Levent Bütüçi (Prizren, 1987) began his work as an artist in 1996 even though he had not completed any art studies. For this edition of Autostrada Biennale, he presents Protest for Protest, a work that deals with a subject in Kosovo’s history that is as delicate as it is overwhelming. In fact, the protest was one of the most frequently used tools of self-expression of Kosovar society. One of the most striking examples of such protests is the one at the Trepça mines in Mitrovica, which led to nation-wide uprisings the likes of which have not been seen since the state gained independence in 2008.
Levent Bütüçi tackles these themes by proposing a performance lasting the entire exhibition in which a cart loaded with silent protesting mannequins will travel to different cities in Kosovo, starting with Prizren. Some will protest against corruption, others against rising prices. The aim of the project is to revive the culture of protest and to remember the strength of this forgotten value.
Francesca Melone & Caterina Migliore