Is time to talk about the main topic of Express.
At the National Library of Kosovo
days ago, an exhibition talking about
everyday life in North Korea was open.
We had a reportage about that,
and we gave information about
the content of this exhibition.
But, we will talk again about this cultural
event since it opened a big debate.
Mainly because most of them were negative
We will discuss them now in this talk.
Photos are spreading in facebook pretending
that the Library has replaced photographs
of our Renaissance authors with those
of the North Korean Leader.
If these negative comments are righteous
or is a total misunderstanding
of the concept of the exhibition
will be discussed here today
with our guest from the National Library
Rudina Tahiraj.
Welcome Rudina, welcome to Express
Thank you for the invitation.
Thank you too, for accepting our invitation
to clarify this situation and the debate
that probably you did not expect to happen.
So Rudina let's talk again about
what concerned the public
about the last exhibition at the Library.
What's about this exhibition?
Thank you! Firstly because of
the space you gave us to be here.
Not because of our need to clarify anything
because I think everything is already clear
what the Library or the Author
wanted to present in this exhibition.
But most of all to add information
where it's needed.
For our public.
So, the author is from Norway.
and the exhibition is also supported by
the Norwegian Embassy.
The author himself was present at the opening
He addressed the audience
but probably he failed to explain
the concept and idea behind the exhibition.
I think that in general
at the opening ceremonies
explaining the concept is not the goal.
I believe we live in a time
when the concepts are given before.
The Library and Traavik.Info already did it.
The opening ceremony is a kind of party
in our case, the artist Morten Traavik
was there, the director of the Library
Mr. Fazli Gajraku and also
the Norwegian Ambassador.
Said that the public had all the chances
to see the full photographic installation
and also a documentary film
by Morten Traavik, done in the time
he was in North Korea.
What I want to stress is that
Mr. Morten Traavik has a long and varied
experience in North Korea.
And he really knows their everyday life.
Morten Traavik came in Kosovo
to present who he perceives
the everyday life in North Korea.
In what he acknowledges as a dictatorship
and isolation of a country
in these modern times.
As we talk you can see some footage
from the exhibition
there are people visiting it.
With what you could see,
was the public interested to see the exhibition
even by curiosity after the comments
and the debate started on Facebook?
I want to say that unfortunately
this was an exhibition which did not
attract attention on an opening day,
even thought it was well promoted.
The media was not interested in it.
They become interested in it,
if I can call it like that,
after individuals or different groups
thought it was reasonable to talk
about the exhibition or criticizing it.
I think that to criticize an exhibition
first, you have to be informed.
All the background of the exhibition
was available on different platforms.
The concept of the author and also
the content of the exhibition,
all the information was there I think.
And to create an idea or
criticize another you have to visit the LIbrary.
Exactly. Before we talk more about the concept
of the exhibition, as you mentioned,
to add more information about it.
Now we will see an interview with
the author of the exhibition done
during the opening ceremony.
I'm following up on the discussion
where you left it, before the author's interview.
Most of the people had spoken before
actually seeing which were the photos
exposed. They're focused on
the image of the dictator, Kim.
And probably just mentioning his name
produces debate without having
much information.
Could you Rudina explain to us
very shortly, since you represent the Library
why was interesting for you to include
in your repertoire this exhibition.
And also about the subject, it presents,
why do you think it was important to share
with the public?
Morten Traavik this July submited
a request to the Library
to bring the exhibition Guardians of Paradise
in Pristina.
Apparently the National Library impressed
him for its architecture
and as a cult object and important object
for the preservation of the cultural
heritage and arts.
In his request was clear all the background
of the exhibition.
Meaning that the exhibition
Guardians of Paradise was premiered
in Gjirokastra, at Kadare's House.
So, an exhibition depicting everyday life
in a totalitarian country like North Korea,
was shown in, as the author says,
in the land where the dictator of Albania was born
and at the same time Ismail Kadare.
And because of him, Ismail Kadare,
being an important figure for our culture,
he decides to confront in this context
a dictator like Kim of North Korea.
The same happens in the National Library.
According to his concept,
he wants to confront these opposed figures.
We are talking about the Albanian
Renaissance authors, who prepared the
the cultural path for Kosovo,
confronted with Kim.
Father and son of North Korea.
Obviously it depends on the public
how to view it, even literaly
this confrontation we did with Naim Frasheri
or other Rennainssance authors with Kim.
It is up to the public to see it as
conjunction of figures
or as space where opposed figures
are confronted.
