Desire for Freedom – Dossier: Bosnia and Hercegovina

The exhibition was created by The National Gallery of Bosnia and Herzegovina. At first glance we seem devoid of ideas, as though the art production stopped five years ago and the curators are stuck in time. It seems like we are recycling previous exhibitions because we are not capable of creating new ones. Actually, the truth is that we have created an exhibition whose biggest value unfortunately lies in its indefinite expiration date. Every exhibited piece for itself and the exhibition as a whole are still as fresh and relevant as if they were created just yesterday.

This is an exhibition about Bosnia and Herzegovina, as seen through the eyes of artists; about our present marked by our past; about identities which we have created, identities we have not created or identities we were denied. The exhibition is a history lesson as well as a critic of society. It had this function in the moment it was created, when it was presented for the first time and now as we are introducing it to the public in Slovenia. So, we made no progress – we are still burdened with past times and ideologies; while speaking three equally different languages, we line up beneath “hollow” flags. Our country is the rope around our neck and silence is the highest form of democracy. Welcome to the dossier Bosnia and Herzegovina!

Artists: Gordana Anđelić Galić, Maja Bajević, Igor Bošnjak, Mladen Miljanović, Damir Nikšić, Nebojša Šerić – Šoba

Curators: Maja Abdomerović and Ivana Udovičić

Photo: Maruša Lapuh, GBJ archive