Syndicate: MEETING POINT in Sarajevo

[kathy@thing.at (kathy rae huffman) (by way of Andreas Broeckmann)]

Kathy Rae Huffman

Meeting Point in Sarajevo

MEETING POINT, the first annual exhibition for the Soros Center for
Contemporary Arts Sarajevo convened on July 24, 1997, at the 16th Century
Turkish baths, now a summer garden known as Art Centar ljetna basta CULHAN.
A  program of changing installations and performances, and a nightly video
program, attracted crowds of young and old, who gathered to drink together
and discuss the art on view.  Each morning, a special presentation of video,
>from historic to contemporary video work, takes place in the COLLEGIUM
ARTISTICUM, a 'side program' presented by international artists, curators
and historians. The program continues until September 12.

The energy and enthusiasm for learning about new media is just beginning
among the students and young artists in Sarajevo.  Dunja Blazevic, the
Centerâs first director, has been in Sarajevo now for almost one year. Her
plans for the SCCA Sarajevo include the creation of a workspace for the
continuing  production and education in media art.  Internet is available in
Sarajevo, although it is unreliable.  The young generation often meets at
the hot spot in town, the Internet Cafe (a local watering hole, but without
public terminals for connectivity).  Their interest to connect and
communicate is keen, and  the ideas demonstrated in their video work set the
stage for future online activity.

The first section of the exhibition, was the video program consisting of
'authors' works and independent documentaries.  As a jury member, along with
Mike Stubbs (Hull, UK)  and Sanja Ivekovic (Zagreb) we made comments and
awards on Sunday night, July 27.

The Jury Statement:

"The jury commends  each of the participants for creating works on video
during such conditions, and with such little support or infrastructure.  We
are aware of the courage it takes to document oneâs ideas and surroundings
during and after war.  What was realized was a collective voice, which  we
hope will have further exposure around the world.  We are deeply moved."

Special commendations for three new art videos:

Despite the painful nature of the content of your collective voice, there is
humor and a lucid pathos evident. We wish to give a special mention to three
artists works which exhibit a quality for blurred vision and fragmented
time. With basic production techniques, the sublime nature of everyday life
in Sarajevo during the war was revealed to us in detail, in the works by:

        Timur Makarevic & Amir Mzljac - MINDLES (9.30 min, 1997)
        Nebojsa Seric - SOBA (devoted to my neighbors) (4 min, 1997)
        Zlatan Filipovic - THE ROAD IN BETWEEN by (7 min, 1997)

Special jury award for documentary TV:

        STREETS OF FIRE (60 min,1997) by Adnan Sarajlic and Sasa Kaljanac

We commend this chronicle, created for the local community, but which has
found recognition with the international audience.  The persistence and
courage to show the ongoing  human suffering and strength in the series is
remarkable.  It is important for us to point out that the technical quality
of this work is exceptionally professional, and it is stylistically
appropriate for the content and its youth audience. This program marks the
future of contemporary television that represents people's views in a
hands-off way (from TV).

The prize for best video, with a $1,000. Cash prize from the SCCA Sarajevo,
is awarded to:

        Jasmila Zbanic, for her works AUTOBIOGRAPHY (6 min, 1995)
        and AFTER, AFTER (15 min, 1997)

The video work of Jasmila Zbanic demonstrates a personal reflection on the
war, and her strategy to process the highly emotional events that have
affected her life.  Ritual and performance are healing processes, and
AUTOBIOGRAPHY is a performance work about survival.

In AFTER, AFTER, Jasmila demonstrates her ability to help others find their
voice, and reconstruct their future.  The video creates a tension between
the gaze of the camera and the voice of the childrern, and allows us to hear
and see a 'light' from within that transcends the typical interview situation.

______________________________________________________
A selection of video works from Sarajevo will be screened at the Ostranenie
Festival, Dessau, 5-9 November 97.  A screening is also being arranged in
Ljubljana, sometime in the autumn.  For further information on the videos,
and how to obtain them for programs, please contact Enes Zlatar, program
co-ordinator, SCCA Sarajevo.  scca@soros.org.ba

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