My month of being in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia is nearing its end…I am due to come back to the UK on Tuesday and now I wonder if I am ready to come back…or rather would I be back this Tuesday if my ticket hasn’t been booked (see my 1st post)? I’ve begun to get used to the last minute planning that is a common way of operating and organising here and as much as it can be a bit frustrating it is also quite liberating. I used Banja Luka as my base, staying at my mother’s flat, which has been a bit like staying in a tailoring salon – she runs a made to measure sewing business from her flat and one of my current and ongoing projects involves me photographing young women for whom she has made a graduation dress, based on images of celebrities in magazines, Internet, TV etc – see Graduation Dresses project on my site.
Whilst in Banja Luka I made connections with some great people who are working hard on trying to map an interesting cultural landscape amidst an economic and political situations which does not always allow flexibility and fluidity needed and necessary for creative work.
Having seen and been impressed by a documentary film called ‘Posao Snova’ or ‘Dream Job’ made by Danijela Majstorovic, shown at the Riverside Studios in London, I decided to contact her (as I found out she lives in Banja Luka). We had a coffee and really clicked, sharing many similar interests and concerns regarding the culture and media in relation to the gender identities, specifically identity of the women in the Balkans. She is a bright, intelligent woman who works for the Philosophy University, English section, and who in turn introduced me to another bunch of interesting women amongst whom are Darija and Tijana who are organising first ever International Festival of Short Film in Banja Luka, and are putting their heart and soul into the project. The festival is called KRATKOFIL and more info can be found http://www.kratkofil.org/
I heard about a very interesting project, by artist Mladen Miljanovic, who has based himself inside a former army barrack for nine months – he said that “he has served in the army for nine months and now he wants to serve art for nine moths”. More info on his project “I Serve Art” can be found here http://www.iserveart.net (best to view in Safari or any browser other then the Firefox).
And just as I thought that all that’s left to do is pack all my films and camera equipment and get the suitcases ready I get a call from Duga – women’s organisation running ethno gallery and workshops for/by women. They made ‘Pokrov’, the white sheet that forms part of death attire, for a woman who lives near to Banja Luka and who agreed for me to visit and photograph her.
And as much as was pleased to have got a contact of a new woman wiling to be photographed, I was also very pleased to feel the support for the project. This is the support that I felt all the way through my stay here, from the people of all backgrounds, ages and professions offering their time, contacts and advice. I was – am very touched…
