[spectre] (fwd) support / contemporary art exhibit from Prishtina closed in Belgrade

[Andreas Broeckmann]

Dear Friends,

we are 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 of misinformation the images from the day of
the opening.

The statement is attached below.

Very best,

  Marina Grzinic and Rosa Reitsamer

--

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:






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