The Balkans are often described as ambiguous, transitory, a place in perpetual flux. Words like, a bridge, a
crossroad, or a border between the West and the East, or between civilization and barbarism, are often used.
“Humans and gods meet and pass each other on a bridge and on a cross-roads.” (Tsvetana Georgieva). Who
would want to live on a bridge, or a crossroad, or on a border? These are inhospitable places.
I grew up metres away from the border of Bosnia and Croatia in town of Slavonski Brod. Due to it’s
geographic position my hometown was on the frontline during the 1990s civil war. Over a period of three
years seventy percent of the city was damaged or destroyed, many civilians were killed and wounded. The
town demographics changed significantly due to refugee resettlement.
Borders create unstable landscapes which are uneasy places for me.. Yet I chose to live in a country with its
own problematic border. The work I produced for this exhibition deals with my thoughts on being an
immigrant woman in Ireland.
Biography:
DRAGANA JURIŠIĆ is an ex-Yugoslav artist based in Dublin, Ireland. She works predominantly through the
medium of photography, text, film and installation. Since receiving a distinction for her MFA in 2008,
Dragana Jurišić has won a significant number of awards including Dorothea Lange and Paul Taylor Award’s
Special Recognition from Duke University, numerous Bursaries and Project Awards. In December 2013,
Dragana completed her PhD and finalized a three-year long project ‘YU: The Lost Country’ that culminated in
a critically acclaimed touring exhibition and a book. Her work is in many collections including National
Gallery of Ireland, Irish State Art Collection and Trinity College Collection. She has exhibited widely both
in Ireland and internationally. Her solo exhibition ‘My Own Unknown’ was recently exhibited in Gallery of
Photography to critical acclaim. She is currently Artist in Residence at Irish Museum of Modern Art Artist in
Residence Award. www.draganajurisic.com