堀本恵美子（ほりもとえみこ）の写真日記

Yesterday, on February 17th Kosovo declared Independence.
That day Albanians in Kosovo were longing for.

Many countries have clarified their positions by approving the independence of Kosovo.
They are EU countries and USA. Japan is also for the independence.
However, there still exist some uncertainties, since some countries including Russia and Rumania are against it.

The articles of Kosovar Independence were introduced on today's and yesterday's Japanese newspapers much more extensively than any other news of Kosovo ever appeared.
This probably tells that the Kosovar Independence will have a significant influence on the delicate situations of the world power balance, since Kosovo is located just in between Europe and Muslim Asia.

The relationship between Albanians and Serbians were quite unstable, and I am anxious about what happens with the new situations of Serbians in Kosovo.
I think I am well aware of the positions of both sides through the conversations I had with Albanian artists and also with Serbian artists at the exhibition in Kosovo.
I have no word to express my mixed feeling, but I only wish that the Independence will serve as the first step for PEACE avoiding any disturbance.
If a lasting peace is established at the Vulcan peninsula, the key location between West and East, I believe, even the world peace will not be a dream any longer.






An Islamic mosque in Prishtinë, the capital of Kosovo

There are many mosques of this kind where Albanians visit. The looking of Albanians is more like Arabs and that of Serbians is more like Europeans, therefore it is easy to distinguish them for us, Japanese.
I felt through my conversation with them, they have different disposition from each other.






A Serbian Orthodox church on a rainy day.

The church was guarded at that time by a soldier of the Alliance Force with a gun,
in order to avoid any attack by Albanians.
We together with Albanians were allowed since we were accompanied by a Serbian couple.

The sacred place of Serbian Orthodox is located in Kosovo.
That is why Serbians do not surrender the place to Albanians and continue resistance, although 90 percent of population in Kosovo are Albanians.






The river at Mitrovica, north of Kosovo

The left side of the river is the residence area of Albanians, and the right side - Serbians.
The right bank reaches down to Serbia. I hear a bloody battle took place at this river.
I recognized lots of bullet marks on the concrete rail of a bridge.
There are not many Japanese who have been to this dangerous zone.
I took a chance since the exhibition was held nearby.

According to Daily Yomiuri of February 18 a hand grenade was thrown into two buildings at Mitrovica; one is EU building and the other is UN one, and both exploded.






The residence of Serbians at Mitrovica

Let me pray for the safety of all Kosovar people.
I look forward to another chance to have "International Exhibition for Peace" in Kosovo, where we can exhibit paintings drawn by Albanian artists and Serbian artists together.


(Translated by Dr. Ryusuke Nakamura)
････････････････････････････････････････・・・・・・・・・

JR 国立駅南口前・「たましん収蔵作品展」には、只今、堀本惠美子屏風状作品が展示されています。



　　　　　　　　　[ たましん収蔵作品展]

　　　　　　2008年1月8日(火)ー3月16日(日）(入館は5時30分まで）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　月曜日･祝日休館

　　　　　　　　　　入館料　100円　(中学生以下無料）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　たましん歴史･美術館

　　　　〒186-8686　東京都国立市中　１－９－５２　（JR国立駅南口駅前）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　TEL 　042-572-1360

　　　　　　　　　　　 http://www.tamashin.or.jp




詳細は1月20日のブログをどうぞご覧頂ければ幸いです。

3月16日まで開催されていますので、東京方面の方是非見ていただければ幸いです。


浮世絵の葛飾北斎や鳥居清長の江戸・玉川や多摩川にちなんだ名品も展示されています。

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★　↓　一日一回クリックしていただけるとうれしいです。皆様の応援で、多くの方々へ見ていただくことが出来ますのでよろしく御願いいたします。。。♪

★　1日に1回、「絵画」、「マクロビオティック」で、それぞれワンクリックしていただけると幸いです。

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