This project probes the impromptu survival economy of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The end of the communist era opened up a new and unexplored market for Western products. To question the way international capital in the post-Communist era operated as a mechanism of political and economic control, the I instigated an act of culture jamming by using the design of shopping bags, alluding to the campaign Let us buy ours! Let us buy Bosnian products! that was started by several Bosnian firms in order to boost the country’s local economic potential. The installation shows a modified Chinese and a Burberry checkered shopping bag and
Concept and artistic direction: Azra Akšamija
Production: Azra Akšamija (graphics, bags, video), David Rhöse (graphics)
Special thanks: David Rhöse, Michael Stoiser
Video installation
Project commissioned by the Gallery for Contemporary Art Leipzig for the Berlin Art Fair group show (2003), curated by Ilina Koralova and Barbara Steiner.
Materials: 2 bags made of printed Tyvek, 2 monitors, 2 media players, 2 videos
Dimensions: bags, 20 x 60 x 70 cm; videos, single-channel, 3 min each