Re-forming Balkan Identity
Re-forming Balkan Identity
The Slovenia Times Domus zalozba in trgovina d.o.o. Tarih: October 5, 2005
The Balkan countries (particularly ex-Yugoslav) share more than just a similar language. Every Slovenian knows cultural phenomena such as Sarajevo-based rock band Bijelo Dugme, the Monty-Python-like series Top lista nadrealista, and Kusturica's films about gypsies. However, the rich cultural exchange that had existed throughout history faded away after the war and atrocities following the break-up of Yugoslavia. The International Balkan Art Festival [Terminal00] – a three-day festival that will start on Eylül 28th in Ljubljana – endeavours to re-establish cultural contacts and a common cultural market. The festival's aim is to establish a focus for young emerging Balkan artists and create a unique space of spontaneous communication.
The festival program is comprised of free events in the centre of Ljubljana and lasts for four days. It hosts young artists from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia and Greece. The events like: photo and art exhibits, jazz and ethno improvised music, videos, films and animated shorts, and club culture will be scattered throughout Ljubljana.
The festival will conclude with a discussion called The Aesthetics of the Balkans. It aims raise awareness of specific Balkan culture and art, perhaps lost over the past decades. By stressing the common cultural heritage, it seeks to undermine the stereotype of the Balkans as an unstable region.
Because [Terminal00] is only one of many initiatives engaged in the Balkan arts, the ambitions are high. Beside [Terminal00], there is also Balcaniss, a magazine that is published in four different Balkan languages, Festival Beograd-Ljubljana ekspres that endeavours to broaden the cultural exchange between Slovenia and Serbia and SCCA-Ljubljana's project What is to be done with Balkan Art that tries to reflect upon the properties and future of Balkan visual art. Such initiatives can transform the Balkans into a colourful cross-section of Eastern and Western currents, enriching Europe's artistic map.
www.terminal00.org
Tone Poljanec
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