Liam Levitz
Fade out
This series of shots was taken inside the National Library of Sarajevo. To quote the plaque outside the building
“Serbian criminals in the night of 25th – 26th August 1992 set on fire National and University’s Library of Bosnia and Hercegovina. Over 2 million books, periodicals and documents vanished in the flame.
Do not forget, remember and warn”
There are a lot of websites and books out there that can tell the story of Sarajevo library better than I can, the links are at the bottom of this description for anyone who wants to find out more.
My experience of the building was both sad and very special. The tourist office had informed myself and my companions for the day that the Library (which has been closed to the public since the attack in 1992) was open to the public for an art exhibition. Upon arrival we found little in the way of art, just scaffolding and the sad sight of the ravaged exterior of this grand building. I tried my luck and asked if I could enter to take some pictures and was told very abruptly that this was not allowed “closed to everyone, probably forever” was the rather pessimistic response. As I was about to leave I shifted my camera strap, revealing the Sarajevo FC emblem on the jacket I had bought that day to keep warm. The man quickly warmed up and discussed football with me (I bluffed an in-depth knowledge of the Bosnian league) and he then quietly ushered myself and two others in.
As ever, I hope some of the pictures capture the feeling I had in this place. It was, is a grand building, beautiful in layout and design, it is also however, a sad empty shell devoid of the history and culture that once filled the various chambers and rooms.
As I left I thanked the worker for letting us in and told him how beautiful I thought the building was. It was one of the few times I saw genuine bitterness and anger while in Bosnia as he told me “it was once a beautiful building, it will never be the same place, the books do not grow back”. His anger at having to spend his working life repairing the cruel and unnecessary damage that was inflicted on his city was evident and moving. I felt both guilty and powerless to do or say anything and shuffled rather apologetically out of the library.
www.nytimes.com/specials/bosnia/context/0812yugo-bosnia-s...
www.theconnection.org/shows/2002/08/20020826_b_main.asp
www.ifla.org/IV/ifla61/61-riea.htm
Fade out
This series of shots was taken inside the National Library of Sarajevo. To quote the plaque outside the building
“Serbian criminals in the night of 25th – 26th August 1992 set on fire National and University’s Library of Bosnia and Hercegovina. Over 2 million books, periodicals and documents vanished in the flame.
Do not forget, remember and warn”
There are a lot of websites and books out there that can tell the story of Sarajevo library better than I can, the links are at the bottom of this description for anyone who wants to find out more.
My experience of the building was both sad and very special. The tourist office had informed myself and my companions for the day that the Library (which has been closed to the public since the attack in 1992) was open to the public for an art exhibition. Upon arrival we found little in the way of art, just scaffolding and the sad sight of the ravaged exterior of this grand building. I tried my luck and asked if I could enter to take some pictures and was told very abruptly that this was not allowed “closed to everyone, probably forever” was the rather pessimistic response. As I was about to leave I shifted my camera strap, revealing the Sarajevo FC emblem on the jacket I had bought that day to keep warm. The man quickly warmed up and discussed football with me (I bluffed an in-depth knowledge of the Bosnian league) and he then quietly ushered myself and two others in.
As ever, I hope some of the pictures capture the feeling I had in this place. It was, is a grand building, beautiful in layout and design, it is also however, a sad empty shell devoid of the history and culture that once filled the various chambers and rooms.
As I left I thanked the worker for letting us in and told him how beautiful I thought the building was. It was one of the few times I saw genuine bitterness and anger while in Bosnia as he told me “it was once a beautiful building, it will never be the same place, the books do not grow back”. His anger at having to spend his working life repairing the cruel and unnecessary damage that was inflicted on his city was evident and moving. I felt both guilty and powerless to do or say anything and shuffled rather apologetically out of the library.
www.nytimes.com/specials/bosnia/context/0812yugo-bosnia-s...
www.theconnection.org/shows/2002/08/20020826_b_main.asp
www.ifla.org/IV/ifla61/61-riea.htm