On June 9, 2024, initiated by the city of Tulle and the Comité des Martyrs, the Paperbomb was inaugurated. This masterful 2.25-meter artwork, created from lacquered aluminum, was crafted by the German visual artist Nessi Nezilla. It was donated on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of 1944-2024 by the R. Zöller family and the Diplomatic Salon of Mannheim. A true symbol of peace and harmony between peoples.
A work to guide us towards what unites us.
The “Paperbomb” is an exceptional work of art that combines delicacy and powerful symbolism. Originally made from paper, this sculpture pays tribute to the famous Hiroshima survivor, Sadako Sasaki, and her 1,600 origami cranes. It serves as a poignant call for peace and harmony between peoples, reminding us that the threat, though often invisible, is ever-present.
The Inauguration Ceremony
The Paperbomb evokes both destruction and transmission. Its strength and significance lie in the transformation of its original purpose. Paper, an ephemeral and fragile material, represents messages, memories, and emotions carried over time. Each fragment appears suspended in space, like a frozen explosion, inviting viewers to contemplate the consequences of violence and to reflect on humanity’s capacity for reconstruction.
The Paperbomb is not only a metaphor for the act of destruction but also for the dissemination of ideas and memories,” says the artist. “It symbolizes how history still affects us today, with each fragment carrying a piece of this collective weight.” Viewers are thus encouraged to interact with the work, deciphering it like a puzzle of memories.
A ceremony filled with emotion.
This inauguration, a key moment of the commemorations on June 9th, brought together an emotional crowd: representatives from memorial associations, residents, families of martyrs, local elected officials, and personalities, including Etienne Desplanques, the Prefect of Corrèze, and François Hollande, former President of the Republic, who marked the event with his presence and words of support. Roland Gonieau, President of the Comité des Martyrs, confirmed that this sacred land, with the presence of this artwork, also identified itself as a land of peace. Bernard Combes, the Mayor of Tulle, praised the “bold and essential” work, which helps transmit history to younger generations.
Although President Emmanuel Macron was not present at the inauguration on June 9, he attended the following day, June 10, at the Haut Lieu de Cueille site, to pay tribute to the victims (those tortured and deported) and express his compassion to the families of the martyrs. He had the opportunity to see “Paperbomb” and briefly meet with the artist and the Honorary Consul of Germany, Folker Zöller.
Art in the service of the duty of memory.
Nezilla’s Paperbomb gives a new form to the duty of memory, demonstrating that contemporary art can engage with history not only without betraying it, but by enriching it. This work invites everyone to remember, to transmit, and also to reflect on how to use the past in service of the present.
A foundation to cultivate collective memory and build a peaceful future every day.
