When I decided to go to Kosovo in May 2009, my main aim was, to meet as many people as possible. To see and experience how they live today. As a german freelance photographer (living in Vienna) it was a very special and quite unique experience to fly with the austrian soldiers (the "Bundesheer") to Kosovo where I stayed in their Camp Casablanca in Suvareka for a whole week.

VARIETY OF PHOTOGRAPHIC ASPECTS



* Army / KFOR / CIMIC: their way of living and thinking, their service, their purpose and peace keeping mission

* Kosovo-Albanians / Kosovarians: their way of living, city and village views



* Meeting with the minister of education of Kosovo: Enver Hoxhaj

* Minorities: Gorana, Ashkali, Roma - visiting their homes, talking with the families

Photo: Sister Maria Martha Fink (non profit org: hands full of mercy)visiting a poor family. 4 days afte the photo was taken, the mom in the middle died of cancer.

Part of the income of the traveling exhibition "FACES OF KOSOVO" goes directly to Kosovo, to support the tireless work of Sr. Martha Maria. For more information contact Claudia Henzler.

* Serbs: visiting the serbian cultural heritage. Seeing some of the most important monasteries: Decani, Pec, Gracanica as well as smaller "properties of designated status" like Zociste and the enclave Velica Hoca. Talking to some monks (because of their "no photography"-rule, I was allowed to take only a few pictures compared to other areas in Kosovo)

* visits of countryside, mountain villages, cities, monasteries

* seeing graveyards, monuments & statues for "national heroes", schools, public buildings (sometimes still with "bullet scars" of the last war), churches, mosques, private homes, army camps, ...

AIMS
*show different "FACES OF KOSOVO", reflecting different aspects of life today, with fun, beauty, sorrow, remembrances of the past and hope for the future.



I would like to help raise the consciousness of the people in the country but also abroad - what for? FOR A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING... What does that mean? A better understanding of one self, ones own "story" with experiences of sorrows, pain but also joy and energy... a growing understanding for "the others", even those that we might want to call enemies. Where can we find good in us and in those that seem so different and distant from us? Searching for solutions that will bring lasting peace.

KOSOVO - MORE THAN JUST SEEING IT BLACK AND WHITE

a photo-video by Claudia Henzler


The photos have been taken in May 2009.
These represent a small selection of about 2500 pictures that show the different "faces of Kosovo".
If you are interested in an exhibition or publishing a photo reportage or want to know more details etc. ... feel welcome to contact me any time.

MEDIA ABOUT THE EXHIBITION:

News Agency/Nachrichten Agentur Kathpress:
http://www.kathpress.at/content/site/nachrichten/archiv/archive/32777.html
http://www.kathpress.at/site/nachrichten/database/35370.html


Photo: FACES OF KOSOVO at the Heldenplatz, National Day 2010

EDWien:
www.erzdioezese-wien.at/content/news/articles/2010/10/22/a25153/

Journal/Zeitung "Der Sonntag":
http://www.dersonntag.at/news/articles/2010/06/01/a4261/detailinfo

Event presentation/Veranstaltungshinweise:
http://www.cyberlab.at/news_files/605994adc6a6f7f563334feb6aace75c-925.html

Faces of Kosovo at the HGM/Military Museum in Vienna:
http://www.hgm.or.at/news.html?&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1&cHash=198a96ebdd45dd028af9caad8dcceff2


Photo: opening at the Military Museum in Vienna. Left to right: Dr. Christoph Hatschek (Vice Director of the Museum HGM), Dr. Harald Tripp (Military Priest), Sister Johanna Schwab, Goran Bradic (Serbian Embassy), Claudia Henzler, Hartmut Krausser (German Embassy), Anton Marku (Kosovarian Embassy)

PHOTOS of the opening of my exhibition in Vienna
www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=173215&id=670093936&l=ebf64adbbe

Photo of the vernissage, 28 May 2010, left to right: Prof. Dr. Johann Günther, Claudia Henzler, Brigadier Mag. Thomas Starlinger, Militärpfarrer Dr. Harald Tripp