“Art against Hate” is the title of a street campaign held from 9 to 10 May in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was organised by an informal group of peace activists brought together with the support of the Centre for Nonviolent Action. Their aim was to replace messages of intolerance and violence in public spaces and fill them with images promoting solidarity, diversity and togetherness.
Young people from Banja Luka took part in the street campaign, working with artist Nataša Konjo Konjević on a mural about reconciliation, coexistence and peacebuilding.
“After the street campaign that we had in Kumanovo at the end of April, this time we’re in Banja Luka, working with young people, artists, who refuse to normalise the hate speech that surrounds them. They seek social change, they want to act in their local community and ultimately make it more accepting and beautiful,” said Tamara Zrnović, member of the team from the Centre for Nonviolent Action Sarajevo – Belgrade.
On the day before the street campaign, the young people had an opportunity to meet each other at a one-day workshop where they engaged with topics such as: hate speech, nonviolence and nonviolent actions. They also had an opportunity to learn more about engaged street art as a powerful tool for bringing about social change.
“We brought together a group of young people who refuse to live in a world that promotes hatred and who are brave enough to stand up to such narratives. We believe we will continue working together after this mural, because the group has very good dynamics and has expressed a desire for more interventions like this one in public spaces,” added Vanja Stokić, member of the informal group of peace activists.
“It is wonderful to be brought together with creative and talented people who want to express themselves in public spaces in a different and more proactive manner. I think this is a good way to do it and a good opportunity to show young people that they can be part of social change at the micro level. They can have concrete impact on the local level,” said artist Nataša Konjević Konjo.
The painted mural is a joint and powerful message that there is no place for hate speech in our societies and environments and that together we can be part of social change.
The art action was supported by artist Nataša Konjo Konjević.
In the upcoming period, a similar campaign is planned in Niš (Serbia).