Photography

During the siege, the continuation of normal life in the city, continuation of creativity, for all citizens of Sarajevo was as important as bread or medicine or water.

This segment in FAMA research period 1992-1996 contains the question "Could you describe a creation of yours?" and interviewees' answers. Sarajevans (in this case: interviewees) created and accepted this model in order to survive: "We were all innovators of our own methods of survival" – as put by one of the respondents.

Sources: FAMA Collection 1992-1996: Oral History, Survival Questionnaire, Sarajevo Life Magazine, archival video and photo collection.

SURVIVAL GARDEN

© FAMA Collection - Visual Archives 1992-1996

Drago Resner, photographer, made a photo of urban survival garden under sniping and shelling. After the Soros Foundation donated 16,000 bags of garden seeds, Sarajevo became one large garden of survival. Every patch of soil was used for gardening, be it at a window sill, balcony or behind a house, or a city park.

‘TRASH’ FASHION SHOW

© FAMA Collection - Visual Archives 1992-1996 (Milomir Kovačević)

Milomir Kovačević, photographer made a sensational photos of Trash fashion show. You could tell that those dresses brought out of mothballs were beautiful, and those young girls looked beautiful in them. The fashion show was actually cheerful: although shells were falling all around, the atmosphere was nice. There were torches instead of electric light, or reflectors.

DAILY LIFE

© FAMA Collection - Visual Archives 1992-1996 (Rikard Larma)

Rikard Larma, photographer, at the beginning of the siege became a war photo reporter for ‘The Associated Press’ news agency. During the siege he took a great photo of Vijećnica, National Library, burnt and ruined by shelling attack and people washing the laundry in river Miljacka across a street.