Vizionarsko Drustvo

Description of the project “Artist as ambassador!” in Sarajevo 2009

Background

The project ”Artist as ambassador!” explores how the artist and the artistic qualifications can serve to promote a collaboration crossing ethnic, religious, political and cultural borders and diversities.

Part 1 of the project was initiated and managed by Samir Fejzovic (Norwegian artist with origins from Bosnia, lives and work in Bergen/Sarajevo) and Arne Rygg (Norwegian artist, lives and work in Bergen) in 2008. The Norwegian artists Stine Gonsholt, Line Helen Danielsen, Arne Rygg, Åse Løvgren, Roger Gjerstad and the Bosnian art group Vizionarsko Društvo (Visionary Society) was invited to participate. The project in July/August 2008 consisted of a 14 day workshop, artist talk and presentation at Hordaland Art Centre (HKS) and a final exhibition at HKS which later was shown at Radøy Art Centre. The participating artists were the Bosnian artists Emir Kapetanović, Demis Sinačević, Muhamed Begić and Samir Fejzović from the art group Vizionarsko Društvo as well as the Norwegian artists Line Helen Danielsen, Arne Rygg, Stine Gonsholt and Roger Gjerstad. The project received financial support from the city of Bergen (Bergen Kommune), Hordaland County (Hordaland Fylkeskommune) and Visual artists Help Foundation (Bildende Kunstneres Hjelpfond).

Part 2 of “Artist as ambassador!” in Sarajevo 2009

Part 2 of “Artist as ambassador!” is an extension and more depth going investigation of the project, dealing with identity, reconstruction and rebuilding. The investigation takes place in several layers and can be understood both political and personal. In this sense a connection between the different culture-historical and social background of the participating artists is made. What is the connection between losing a house and a home in war and losing a house and a home due to divorce and economical problems? What is the connection between rebuilding an identity after experiencing actions of war and rebuilding an identity after experiencing a personal crisis? The nostalgic longing for a home in the postmodern world and the alienation in the human-made landscape is also a theme for the project. The subject is in this sense not a fixed construction, but rather something that develops, updates and reconstructs in relation to itself, to history and how the future looks like.

Part 2 of the project will take place in Sarajevo (Bosnia & Herzegovina) in July 2009 and the participating artists are the Bosnian art group Vizionarsko Društvo (the artists Emir Kapetanović, Demis Sinačević, Muhamed Begić and Samir Fejzović) and the Norwegian artists Arne Rygg, Line Helen Danielsen and Roger Gjerstad. Part 2 has also invited the art related architects Jon-Martin Kolnes, Jakob Slettevold and Vedrana Rajic, all living and working in Norway.

This cross-over cooperation between visual art and architecture will be an especially interesting development of the project dealing with the complex matters concerning rebuilding infrastructure and cities in post-war areas. Sarajevo, with its dramatic history participating in many different wars, will be site-specific for the projects theme. The combination of architecture, representing the community and political control, and art, representing the individual and personal experience, will create a creative platform for collaboration and discussion.

The project in Sarajevo will take place in- and outside the National Museum of Bosnia & Herzegovina (Zemaljski Muzej Bosne i Herzegovine) and the botanical garden in the middle of Sarajevo. With the artist and the architect as ambassador the project will function as a frame for discussions, dialog, communication and production. At the National Museum the project disposes several rooms including the botanic garden. As part 1 of the Artist as ambassador, the project will complete with an exhibition, this time in the surroundings of the National Museum of Bosnia & Herzegovina. The exhibition will consist of individual artistic work as well as collaborative projects, and includes installations, photography, painting, drawing, constructions, conceptual and relational works of art. In addition to this the artists will do presentations through an artist talk during their stay in Sarajevo.

Organization and financial support

The project managers for part 2 of the project Artist as ambassador! are Demis Sinačević and Line Helen Danielsen, and they will coordinate the Bosnian and the Norwegian part. Demis Sinačević organizes the agreement with the National Museum of Bosnia & Herzegovina and other local collaborations. He applies, and will apply, on behalf of the group, for financial support from the Federal Ministry of B&H of culture and sport, the Ministry council of B&H. Line Helen Danielsen applies, on behalf of the group, for financial support from KORO, Bergen Kommune, Hordaland Fylkeskommune, The Norwegian Arts Council and The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina. In addition they apply together from the European Cultural Foundation. Also the individual artist will apply for financial support for the project separately, amongst other from the Norwegian Office for Contemporary Art and from Step Beyond (EU).

The projects duration is the 14 days the project takes place in Sarajevo, most certainly during week 29 and 30. In addition to this, the project must be expected to last from the planning of part 2 started in January 2009 and until the exhibition is put down and the project is completed in august/September 2009.