE & PROSPERITY in South Korea.

MANNHEIM

Around this year's French fête nationale, one of Nezilla's PAPERBOMB sculptures will be on display in the Reiss-Engelhorn Museums. On July 13 and 14, interested parties can visit the temporarily installed sculpture in the Zeughausgarten, before a PAPERBOMB created especially for Mannheim will be permanently exhibited from May 9, 2025, on the occasion of Europe Day.

On July 9, Nezilla, together with Helmut Augustin, Folker Zöller and Wilfried Rosendahl, presented a miniature version of the PAPERBOMB to Mannheim's mayor Christian Specht.

Handover of the miniature PAPERBOMB to the mayor in the Zeughausgarten | f.l.t.r: Helmut Augustin, President of the Salon Diplomatique, artist Nezilla, Folker Zöller, Honorary Consul of France and Wilfried Rosendahl, General Director of the Reiss-Engelhorn Museums | ©rem, Photo: Maria Schumann Handover of the miniature PAPERBOMB to the mayor in the Zeughausgarten | f.l.t.r: Helmut Augustin, President of the Salon Diplomatique, artist Nezilla, Folker Zöller, Honorary Consul of France and Wilfried Rosendahl, General Director of the Reiss-Engelhorn Museums | ©rem, Photo: Maria Schumann

"It is a great sign of German-French friendship that, in addition to three sculptures in France, a PAPERBOMB is also coming to us in Mannheim. This also honors the cooperation between the Reiss-Engelhorn Museums, the Institut français and the city of Mannheim," stresses Lord Mayor Christian Specht. "The Zeughausgarten is a place steeped in history; after all, during the Electorate, bullets against the French attackers were stored in the Armory." "The weapons depot is now becoming a peace garden," adds rem General Director Prof. Dr. Wilfried Rosendahl.

During the reception hosted by Honorary Consul Folker Zöller on the occasion of the French national holiday, followed by a bal populaire, numerous visitors took the opportunity to take a last look at the PAPERBOMB before the sculpure finds its permanent place on the Hartmannswillerkopf in France.

Die PAPERBOMB im Zeughausgarten der Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen Mannheim | ©Estella Cottini Die PAPERBOMB im Zeughausgarten der Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen Mannheim | ©Estella Cottini

FRANCE

By intentionally placing the work at locations in France that were the scene of massacres and crimes during the First and Second World Wars, the PAPERBOMB now takes on a contextual meaning. While exhibiting the PAPERBOMB at historically charged locations amplifies tensions inherent in the work, it becomes a memorial against forgetting and serves as an appeal to actively work for peace. In a global society marked by war conflicts, the message of maintaining peace as a common goal is more urgent than ever.

The different locations refer to the territorial extent of the war crimes and at the same time point to the many individual fates of the victims. This creates a unique, location-dependent dynamic between the work and its surroundings, which initiates an ongoing dialogue and thus creates an overall picture that vividly shows the viewer how quickly their own actions can become a threat.

As a memorial against forgetting and as a symbol of peace, the PAPERBOMB reminds us that we must learn from history in order not to repeat the mistakes of the past. In its artistic exploration, the work embodies not only the memory of past deeds but also the hope for a more peaceful future, based on political friendship and solidarity.

Nezilla: Paperbomb, 2022, sculpture, Tulle, France Nezilla: Paperbomb, 2022, sculpture, Tulle, France

TULLE

June 9th marks the 80th anniversary of the massacre of 99 innocent civilians and the deportation of over 150 other civilians, 101 of whom never returned. To commemorate this disgraceful event, a two-meter version of the PAPERBOMB will be unveiled at the central memorial site, the Champ des Martyrs.

The following day, French President Emmanuel Macron visited the sculpture at the memorial site. Afterwards, in Oradour-sur-Glane, he was presented with a miniature version of the PAPERBOMB by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Nezilla with President Macron, Folker Zöller, Consulat honoraire France, Roland Gonieu and Alain Peuch, contemporary witnesses and leading members of the Committee of Martyrs in Tulle and Phillippe Hansch, Director of the Centre Mondial de la paix – Verdun Nezilla with President Macron, Folker Zöller, Consulat honoraire France, Roland Gonieu and Alain Peuch, contemporary witnesses and leading members of the Committee of Martyrs in Tulle and Phillippe Hansch, Director of the Centre Mondial de la paix – Verdun

In Oradour-sur-Glane, the Federal President presented his French counterpart Macron with a miniature version of the sculpture, which keeps the memory of the deeds of the past alive and at the same time serves as a symbol of reconciliation and dialogue. "The sculpture 'Paperbomb' reflects the fragility of peace and the need to preserve it. It stands for our shared responsibility to keep the memory alive and to work together for a peaceful future," explained Steinmeier.

