"Historical and Cultural Monuments in Sarajevo Deteriorating Fast as Authorities Look the Other Way" is a headline commonly seen in Bosnian newspapers and media outlets. ‘Veliki Park,’ where numerous cultural and historical monuments reside, is also one of the largest parks in the heart of Sarajevo. These monuments are more frequently targeted by vandals than protected and valued by state institutions. With this in mind, I stole a tombstone from the park and kept it hidden for two years, waiting for someone to notice its disappearance. Of course, no one did. Subsequently, I created an imprint of the tombstone, crafting an exact replica. I placed the replica inside an aquarium with golden fish, pondering whether the history and culture of Bosnia and Herzegovina were gradually becoming Atlantis. Although the original tombstone has been returned undamaged to its rightful place, it still awaits its long-overdue restoration and conservation.
Object
2019 - 2021.
Patinated plaster, glass, two goldfishes,
40x37x30 cm.