And obviously this can arouse something
to the population.
I feel sorry it aroused only criticism
but there is much more behind the figures
and art than just the faces of people
they represent.
It is not uncommon that artists use
their work to provoke debate, maybe this
was also the case of the Norwegian artist.
From the beginning
it was explained that the purpose
of this exhibition was not to promote
dictatorship but to show maybe
the opposite of what we are living,
to show the life in what we call dictatorship.
Did you think about the reactions
before opening the exhibition?
Did you predict it somehow this reaction?
I think is in the core of every art work,
of every photographic installation,
of every exhibition to tease the thinking
but absolutely not to provoke the population.
The Library never attempted to provoke
or hurt its public.
Indeed we hoped for reactions
but for this kind of reactions,
we couldn't imagine.
What I want to emphasize again
is that the public
did not take sufficient information
about the content of the exhibition.
There is a quote by Milan Kundera in the
beginning of the exhibition which
eliminates 100% any allegation of the
the exhibition being a promotion
of dictatorship.
And then you have the photographs
expressing strongly
the everyday life of the North Koreans
through dictatorship and the system
in which they live.
In a way, the author wanted to share
his experience and what he saw in
a country that is not that easy to visit.
Someone from the Library staff told
to our correspondent that the students
who are the people that most frenquently
use the Library were not happy about
this exhibition.
Did they have the chance to approach you
and get more information before reacting?
Or is the case of disinterest
toward the content.
As I said before, the information
was available everywhere.
Days before the opening we gave flyers,
also, the installation was implemented
days before meaning that was enough space
to get informed.
If the students did not like what they saw,
I can say that the exhibition
was not set to be liked or disliked
by anyone.
I was set to provoke thinking.
An exactly on the principle of allowing
an artist to establish a communication
with our public, we collaborated with
author for this exhibition.
The debates are always well received,
but we think that always when you discuss
about something,
you should have the proper information.
I really hope that after this interview
all of those who somehow felt hurt
by this exhibition could get through
some more information.
And if then they'll still have the same
opinion is on everybody's right to think
Did you as Library, ever thought or
at least were you influenced by
the comments and critics mainly in the
social media,
to take down the exhibition before
the announced date?
In fact, I don't think we can
call it proper criticism,
what has been done until now.
It is more a confrontation of ideas...
the Library want's to clarify the reason
why we chose to make this collaboration
We are there
In fact, how can we stand behind a
criticism of promoting dictatorship
when we are not doing that?
I don't know if taking down the exhibition
would be reasonable.
Let's talk a bit about that
because of many requests coming
at our newsroom to visit again
the exhibition since we talked about that
from the beginning.
Because they don't understand how
we reacted and accepted this exhibition
and the work of this author.
But for the ones that want, is there
any option contact the Library
even via web pages or something else?
Yes, we are absolutely transparent
with everybody.
We, the Library, did not receive any
direct criticism.
Directly to us.
We accepted questions from the media,
and we responded to different questions
But we saw a tendency from the media
to reconfirm the criticism that they found
from the public.
I'm saying public but actually I don't know
if they are the public or just some individuals
who took a lot of attention.
And actually our answers
were not transmitted correctly.
It was a tendency to not receive
information about the exhibition or the artist.
Except one media who talked directly to
Mr. Morten Traavik.
No one else wanted to communicate with him.
It means that the author knows about the debate.
Yes, and he is open to comments
and sincere discussions
about the exhibition.
Is he surprised about the reactions
in Kosovo?
Because I believe he has shown
this exhibition in other places
and I don't know how was the reaction
in other places?
Mr. Traavik is very surprised
and disappointed
Not disappointed from the people
of Kosovo but from the expectations
about bringing his work.
He knows all had happened after the opening
and he is open for everybody,
for people or media
who wants more information.
But also with a little google research
you can get links and informations
about Mr. Morten Traavik and his art.
I hope for those who want to know
more can go online
and find more answers.
We are at the end of our time
shortly if you want to say something
to our public especially to those
who now wants to really visit
the exhibition to find out if
they unintentionally prejudged
the exhibition or not.
How long will the exhibition last?
These are the last days of the exhibition
meaning in the 11th will be the last day.
So there are only 3 days.
Except for Sunday that we are closed.
We invite everybody to visit the exhibition
to change their mind or just to get informed
Or simply to tease their critic mind.
We welcome everybody.
Rudina thanks you for being here
we'll welcome you for other talks
hoping to have good debates too.
Thank you very much