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier presents the miniature version of the PAPERBOMB to French President Emmanuel Macron as a symbol of remembrance and reconciliation Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier presents the miniature version of the PAPERBOMB to French President Emmanuel Macron as a symbol of remembrance and reconciliation

HARTMANNSWILLERKOPF

The Hartmannswillerkopf was a site of fierce fighting between German and French troops during the First World War. The battle for the summit began on December 31, 1914. The most intense clashes took place on January 19/20, March 26, April 25/26 and December 21/22, 1915, and resulted in the deaths of over 30,000 soldiers.

The Comité du Monument National du Hartmannswillerkopf (CMNHWK) was founded 100 years ago to honour all fallen soldiers and to preserve the monument. Passing on the duty of remembrance to visitors and future generations is the CMNHWK's top priority.

On August 3, 2024, a two-meter version of the PAPERBOMB will be permanently exhibited as part of a ceremony at Hartmannswillerkopf – 110 years after the start of the First World War, 100 years after the founding of the memorial and ten years after the official 100-year celebrations with Presidents Hollande and Gauck.

ORADOUR-SUR-GLANE

On May 9, 2025, a two-meter version of the PAPERBOMB will be installed in front of the northern entrance to the original village of Oradour-sur-Glane, which was destroyed by the Nazis on June 10, 1944, where 643 people were brutally murdered.

This placement creates not only a material but also a symbolic transition between the old, destroyed and the new Oradour. The chosen date in 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe.

Eine Reise gegen das Vergessen

Together with 20 German and 20 French students, Nezilla is planning a cultural trip to the historically significant sites of the First and Second World Wars in October 2024, including Vieil Armand in Alsace as well as Moulins and Tulle. At each of these places, the students will read out letters and texts from fallen soldiers and contemporary witnesses.

The trip will enable the students to expand and strengthen the German-French friendship. It will help not to forget the massacres. By sharing experiences, exploring history and commemorating the victims together, prejudices and barriers can be reduced, and a sense of solidarity and mutual understanding can be created.

The project is under the patronage of H.E. François Delattre, Ambassador of France to Germany and H.E. Stephan Steinlein, Ambassador of Germany to France.

The trip is kindly supported by the French Honorary Consulate in Mannheim, 80 ANS DE LA LIBÉRATION, the Institut Français Mannheim and the association Le Souvenir français.

JEJU FORUM FOR PEACE & PROSPERITY

Eine erste Friedensbotschaft übermittelte bereits Phillippe Hansch, Direktor des Weltzentrums für Frieden, Freiheiten und Menschenrechte (Centre Mondial de la paix – Verdun), der die PAPERBOMB auf dem JEJU FORUM FOR PEACE & PROSPERITY im Mai 2024 in Südkorea vorstellte.

Phillippe Hansch presents Vice Governor Kim Ae-Sook with a miniature version of the PAPERBOMB at the JEJU FORUM Phillippe Hansch presents Vice Governor Kim Ae-Sook with a miniature version of the PAPERBOMB at the JEJU FORUM
Lee Jae Jin, Tamari Masahito, Yunju Ko, Ekaterina Zagladina, Vice Governor Kim Ae-Sook, Philippe Hansch, Ito Gensei und Bu Jongbae at the session „Global Peace Cities Solidarity: Sub-Nation Diplomacy based on Network among Cities and Regions“ Lee Jae Jin, Tamari Masahito, Yunju Ko, Ekaterina Zagladina, Vice Governor Kim Ae-Sook, Philippe Hansch, Ito Gensei und Bu Jongbae at the session „Global Peace Cities Solidarity: Sub-Nation Diplomacy based on Network among Cities and Regions“

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