Examining the dominant modes of remembering through memorialisation policy in Bosnia and Herzegovina reveals the selective approach to memory and the exhibition of photographs titled “War of Memories” is a way to create space for common remembrance.
Moving away from a focus on the enemy and honouring all victims irrespective of which side they were on is one of the missions of this project that works towards constructive dialogue by promoting a culture of nonviolence with a view to building lasting peace.
Damir Bulčević, Chief Coordinator of the Brčko District Government, spoke at the opening of the exhibition about the need for reconciliation and fostering a culture of memory, pointing out that this was the only correct way to proceed down the path to Europe.
Those present at the opening were also greeted by Avdija Banda, a representative of the Coordinating Board of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a war veteran and partner of the Centre for Nonviolent Action, at whose invitation the “War of Memories” exhibition came to Brčko.
It was meetings of war veterans from all three once warring sides that gave rise to the idea to document monuments erected in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina following the last war.
This was pointed out by Nedžad Horozović and Nenad Vukosavljević, authors of the photographs and members of the CNA team.
Nenad Vukosavljević termed this kind of examination and presentation of the recent wartime past conquering liberty, saying that we lack a perspective about the suffering of others.
This exhibition, like all the previous ones, confirmed the readiness of the public to discuss memorialisation policy in Bosnia and Herzegovina and their desire to re-examine their own relationship to the past and critically evaluate the current mode of remembering.
The exhibition will remain on display in Brčko until 30 March and is accompanied by the monograph “War of Memories”. All photographs taken for the project can be viewed at www.kulturasjecanja.org
