Bosnia Blues (2013-2014)
Bosnia was the country I visited for my Bachelor thesis to find out how a war can influence a culture 25 years later on and how everyday life looks now in Bosnia.
Can a society overcome hate , fear ? Yes it can, at least in a sence of keeping it's character without bitterness. I personally felt "blue" and melancholic for Bosnians, but there was also so much joy , open hearts and acceptance inbetween those harsh moments where I saw the scars this country has as consequence of a war. A war between the years of 1992 and 1995 that still has his influence on nowerdays politics. Bosnia according to journalists and political scientists has the most complicated political system worldwide, as it is led by three different persons , representing Bosniaks, Serbs and Croatians.
Bosnia and especially Sarajevo were facing times of numbness and everyday horror, when Serbian Snipers started to sourround the capital in '92. What later was called the "Sieged Sarajevo" actually is a very peaceful capital , with multicultural backrounds, inhabiting jews , christians and muslims. Since the fall of Yugoslavia though, there was claims of Serbian military & extremists to invade Sarajevo and capture the city. The mix of ethnies facing a right wing parlament in Bosnia , was shortening the fuse for a huge conflict that has then shattered the country. I wanted to find my own image of this Balkan state and it's history and conclude the situation in the country visually in a longterm photo essy.Aalso talking with my generation from 25-35 years old. A generation that has been childs during the war and now is living in a country, that on one side is facing mere structural problems and on the otherside attends to be part of the European Union. This acceptance is of course influenced by political means. But how is the population living in Bosnia coping with regression ? Civil-population that is in fact not accountable for the mistakes and injustice that has happened between 93-95.
My personal perception in exchange with the locals:
I could not believe , that Bosniaks were involved or even intended a war from it's start.
Later in the 90s it becomes clear which initiators are accountable for the war. The UN Tribunal in Den Hague f.e. indicted Radovan Karadzic and few high ranked military generals from Serbia and Republica Srpska . As often it is few persons with huge political power that cause geopolitical conflicts.
Concerning the local Bosnians and especially Bosniaks (Muslim inhabitants of Bosnia) all I recognized was the longing for acceptance, "open doors" wherever you would go. The multiethnical country has so much to offer.
I started my journey,in the heart of the so called "Jerusalem of Europe" - the capital Sarajevo . A cultural melting pot located in a valley, and geographically in the middle of europe. Sarajevo Valley is sourrounded by beautfiul mountainscapes. Retrospectively it is a tragedy, that especially this place as a mix of Religions which was known for long ethnical friendship, in the 90's became the symbol of a war inside Europe.
To quote a Bosnian friend of mine..
"Sarajevo and Bosnia, saw ages of Darkness , but inbetween that Darkness it has always preserved it's soul."
Thank you Lamia, for these words. I couldnt have said it better.
Thanks to all the friends, fixers, journalists and helper that I got to know and who made this project happen. The photos can only depict a part of what is to tell. Something like traditional Sevdah, the happy music, with the tragic underline.
Throughout the work Harm, my translator and student of Balkan History , became my friend and took the time to visit places and families who would retell a little of what has happened. Thank you so Harm ! Without you I'd know half about this beautiful country.
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