[artinfo] [translate] STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR exhibition EXCEPTION/Contemporary art scene from Prishtina

[Nikolett Eross]

Tárgy: 	[translate] STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR exhibition 
EXCEPTION/Contemporary art scene from Prishtina
Dátum: 	Sun, 10 Feb 2008 15:01:36 +0100
Feladó: 	Rosa Reitsamer <rosa at female-consequences.org>
Válaszcím: 	rosa at female-consequences.org
Szervezet: 	Female Consequences
Címzett: 	fem.seq at female-consequences.org



Dear Friends,

I am sending a STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR ARTISTS, CURATORS and 
INSTITUTIONS involved in the exhibition

EXCEPTION: Contemporary art scene from Prishtina,

scheduled to be open on the 7.02.2008 in Belgrade, Kontekst Gallery

FORCED TO CLOSE JUST BEFORE THE OPENING.

The curators and the institution needs an international support!
I send as it was plenty the images from the day of the opening.

The statement is as well attached.
Very best Rosa Reitsamer and Marina Grzinic

Sorry for cross posting.

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PLEASE SIGN AND SEND BACK either to
Rosa Reitsamer: fem.seq at gmx.at  or Marina Grzinic margrz at zrc-sazu.si


STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR ARTISTS, CURATORS and INSTITUTIONS involved in 
the exhibition EXCEPTION: Contemporary art scene from Prishtina, 
scheduled to be open on the 7.02.2008 in Belgrade, Kontekst Gallery


The statement is a reaction to the fact that the exhibition EXCEPTION,
Contemporary art scene from Prishtina (Kosova) that  was scheduled to 
open on 7 February 2008 (and to be on display until 15 February 2008) at 
KONTEKST Gallery in Belgrade WAS FORCED TO CLOSE JUST BEFORE THE OPENING.


The Serbian police that had to intervene just before the opening as they
estimated that  they cannot guarantee safety to the curators and
the public, after an organized  group of Serbian nationalist  forces
attacked the gallery space and even destroyed Dren Maliqi's work Face to
face.

The artists taking part in the exhibition are Artan Balaj, Jakup Ferri,
Driton Hajredini, Flaka Haliti, Fitore Isufi Koja, Dren Maliqi, Alban 
Muja, Vigan Nimani, Nurhan Qehaja, Alketa Xhafa and Lulzim Zeqiri


On 8 February 2008, the curators of the project Vida Knezevic, Kristian
Lukic, Ivana Marjanovic and Gordana Nikolic asked PUBLICLY the Ministry 
of culture of Serbia and the city of Belgrade to react firmly against 
such nationalist forces in order to protect the exhibition in the
future. The curators insist on the right to present the project in 
Belgrade in the near future.

On 8 February, these violent nationalist forces attacked again, they 
threw stones in the  windows of the KONTEKST gallery and broke them and 
as well they destroyed gallery's sign on the door.

All of us signed under this statement are expressing our support TO 
ARTISTS, CURATORS and INSTITUTIONS  involved in the exhibition 
EXCEPTION: Contemporary art scene from Prishtina.

We ask the Serbian Government and the governmental bodies of the Serbian
Ministry of Culture as well as the Belgrade city council and city
institutions to ACT and PROTECT (in accordance with the law) the 
artists, curators and institutions involved in the organization of the 
exhibition project. Also, we apply to these bodies to ask for the 
SUPPORT and help in organizing the reopening of the project and to allow 
an open non violent platform discussion on the topic.

The exhibition is an important project by the young generation in Serbia 
who is willing to see, discuss and understand historical and current 
relations between Serbia and Kosova.

The exhibition was presented previously at the Museum of Contemporary 
Art Vojvodina, Novi Sad (22.01 - 05.02.2008). The exhibition is a joint 
effort of two organizations Kontekst, Belgrade, and Napon, Novi Sad.

THE SIGNED STATEMENT WILL BE SEND TO ARTISTS, CURATORS AND INSTITUTIONS
INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT, TO SERBIAN'S GOVERMENTAL BODIES, BELGRADE CITY
COUNCIL'S BODIES and SERBIAN MASS MEDIA.

SIGNATURES:



Rosa Reitsamer, Vienna, gallery aRtmosphere

Manuela Schreibmaier, Vienna, gallery aRtmosphere

Marina Grzinic, Ljubljana, Vienna, artist and researcher

Tanja Passoni, Ljubljana, freelance translator

Sebastjan Leban, artist and theoretician

Staš Kleindienst, artist and theoretician

Reartikulacija, artistic-political-theoretical-discursive platform