Fatshimetrie highlights a moving exhibition at the Royal Château of Blois, entitled “Faces of Ancestors”. This exhibition features around fifty busts made in 1846, representing former slaves. Among them are the ancestors of the Lily family, whose story arouses intense emotions and deep reflections.
The Lilys, descendants of slaves embarked in Mozambique by a Brazilian ship before being intercepted by the English ship Lily and taken to Mauritius, now abolishing slavery, find themselves face to face with the faces of their ancestors for the very first time. Doris and David Lily, named after the ship that marked the destiny of their lineage, are deeply moved by discovering these busts bearing witness to the heavy past of their family.
The exhibition “Faces of Ancestors” offers a unique opportunity to delve into the history of slavery and to pay tribute to those who suffered from this dehumanizing practice. Viewers are invited to feel the impact of these faces frozen in time, carrying painful memories and resilience.
The Royal Château of Blois, an emblematic place full of history, offers a majestic setting for this poignant exhibition. Visitors can explore these faces frozen in plaster, symbols of a dark era but also witnesses to the strength and courage of those who survived slavery.
“Faces of Ancestors” invites a deep reflection on past and present injustices, recalling the importance of remembering and learning from our common history. This exhibition raises questions about the duty of remembrance and the need to fight against all forms of discrimination and oppression.
By discovering these faces of ancestors marked by the history of slavery, visitors are invited to listen to the silent testimony of those who suffered and to pay tribute to them. A moving experience that reminds us of the importance of preserving collective memory and passing on the lessons of the past to future generations.