MAK supports Kosovar culture and presented Fragile State at Stockport Art Gallery, Greater Manchester (October ’07–Jan ’08).
This highly acclaimed exhibition (curated by James Walmsley with portraiture and location images by Paul Cliff) presented 9 leading artists from the Balkans whose work includes painting, photography, sculpture, print and film.
Arian Berisha Ismet Jonuzi
Zake Prelvukaj Eshref Qahili
Adem Rusinovci Agim Salihu
Fahredin Spahija Xhevdet Xhafa
Rudina Xhaferi
Fragile State was the result of 2 years’ research and development in Kosova involving a large, young, MAK curatorial team. Members of the team have gone on to curate further exhibitions in the Balkans.
An extensive programme of education and outreach in the UK included presentations by the artists at Manchester University, Manchester Metropolitan University and the Imperial War Museum North.
Close collaboration was developed with Stockport College (Graphics) and MANCAT (Fine Art).
MANCAT lecturers developed responsive work which was later exhibited in Kosovo (‘Ten’ 2009).
Stockport young people also curated their own responsive exhibition (Stockport Art Gallery 2008), with support from Stockport Gallery staff.
Cheadle and Marple 6th Form College (Performance) developed a 2 year A level programme of work based on the Kosovo conflict, including performance in the exhibition.
Yorkshire Sculpture Park began working in partnership with MaK in 2007 hosting a YSP guided tour for the 9 ‘Fragile State’ Kosovar artists – an artistic highlight for them all. YSP/MaK ongoing partnership projects are artist-led initiatives around the role of art in post-conflict regeneration and education.
