30. 10. 2010.

Ambassador’s Remarks Opening of Quest for Identity Exhibition 18:00, October 26, 2010, Skenderija

Ladies and Gentlemen, honored guests and friends, thank you for joining us this evening to launch Zijah Gafic’s book and exhibition, Quest for Identity.  

As you all know, Mr. Gafic is one of Bosnia’s finest photographers.  His work has appeared in leading publications, such as Time, Newsweek, and New York Times Magazine. His previous projects, including Muslims of New York and Troubled Islam have earned prizes and worldwide recognition.  This Embassy is proud to have supported his project through a Democracy Commission Grant.

To complete Quest for Identity, Mr. Gafic worked with the BiH Institute for Missing Persons and the International Commission on Missing Persons. Established by U.S. President Bill Clinton in 1996 to support the Dayton Accords in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the ICMP’s work now stretches far beyond the borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s borders. It played a leading role in identifying victims of the 2004 tsunami and helped the United States face the aftermath of one of its own great tragedies, Hurricane Katrina. 

In an atmosphere in which even the most innocent images and actions can be politicized, Mr. Gafic skillfully avoids political statements and lets objects tell their stories for themselves. Through his photos of keys, spoons, wristwatches, and other simple personal possessions, viewers piece together the personalities and stories of their owners.

But these images offer more than an artistic encounter. Perhaps, in some cases, his photographs will help to solve painful mysteries and victims’ friends and family members will find the evidence they need to move on. Although survivors can view these items in person, Mr. Gafic’s project allows them to circumvent a long and painful process. It also means that people can look for answers from across Bosnia and Herzegovina and around the world.

Because of all this, the U.S. Embassy is proud to have been part of the Quest for Identity. It is not easy to contemplate these images and the stories they tell, but they give us an opportunity to make a step toward understanding, and with that, toward reconciliation.

Once again, thank you for coming tonight and thank you, Mr. Gafic, for creating such a powerful testament to those who were lost in the war and to those who survived.