WHY HAVE WE CHOSEN SARAJEVO?
While searching for information about Sarajevo in 2012, Joanna Zielinska found Bosnia Herzegovina to be a great unknown in Google Maps- just a blank spot with no connections available to the maps of its surrounding countries. Since then, Joanna has been to Bosnia & Herzegovina many times. And she discovered a stunning resemblance between this non-existing map, and specific sociological, cultural and political circumstances that make up the scope of B & H's current situation.
Susan Sontag said that Sarajevo is the symbol of the 20th century in Europe. What does this heritage mean in the 21st century, for Europeans and individuals living in the city? Where is Sarajevo now on the European memory map? It seems that after the horror of its last war (1992-1995), Sarajevo functions as a bad and shameful memory. It does not exist on the cultural and political map of Europe. We strongly believe that Europe should not only revolve around the main cultural and political capitals, such as London, Berlin, Paris. Sarajevo needs international recognition and Europe needs Sarajevo's history, heritage and experience.
The main idea of the project is to fill in this gaping, blank spot on Europe's map with personal stories, which are all connected to specific locations. By building a culturally interdisciplinary project, and by using a broad spectrum of medias and means, we want to create an alternative map of Sarajevo as seen through a very personal eye. We want encourage the local community to change their perspective on Sarajevo, let them introduce their city to European audiences and build the image of a better, united Sarajevo in future. To express their dreams and memories by sharing their reflections about specific spots in the city. We want Sarajevo MemoryMind to be a first part of bigger international, mobile art platform. European MemoryMap would travel around selected European cities, raising awareness about the culture, multiculturalism and history of the Balkan region as an important part of European heritage.
NARRATION:
There are many forms of narrative representation of space. In our project would like to turn to alternative representation of urban space. Using a technique of derive (taken from Guy Debord theory) we want to create psycho-geographical map of Sarajevo build upon the citizens images of Sarajevo.