Body Language
Queer and Activist Artists from Post-Yugoslavia
Curated by Alma Selimovic
September 9- October 7
Opening Reception and Performance
Saturday, September 9th, 3-7 PM
Otis Street Arts Project is proud to present Body Language, a show curated by Alma Selimovic, that will feature the works of seven queer
artists/activists from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Serbia.
The post-Yugoslav region has seen its share of oppressive and dysfunctional governing, warfare and genocide, corruption and inept politics. Human
rights in general and LGBTIQ rights speci cally have suffered as a result of it. People have lived with an acute sense of urgency to resolve issues of
nationalism, discrimination, hostility and social exclusions, but months turned into years and years into decades.
Body Language is an initiative of connecting with queer artists from Post-Yugoslavia and bringing their work to Washington, DC. The goal is to
open an exchange of dialogue concerning issues of importance to both regions.
Body Language includes paintings, photographs, video installations, and a live performance exploring (non)autobiographical stories of bodies, its
expressions, identities, fears and intentions. The exhibit explores issues of gender identity/expression along with its vulnerabilities, hostilities,
transitions and gentleness.
The body is a battleground, the smallest denominator of struggles that take place every day, privately and publicly.
About Artists:
Kristofer Andrić is from Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He is finishing his BFA (graphic design) at the Art Academy in Sarajevo. His paintings
represent emotions and moments of everyday lives and struggles of transgender individuals before initiating hormonal therapy.
Azra Čaušević is from Brčko, Bosnia and Herzegovina. As a queer feminist activist, community organizer and one of core-team members of
LGBT*IQA Association Okvir, Azra is passionate about queer spaces of love, memory and resistance. Azra’s work engages video, graphics and
sound production and design.
Ranka Delić is from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. She currently works at the University of East Sarajevo, at the Department of World Litera-
ture and Library Science. Her eld of interest is photography, giving her the possibility to dream on the edge of reality. Photography allows Ranka to
express how she feels about herself, about the world inside and around her.
Nedžiba Idrizović is from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Nedžiba’s photography explores boundaries set by the society they live in and freedom
within four walls. The work focuses on details and moments of privacy and intimacy that we try to hide from the public. The artist is both in front and
behind the camera, exploring their own freedom, which has been restricted throughout Nedžiba’s life.
Damir Prljača is from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. In his photographs, he captures mostly human bodies by deconstructing the shield (made
out of social constructs) that the body represents. He is a director, screenwriter and cameraman who has worked on many
campaign/music videos and documentaries featuring human right issues.
Anita Prša is from Zagreb, Croatia. She studied graphic design at the Art Academy in Zagreb. Anita’s work researches manifestation of feminine
identity via different objects and ritualistic activities. Most often she approaches her work autobiographically using the documentary form of
representation. She often explores repetitive forms that create the effect of rituals as a need to resolve non-passionate patriarchal awareness.
Alex Spyke is from Belgrade, Serbia. He studied art and philosophy, and currently works in the eld of performance art and physical theatre. He uses
his own body as a primary artistic tool. He believes that it is the duty of every artist to bring the audience into the mindset where they can question
outside problems (society politics) and introspectively think about themselves.
Hours:
Saturdays, Noon-5:00
By Appointment M-F
Otis Street Arts Project
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