By: Ermira Babamusta, Ph.D./
New York – The award-winning photographer Fahredin Spahija uses his art of photography as a tool of visual culture and documental photography, to capture human emotions, social attitudes, historical places and people that transcend present time. His brilliant photography is powerful, inspiring and shows how diverse the Albanians are – from a traditional artist in Kosova performing during a dance show, to the interactions of the young people with their playful innocence, to the memories of the older generation. Fahredin Spahija features breathtaking and moving images that allow for a deeper perspective into the identity and the way of life of Albanians in Kosova.
Spahija’s striking images beautifully portray the culture and character of Albanians, who are fascinating to meet and get to know as people. One can easily immerse into the Albanian culture and feel welcome and accepted right away. What attracts others to the Albanian society is the friendliness, the caring and the honor moral code (Besa), which allow for respect, open-minded attitudes and a friendly atmosphere.
As the eyes of the world turn to the nascent state of Kosova, Fahredin Spahija offers a great opportunity to discover and explore the country’s cultural aspects: art, interactions, perceptions, generational gap, with stories of past, pain, spirituality, love, happiness and realities woven into the fabric of everyday life.
This year, along with thousands of professional photographers from around the world, Fahredin Spahija has entered the 2013 “One Life” International Photography Competition. The contest features images for the category “Great Photography Tells Stories”. The judges review the submissions and the winners are selected by the readers by voting via social networks (Facebook/Twitter). The winners are awarded a feature publication in the issue of PDN Magazine, a personal gallery exhibition in New York City and over $75,000 in awards.
Fahredin Spahija’s entry in the One Life contest is titled “Missing People!”. The collection features images of mothers and family members in search of their loved ones post the Albanian genocide committed by the Serbian forces.
“During the last war in Kosovo, the Serbian aggression has caused irreparable damages. But most painful damage is the 3000 people’s disappearance as a result of ethnic genocide against Albanian in Kosovo. A large number of them, today, after 14 years, have not been resolved yet and this exacerbates the situation even more. This is really difficult situation especially for the families of missing but also for the rest of nation. A part of my photographic art I have devoted to this painful and tragic theme, by realizing the photographic project ‘Missing’,” said Fahredin Spahija.
The extreme brutality during the Kosova Genocide and anguish for the missing people is witnessed by Albanian men, women and children. Today thousands of Kosovar Albanians remain missing, never to return home. The fate of the victims and the silence of the missing persons still haunts many families.
August 30, 2013 marks the “International Day of the Disappeared”. Fahredin Spahija remembers the missing and brings public awareness to the Kosovar tragedy. The compelling stories and the deeply disturbing experiences of the Kosova war draw attention to human rights violations that need to be addressed and expose a deeper psychological trauma from the decade-long nightmare. Each image in Spahija’s “Missing People!” collection is a witness to crimes against humanity and a reminder of the incomprehensive inhumanity towards the Kosovar Albanians: the mass slaughter, the empty grave sites, the mass rape of women, the inexplicable imprisonment and assassinations. The question of human rights and justice for Kosovar Albanians remains unresolved!
To view Fahredin Spahija’s “Missing” collection please visit: https://fahredinspahija.see.