Echoes of Complicity

An art exhibit dedicated to the victims of Srebrenica
Lipa Gallery, Group Exhibition, Chicago, USA, July 9. 2005.
Art reflects pain of Bosnian victims, By Manya A. Brachear – Tribune staff reporter

09. July 2005

Echoes of Complicity An art exhibit and classical concert dedicated to the victims of Srebrenica
Saturday, July 9th, 2005 (5:00 – 10:00pm)
Curated by: Vesna Rebernak

Opening reception with the artists at LIPA

Cavatina Duo classical concert
Cavatina Duo: Eugenia Moliner flute, and Denis Azabagic, classical guitar

Exhibiting artists:
Samir Biscevic, Chicago, Illinois
Kemal Hadzic, Phoenix, Arizona
Cedo Kostovic, Springfield, Missouri
Milomir Kovacevic, Paris, France
Arthur Lerner, Chicago, Illinois
Miza H. Maureau, San Francisco, California
Mladen Pikulic, Rotterdam, Netherland
Endi Poskovic, Los Angeles, California
Nebojsa Seric-Soba, New York, New York
Tanja Softic, Richmond, Virginia

Wherever we live, whatever our nationality, the conflicts of the world have entered our daily reality. Stories of violent death, devastation and terrorism are now an indelible part of the collective human memory.
In July,1995, in Srebrenica, a Bosnian silver-mining town, only a few hours drive from Venice, Vienna, and other major European capitals, Serbian forces killed nearly 8,000 men, women and children while in the presence of UN peacekeepers charged with protecting them.

Ten years after Srebrenica, genocide continues to echo through an often complacent and even complicit world while people of conscience try to resist. Since Srebrenica, we have witnessed genocide in East Timor, Rwanda, Congo, Sudan, the Middle East and elsewhere. We see new resistances rise while the old fall away, but the fundamental problems of ethnic hatred and state-sanctioned murder remain.

How do we respond to genocide and resist oppression in a world that continually emphasizes and exploits differences between varied groups of people whether it be along the lines of race, culture, religion, class, nationality, or sexuality? What role does xenophobia play in world events? Why does the “modern” and “secular” nation-state still deal with crisis by scapegoating certain groups and allowing violence against them? The artwork in this show will investigate these questions and provoke response.