Prishtinë – 
Mon Amour





How does it feel to live in Prishtinë? To find answers, young people revitalised the ruins of a burned down sport arena in the heart of Prishtinë, Kosovo. Over eight weeks they created a community and developed a performance with 32 artworks, 120 participants and 2000 visitors. It echoed in numerous news articles (TV, radio and newspapers, including the New York Times)

“Rina Kika was a law student from Pristina, Kosovo – I was studying theatre in Zurich. We were young and we fell in love. I fell in love not only with her, but also with the city of Pristina. The energy of the city and the stories of its people mingled with the corrupt, harsh, toxic postwar society. Together we developed the idea for a performance piece which could express what it feels like to live in Pristina, the capital of Kosovo. The first image in my head was a person singing while running against a wall, again and again. ‘You need a wall? I’ll show you the wall you need to run against’, a friend said to me and introduced me to the burned down sports hall Boro Ramizi.” tobibienz

How does it feel to live in Prishtinë? To find answers to that question, tobibienz, Rina Kika and Astrit Ismaili started a performance art project in summer 2012 in Pristina. Over eight weeks they revitalised the ruins of the former sports hall Boro Ramiz, now the Palace of Youth and Sports, which had burnt down in 2001 and has been used as a parking lot ever since. In the end, it all culminated in one huge performative installation with 32 different pieces, all happening at the same time.

Project in numbers:
120 participants, over 2000 visitors and big media coverage, including the New York Times (Gazeta Express: “best and biggest art event since the war in the region”, “Padyshim, për nga vëllimi, shikueshmëria dhe kualiteti, kjo ishte ekspozita më e madhe e hapur së fundmi në Kosovë. Prishtinë ‘mon amour’.” Jeton Budima, Art Critic) gives an idea of the dynamics of “Prishtinë – mon amour”.

Links:
Facebook
 Complete foto gallery

Media:
New York Times 
Still in Motion
Gazeta Express
BTurn

Title: Prishtinë – Mon Amour
work by: Rina Kika, Astrit Ismaili and tobibienz (core team), people of Prishtinë
Form: Social sculpture – Performative installation with 32 works
Duration: 8 weeks
Venue: Ruins of Boro Ramizi / now Palace of Youth and Sports, Prishtinë (Kosovo)
Date: July – September 2012 (Project) and 08.11.2012 (Performance)


credits:
see below



Credits in detail
 
Core team: Rina Kika, Astrit Ismaili, tobibienz
Space installations: Edona Bajçinca & Desumena Lajci Erëmirë Citaku, Daniel Cosntino, Zgjim Elshani, Alban Fejza, Moritz Geremus, Driton Gusia, Maisa Imamovic, Anesa Imamovic, Brilant Pireva & Yll Xhaferi, James Stodgel (three space installations), Hana Zeqa
Video installations: Ana Dragic, Jakup Ferri, Astrit Ismaili, Genc Kadriu, Marina Markovic, Alban Muja, Nurhan Qehaja, Shkelzen Sejdiu, Hana Zeqa
Performances: Edona Bajçinca & Desumena, tobibienz, Shota Bukoshi, Daniel Cosentino, Shpat Deda, Arta Gashi, Moritz Geremus, Astrit Ismaili, Liburn Jupolli, Rina Kika & tobibienz, Marina Markovic, Jeta & Kreshnik Musolli, Agnes Nokshiqi, Nol Sahatçiu, Genc Zakuti
Music: Liburn Jupolli
Photographers: Orgesa Arifi, Valona Cakuli, Majlinda Hoxha, Jetmir Idrizi, Mersina Xhemajli
Video curators: Lulzim Zeqiri
Film documentation: Ilir Hasanaj (camera/ director), Brilant Pireva (supporting camera)
Tech: Liburn Jupolli (sound technician), Skender Latifi (light technician), Sokol Makolli (technician)
Coordination and organisation: Rina Kika, tobibienz, Astrit Ismaili, Dren Berishai
Public relations: Shpat Deda, Blerta Ismaili, Rina Kika
Design: Zgjim Elshani, Lisa Bienz  
Additional Support: Mehmet Behluli, Hana Bienz, Flutra Dedinja, Astrit Ibrahimi, Shelbatra Jashari, Veton Orana, Skirton Pruthi, Krenare Rakovica, Yael Sanchez  
Performers: Albin Abazi, Ergin Abdullahi, Lyra Ahmeti, Baptiste Amieux, Mirëlinda Avdullahi, Edona Bajçinca, Florist Bajgora, Florent Berisha, Lorik Berisha, Nazif Berisha, tobibienz, Trina Binaku, Shota Bukoshi, Hana Cakuli, Daniel Cosentino, Andra Dauti, Shpat Deda, Rinor Dizdari, Granit Elshani, Bardha Ethemi, Alisa Fejza, Anda Gashi, Ardit Gashi, Arta Gashi, Feride Gashi, Plator Gashi, Vesa Gashi, Moritz Geremus, Rina Gosalci, Elza Hasani, Vedat Haxhiislami, Dioklea Hoxha, Anesa Imamovic, Maisa Imamovic, Astrit Ismaili, Blerta Ismaili, Musli Joshi, Liburn Jupolli, Ardit Kika, Rina Kika, Arta Konjusha, Vesa Krasniqi, Desumena Lajci, Flutra Leci, Rozafa Maliqi, Fidan Mamusha, Marina Markovic, Fikrete Miftari, Buhar Morina, Emira Morina, Jeta Musolli, Kreshnik Musolli, Agnes Nokshiqi, Elsa Pallaska, Ereza Pallaska, Genta Pallaska, Lyra Pallaska, Nita Pallaska, Aurora Popova, Asia Radonciq, Viona Raifi, Laura Ramadani, Lirona Rexhepi, Lisa Sahatciu, Vesta Sahatciu, Nol Sahatçiu, Adela Salla, Lekë Shala, Ares Shporta, Bujan Stavileci, Emin Syla, Alketa Sylaj, Dukagjin Sylaj, Filiz Telaku, Jon Xhaferi, Genc Zakuti, Muhamet Zeka
Stage and hosting crew: Orgesa Arifi, Anita Baraliu, Shqipdon Berisha, Valona Cakuli, Pranvera Chappaz, Rrona Gacaferri, Skofjare Halili, Renea Hasani, Qendresa Ismaili, Vjosa Kika, Din Krasniqi, Ramadan Lecaj, Sokol Makolli, Fikrete Miftari, Blend Mjeku, Arsim Murtezi, Ejup Pllashniku, Sami Podvorica, Diar Shabani, Genc Zakuti