Through art to a more equitable society
14 Jul 2011
We already wrote about the big international Freedom to Create Exhibition which will be held in the National Gallery of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo, from 21 July to 2 August, following its global tour in London, New York, Harare, Kabul, Cairo, and Mumbai. At the exhibition there will be artworks by 38 artists from 26 countries, which were chosen among 1700 entries nominated for the 2010 Freedom to Create Prize, from more than 100 countries.
Within this large exhibition which will finally be on display for the public in BiH there will also be the Frames of Reality Exhibition, a unique initiative for peace building which was initiated in cooperation with the Peres Center for Peace. Within the Frames of Reality segment, the Sarajevo audience will have the opportunity to see 18 photographs which are the result of a workshop for Israeli and Palestinian photojournalists and documentary photographers. Participating photographers are from reputed news agencies who record the impact of conflict on people on both sides of nations in conflict. Their images remind people of the tragic consequences of conflict on humanity, so the Frames of Reality Project uses creative arts to build bridges, foster peace and create harmony. “The photograph of Amjad Hanani who was sought by the Israeli army and killed, the wall which separates the Arab neighborhood of Juarish from the Jewish neighborhood of Bnei Dan in Ramla, Palestinians in the South of Hebron, Gaza following the 2009 attacks, and situations depicting the blurred limit between children’s games and reality, which include violence and weapons, are just some of the sequences which will present to the visitors the life in today’s Palestine and Israel in a way not often seen on the news”, said Ismet Lisica, the Creative Director of D&H Agency, speaking on behalf of the exhibition organizer.
Talent as Inspiration
What is the Freedom to Create organization which will for the first time introduce itself to the public in BiH? Freedom to Create focuses on the frontlines of the developing world, in countries that are struggling with poverty, injustice and intolerance to transform lives through creativity and the arts. This organization plants the seeds for human flourishing by unleashing creativity and fostering harmony in some of the darkest places in the world.
Speaking about the unique opportunity to bring the Freedom to Create Exhibition to Sarajevo, Priti Devi, the spokesperson for Freedom to Create said, “Being able to provide artists who live in some of the most challenging places in the world, a platform to showcase their talent to inspire social change, in this historic and beautiful National Gallery, is a wonderful opportunity”.
“Despite the country’s turbulent history, Bosnian artists, scientists and musicians have achieved worldwide acclaim. Their talent and success is an inspiration for the participants of the Freedom to Create Prize”, said Priti Devi.
One of the four activities of this organization is the above mentioned Freedom to Create Prize, which celebrates the courage and creativity of artists who use their talent to address social issues and transform society through creative expressions. Artists in all creative fields can take part in the 2011 Prize which awards US$100,000 across two categories: the Main Prize and the Imprisoned Artist Prize, until 30 July.
Initiating Change
One of the goals of the organization is to build a more creative, prosperous and peaceful society, and the Freedom to Create Exhibition combines powerful art with important messaging and celebrates the power of the arts to drive social change around the world.
The Freedom to Create Exhibition provides a platform for artists to express the angst, challenges and aspirations of ordinary people and encourages the collective participation of society in perpetuating change. The Exhibition is a manifestation of how creativity is being used to drive social change around the world.
The exhibition will showcase a selection of works by artists nominated for the annual Freedom to Create Prize, giving artists an opportunity to share their talent with new audiences around the world. The exhibition in Sarajevo will feature a compilation of artworks from the 2010 Freedom to Create Prize entries that focus on peace building.
The “Freedom to Create” organization was established to harness the power of art and culture to build more creative and prosperous societies.
“We seek to provide each individual with the freedom to create an opportunity to participate as builders and caretakers of peace and inclusive Prosperity for Tomorrow’s World. In the developed world, we take our creative freedom for granted. But in many societies, political repression, intolerance, ignorance and religious extremism inhibit creative expression, especially for women. Artists play an important role in breaking these barriers and championing creative, economic and political freedom”, says Ms. Devi. All the visitors of the National Gallery of BiH will have the opportunity to meet and see how artists do that, until August 2.
The Judging Panel for the Freedom to Create Prize
The Prize will this year be judged by an international Judging Panel which comprises of distinguished names as Mikhail Baryshnikov, Salman Rushdie, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, and Daryl Hannah, among other global luminaries. The 2011 Prize Ceremony is scheduled to be held in Cape Town, South Africa in November 2011.
From Around the World
In Sarajevo, Freedom to Create will showcase artworks from the following countries: Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, Saudi Arabia, India, Mexico, Gambia, Liberia, Togo, Lebanon, Republic of South Africa, China, USA, Nigeria, Italy, Palestine, Ukraine, Myanmar, Haiti, Zimbabwe, Africa, Iraq, Egypt, Sudan, Iran.
