A lifesize sculpture commissioned by Sorwathé Rwanda for their 30th anniversary celebration of the tea plantation. Photo album
Monday, march 7, 2005, 07.30 hrs, Kigali/Rwanda
After two months of very creative and very hard manual work it is finally happening:
The pickup truck with the driver of Sorwathé S.A.R.L. tea plantation has arrived in front of my art sudio. With the help of eight African employees the lower part of the monument, i.e. the base with the legs up to the hip (all well fixed in a strong wooden crate) is loaded and tied down. Not an easy task considering the weight of more than 300 kg of concrete, but compared to the unbelievable skills of the Egyptians while building their pyramids just peanuts...
What had caused much more trouble was the moving of this part of the monument from its location inside my studio to the front of the house, an action that took us almost 4 hours and plenty of nerves the day before.
The concrete torso, well fixed to a wooden base, is also loaded into the truck. It still remains in its plaster mold because I am worried that the concrete is not hard enough yet and that there might be some damage during the transport.
The remaining parts of the monument, i.e. the head, both arms with the hands and all the scultping tools and other material needed on the site have already been stored in another vehicule.
At 08.30 hrs we are leaving Kigali towards Cyohoha where the Sorwathé tea plantation is situated about 95 km to the northeast of Kigali at an altitude of 2.100 m. The road is paved for about 60 km, but full of deep pot-holes, and the rest is very bad dirt road. Due to the heavy rains during the last days it is extremely muddy, but less hard on our backs.
About 12.00 hrs we arrive at the plantation, all went well. After a quick bite we face our next challenge:
the unloading and putting-in-place of the lower part of the monument from the truck into the locomotive, another breath-taking manoeuvre „à l’africaine“...
But Hans who has been of great assistance to me during these past weeks with his moral support, enthusiasm and his cool and engineer-orientated way of thinking, takes again charge of the situation.
So it does not take too long until the lower part of the monument is safely put into its final destination: the beautifully restored old steam locomotive of the East Africa Railway Company, vintage 1920.
The huge water boiler of the locomotive arrived in 1975 on the tea plantation after quite an adventurous trip by road all the way from Mombasa via Nairobi. Until some years ago it still served to produce the hot steam needed for drying the tea leaves.
The idea of restoring the locomotive by a specialist out of Nairobi and the realization of a life-size monument of the owner of the tea plantation, Mr. Joe Wertheim as the locomotive’s (-and company’s-) leader comes from Mr. Cally Alles, the Sri Lankan general manager of the plantation.
This is all to be a fabulous surprise for Mr. Wertheim, aged 84 and the largest tea-importer of the United States.
He is on his way from the States to be present for the 30th anniversary of Sorwathé in Rwanda, and he has no idea at all about his „double“ in the locomotive...
The only visual information given to me before I started my work was a small photo of Joe’s portrait....
So much for the preface...
Now starts another week of real hard work because the remaining time until the big event on friday, march 11, is short.
Inside the company‘s carpentry, among big sawing machinery, joiner’s benches and plenty of African workers I break the plaster mold of the concrete torso to pieces, noise, dust, huge wooden bulks are moved around me, all very nerve-racking...
Trouble in the locomotive: the steel platform of the tender that had been added later on proved to be too weak to take the weight of the monument
„Joe“ is staggering from left to right. So, I have to call the welders and they quickly reinforce the platform with some strong steel beams.
Again noise, confusion, I am scared that somebody somewhere somehow will crash into the monument.
And to top it off: gusty rain showers, so we quickly have to construct a shelter out of galvanized sheets and large plastic awnings.
And like this the first day on the site comes to an end, by nightfall we retire to the plantation’s guesthouse where Gerôme, the cook, is waiting with a lovely hot dinner. I am exhausted...
It continues like that, tuesday, wednesday, thursday, from 06.00 hrs. to 18.30 hrs, nonstop.
All around the locomotive there is beehive-like activity for the preparation of the big reception: the grand stand is welded and lined, long tables are carpentered and painted, plenty of cleaning and scrubbing and getting it all in ship-shape. The whole back part of the locomotive is covered with large awnings and galvanized sheets, because Joe Wertheim has arrived on the plantation and by all means is not supposed to see his „double“.
Hans had to return to Kigali, he is on standby at the Deutsche Welle Relaystation, so I am alone with my „stony“ friend.
Friday, march 11, 2005 – The Big Day!
Before 06.00 hrs I am on the site, the sun is just rising, lovely blue skies, a good omen for this special day. At 10.00 hrs I have finished all of my work, the second layer of acrilic paint is applied, and the monument is radiant in bright white.
The welders are quickly fastening the steel framing on the outside of the locomotive for the unveiling ceremony, the silk curtain is attached, all of the temporary shelters are removed, and again, but for the last time now, noise, confusion, dozens of workers in and out of the locomotive...
And always present my big concern that at the very last minute something will go wrong...
But finally at 12.30 hrs, all is ready, the monument stands untouched and imposing, and all around everything is spotless down to the last cigarette butt.
The first invited guests are arriving, among them a number of ministers and ambassadors in their official limousines.
Hans is back again and brings my change of clothing. I try in a hurry to switch my appearance from sculptor into „dress code tenue de ville“. I am successful except for dirty fingernails and a few paint spots.
In the meantime most of the 90 invited guests are being seated outside and inside the guesthouse, a delicious lunch buffet with Congolese specialities is waiting. Cally’s wife Amithy as usual has arranged all and everything to perfection.
And finally, at 15.00 hrs , the big moment has arrived:
all of the guests, led by Joe Wertheim and his son Andrew return to the front of the factory where the locomotive stands. Thick white smoke is puffing out of its chimney.
The monument is unveiled by four Rwandese state ministers. Long, joyful ovations and admiration by everyone, the „real“ Joe Wertheim is surprised and very impressed and gives me a warm hug.
Then the whole group moves to the stand where hundreds of Sorwathé’s Rwandese employees are already assembled.
There follows the speech of Cally Alles, the manager. He gives a short resumé about 30 years of Sorwathé and the importance of the plantation for the province of Kimihira and the economy of Rwanda. He talks of Joe Wertheim and his professional success, he praises the efforts of the 2000 employees.
I am then invited onto the podium and receive formal congratulations for my work.
After speeches from Joe Wertheim, the Prefect of Byumba and the Rwandan minister of Economic Affairs, the minister of Cultural Affairs awards diplomas and thanks to a number of meritorious employees.
And as the „grande finale“ a group of Intore dancers is giving a spectacular performance dressed in their traditional war costumes, all animated by the famous Rwandan drums and other traditional instruments. And above all this stretches the huge bright blue African sky with thick white cumulus clouds. What a glorious day...
Around 17.30 hrs the official part of the anniversary is coming to its end, and the invited guests return to Kigali.
We still have a nice sundowner together with Joe Wertheim on the porch of the manager‘ beautifull old colonial-style house.
For a short time some of the Virunga volcanoes appear on the horizon, then the sun sets on what was finally a perfect day, a great project, and another milestone in my artistic career...
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