I Will Never Talk about the War Again
HD video, colour, sound
9’42”
2011
Adela Jušić and Lana Čmajčanin exhibited their works independently at the 54th October Salon: No One Belongs Here More Than You, which dealt with visual and discursive methodologies that explore and show the (in)human nature. Adela Jušić presented the work Ride the Recoil, photographs and sound, and Lana Čmajčanin the work 166987 Stitches, embroidery.
Lana Čmajčanin’s and Adela Jušić’s video performance draws attention to the post-war situation, in which the past war in the former Yugoslavia is a recurring theme. Personal experience shows that it is impossible not to talk about the war in everyday life. In this performance, two artists try to express a full range of emotions related to the war, but also to point to different positions in talking about the war; the way how nationalist political parties constantly refer to the war in the media – in order to maintain power and intolerance between the peoples of the former Yugoslavia on national grounds.
Is it possible not to talk about the war?
Why are we doing this?
When will we stop?
Will we ever stop?
Should we stop?
Camera: Ervin Prašljivić
Sound: Lana Čmajčanin and Adela Jušić
Editors: Lana Čmajčanin and Adela Jušić
Language: Bosnian
Subtitle: English
Special thanks to Sloven Anzulović
© Cultural Centre of Belgrade, the October Salon Collection and the artists
Gift Contract: III-5-218/1/14.8.2014.
Inventory No. 1339
Photo: still from the video work
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Adela Jušić (1982, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina) graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Sarajevo in 2007, and received a master’s degree in democracy and human rights in Southeast Europe from the Universities of Sarajevo and Bologna. Selected exhibitions: Manifesta 8, Spain; Videonale, Bonn, Germany; Image Counter Image, Haus der Kunst, Munich; Balkan Insight, Pompidou Centre in Paris… In 2010 she won the Award for the best young Bosnian artist, then the Henkel Award and a special prize at the 54th October Salon. She is a co-founder of the Crvena [Red] Association for Culture and Arts and co-creator of the online archive of the antifascist struggle of women of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Yugoslavia. More information at https://adelajusic.wordpress.com/
Lana Čmajčanin (1983, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina) graduated in sculpture and received a master’s degree from the Academy of Fine Arts of the Sarajevo University, currently is a PhD student at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. She is a co-founder of the Crvena [Red] Association for Culture and Arts. Lives and works in Sarajevo and Vienna. More information at https://www.lanacmajcanin.com/