UNMIK on AIR

19 September 2003

Traveling Painters Part II

(Andrea Saula)

Rene Klarenbek: The world won’t be changed by this kind of thing, not even by arts and artists but we think that arts can contribute in a very specific way, especially in the places where there is no communication. Because the arts is about communication and communication is difficult. And that’s where the artists, the artist from here, not us, maybe can encourage people to do more.

Dutch artist Rene Klarenbek, currently traveling through the Balkans with his wife and fellow artist from Germany, Dagmar Drews.

Hello and welcome to UNMIK on AIR with Sputnik Kilambi and Martin Redi

Their starting point was Den Haag, where The International Criminal Tribunal for ex Yugoslavia (ICTY) is based. From the place where the war criminals responsible for a decade of killing in the Balkans are being tried Rene Klarenbeek and Dagmar Drews continued towards places where the crimes happened. The idea - to use billboards to stimulate discussions amongst the people they encountered.

Using billboards as a medium to open up discussion and get people talking to each other may seem far-fetched to some, but it seems to have worked in this case. During the last two years they have visited numerous towns in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Monte Negro; and now Kosovo.

In Mitrovica you could see them everywhere. The questions on their billboard - what would Tito say if he saw Mitrovica today? Would you like to live in Mitro or Vica? The response, they say, was amazing – and on both sides of the river. Project assistant Maja Cvoro explains the concept.

Maja Cvoro: This was an attempt to bring art onto the streets and through this medium, to highlight certain problems, political, economic and social problems, of course all that in consultation with local NGOs. They suggest what they would like to see on the billboards, the problems they want to focus on and would be of concern to fellow citizens. We are not interested in problems that are too obvious. We want to raise issues that should be discussed but are not.

Pristina is one of the last destinations. The success in Mitrovica left them unprepared for the cooler reception in the Kosovan capital. Local volunteers here came up with a different subject of debate, one close to the hearts of most Kosovans –If you had one choice, would you opt for independence or a 500 euro job”.

Vox Pop: I am Albina Gashi and I’m 17 years old. I want independence for Kosovo because if we would get independence, we could rebuild our Kosovo and have salaries higher than 500 euros.

Vox Pop: Whether the salary is 500, 5000, 50.000 euros, for me independence is more important. If you ask me why, I’ll tell you that everything will come with independence.

Vox Pop: The question is a bit absurd. I have no comment on this issue. Of course independence is the only choice because then we can build strong institutions and a state budget and the salaries will be higher than 500 euros.

Independence of course was the most frequent answer, though some seem to remember the other dictum – it’s the economy stupid! Ten passers-by felt the 500-euro job was the better option, money is everything, was their explanation. In most places, says Dagmar, people describe economic issues as their major preoccupation.

Dagmar Drews: All over ex Yugoslavia you have the same problem about the economy. I have a feeling that the people have to work again together; that they can do something out of it. Last year we were sitting together in a small bar or café and it was remarkable because finally all the people started singing together the same partisan songs. For me it was incredible to see people singing together, having tears in their eyes, having a feeling that they are united again. So, every time the question is opened why all these things happened here. I couldn’t find any answer. It’s still an open question.

So how do they feel after two years in the Balkans? Rene Klarenbek again.

Rene Klarenbek: We are very optimistic about the people we worked with. We worked with wonderful, wonderful people. They are really ready to do a lot for their own communities. Of course there are a lot of people that represent the silent majority. Maybe the silent majority will go like Milosevic and all the other nationalists. Like sheep they just follow the leader. But there are people that are stubborn enough and to say no we have to build up something now, yes I have a role in that, if I don’t do it no one will, I have to do something. For those people we are optimistic, but the Balkans need much more of those people, much more.

All the comments gathered over the last two years will be on show in Belgrade on October 3. The final stage of this Balkan odyssey will be an exhibition in Tito’s birthplace Kumrovec in Croatia.

And that does it for this edition of UNMIK ON AIR> Thanks for listening.