pigeons without legs
“Pigeons Without Legs” (2023) is a photo/video project created in Bihać, Kulen Vakuf, and other areas around the river Una in Bosnia and Hercegovina. The work contains a photography series and three short (~3-minute) experimental documentary videos. It tackles an important present-day topic by examining events from recent history through the lens of a distant future.
Several hundred years in the future, humans are no longer the dominant species on Earth. The world is flourishing, and nature seems to have chosen to exclude us from its evolutionary path. Faced with reproductive challenges and widespread diseases, the human population has dramatically declined.
A group of explorers has unearthed an old tape containing interviews from one of the wars that took place at the end of the second millennium. This discovery might shed light on the self-destructive behaviors of our ancestors.
We expected, and hoped that there wouldn't be a war, that they will find a solution.
However, a solution wasn't found. However, a solution wasn't found...
Believe me, the citizens were not ready. The food supplies were very poor.
When the shells started falling when the alarm sounded...
So, this was a time taken from us, and god forbid this happening to anyone again.
We expected, and hoped that there wouldn't be a war, that they will find a solution. However, a solution wasn't found. However, a solution wasn't found... Believe me, the citizens were not ready. The food supplies were very poor. When the shells started falling when the alarm sounded... So, this was a time taken from us, and god forbid this happening to anyone again.
It was July, right? We didn't know. We went where everyone was going; we didn't even realize what is going on.
I was in a camp for ten days. In Strbacki Buk.
There were 130 of us; I was around sixteth, from the seventy they release in a prisoner exchange.
So seventy got out, and the rest were killed.
But you try to live a normal life again. You shouldn't spend your whole life thinking only about that.
It was July, right? We didn't know. We went where everyone was going; we didn't even realize what is going on. I was in a camp for ten days. In Strbacki Buk. There were 130 of us; I was around sixteth, from the seventy they release in a prisoner exchange. So seventy got out, and the rest were killed. But you try to live a normal life again. You shouldn't spend your whole life thinking only about that.
After all, it's been thirty-something years. New, younger generations are coming.
But you try to live a normal life again. You shouldn't spend your whole life thinking only about that.
You feel the emptiness, and the emptiness is what takes you back.
And then, suddenly they sat down, signed an agreement and the war stopped. No one asked us anything.
But so many people died and for what? That's the pain.
After all, it's been thirty-something years. New, younger generations are coming. But you try to live a normal life again. You shouldn't spend your whole life thinking only about that. You feel the emptiness, and the emptiness is what takes you back. And then, suddenly they sat down, signed an agreement and the war stopped. No one asked us anything. But so many people died and for what? That's the pain.
I was the first victim of this city. I was fourteen years old.
I was hit by the first shells that fell on the city. My aorta was cut on the upper area.
I see the ambulance coming, but I'm losing consciousness, losing my vision. I could only hear, I couldn't speak.
The doctor says, "We'll take this child," and the driver says, "He's dead, we'll take this older one."
I was the first victim of this city. I was fourteen years old. I was hit by the first shells that fell on the city. My aorta was cut on the upper area. I see the ambulance coming, but I'm losing consciousness, losing my vision. I could only hear, I couldn't speak. The doctor says, "We'll take this child," and the driver says, "He's dead, we'll take this older one."
I wake up in the recovery room, everything is white.
I see the silhouette of a beautiful woman, and I think I'm in heaven.
I see pigeons without legs on the window, I hear shells falling nearby.
I see chaos, but I see a struggle for life.
I wake up in the recovery room, everything is white. I see the silhouette of a beautiful woman, and I think I'm in heaven. I see pigeons without legs on the window, I hear shells falling nearby. I see chaos, but I see a struggle for life.
