APEIRON de ART

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The war and its far-reaching socio-economic consequences has created the need for such an organization. It has left a generation trapped, both physically and emotionally, and it will take time and much support to break through to a better future. Eventually, though, the people themselves, especially the young, must take the initiative and reclaim their right to think critically, express themselves and participate dynamically in their culture.

There are still a great number of artists in Mostar, especially among the younger generation. By joining together they have began to pool much needed resources, provide a focus for funding and co-operation with other organizations, and share each other's ideas and motivation.

Aims
· Provide materials, work-space and opportunities for young artists to present their work in public
· Provide teaching for its members
· Work with local and international professionals to widen the perspective of Mostar artists
· Organize and support clubs for young artists including discussion groups where they can exchange ideas and offer a forum for an introduction to the arts for the wider community
· Organize workshops with local children, both in schools and kindergartens

In achieving these aims Apeiron seeks to address three clear effects of the war:
I. Maintain contacts between those from both sides of the political divide in Mostar who are opposed to the ethnic division of their home
II. Offer children an access to the arts, a source of self-expression and esteem that older members know to be of essential value and which has been denied by the war
III. Help reduce the increased potential for the social problems of drugs and criminality by providing a co-ordinated and positive focus for the energies and aspirations of young people in Mostar

Currently the Apeiron has 30 full-time members and 20 associate members.


A short history of "Apeiron de Art"

In 1995 Apeiron members provided a slide show of their own work as the visual component for a concert by "Mo-selection Band" prior to the recording of their first album in Sarajevo and in November of that year the first major public presentation of the work of Apeiron was made. Everyone with an interest in the arts was invited to a large-scale exhibition, a concert by four local bands and a poetry evening.

Fifteen days later an auction of members paintings was held and many were sold. the success of this event has lead to the planning of further auctions, but the scarcity of materials has meant that this will not be possible for some time yet. Since then Apeiron members have completed a mural in Primary School No. VII and an outdoor mural at the "Dijeci Dom" Orphanage with materials provided by The Serious Road Trip and Schuler Helfen Leben.

Following Apeiron's children's workshops at the orphanage, members were invited to take part in War Child's ambitious creative arts education project in all of the East Mostar primary schools, including the outlying villages of Dreznica, Gnojnice and Blagaj. This was extremely successful and there is now a long-term commitment to work with War Child on the training and development of young talent in this field as part of War Child's support for music and art education in the Neretva region.

On the literary side Apeiron members were actively involved in the youth newspaper "By the way, from Mostar" published by the European Union supported Youth Centre, both as contributors of articles and in design. Apeiron also arranged poetry readings and for a while in collaboration with ASF and SHL published magazine "Ogledala Grada" (Mirror of the City) prior to the establishing of the Youth Center publication.

Almost without exception all of the young rock bands in Mostar are connected to Apeiron, who provide equipment for rehearsals and performances, although the resources are very limited for a city of the size of Mostar. Since the purchase of a Yamaha Port studio Apeiron members can for the first time in four years make reasonably professional demo tapes of their work.

All staff members are students or pupils, who work as volunteers for youth of Mostar.

Implemented Projects

1996.
In August 1996, Apeiron realized the first street carnival since the start of the war, called "Street of Freedom". This included clowning, children's theatre, puppets, buckers and an evening of rock and classical music. The street carnival held in Mostar and villages around Mostar (Blagaj and Dreznica).

Apeiron was also involved with the European Union sponsored "Eight Days in Mostar" - a festival of culture for the city.

Humanitarian organization ASF organized lectures for photo workshop and professional photographer from Holland introduced our members with basic of photography.

One Apeiron band, called "Tragovi" had concert in Italy (Luka), where our members represented the musical workshop and the organization.

At the end of summer 1996, 25 members, representatives of all workshops in Apeiron were in Italy (Ancona). Together with British students they had beautiful summer holiday and they prepared children workshop which was held in all schools in Mostar and it was very successful.

From organization called MAPS (New Zealand and USA), Apeiron have got recording studio and at the moment two bands have finished recorded demo material. An expert in recording techniques runs training for interested members, in order to teach them how to use this equipment without any help.

Children workshops (music education) continued together with students from Hanover Music Academy. By the end of year the project was expended to schools and kindergartens in City of Mostar and villages: Gornja Dreznica, Donja Dreznica, Bijelo Polje, Gnojnice, Dracevice and Blagaj

1997.
Apeiron bends recorded demo tapes of their original songs and held a large number of concerts in Mostar and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

At the begging of school year the children workshops improved by using new methods of education and lectures held by Nigel Osborne, professor from The Edinburgh and Hanover Music Academy.

The children workshop prepared theatre play "Alice in Wonderland" with group of 20 children.
The premiere was in May, in the "Puppet Theatre" and it was played for all children of Mostar. Apeiron art workshop designed and created scenery for the play.

Another "Street of Freedom" was held at the begging of summer. Apeiron members visited Villages Gornja Dreznica, Donja Dreznica, Bijelo Polje and Blagaj and offered to children and adults a lot of music, painting, theatre and fun.

In June, photo workshop organized two photo exhibitions, which were part of Apeiron de art presentation during summer. One of exhibitions was organized and funded by a professional photographer from UK who was invited by War Child. He also organized lectures for members and introduced them with new and creative methods of work.

During summer, Apeiron de art supported and participated in almost all cultural events organized by OSCE, Nobodies Children, French University and some local organization.

At the end of August almost all members went to Italy and had short holiday. This trip was founded by a person who wished to remain anonymous and who contacted professor Nigel Osborn.

From September 1997, Pavarotti Music Center supports education program in schools. This helped to improve the project even better and to include more Apeiron members.

From beginning of October, music workshop run the Rock School for young talents and that is supported by Pavarotti Music Center too. At about same time one of Apeiron bends went to Spain to participate in cultural festival called "A Week of Mostar in Barcelona".

By the end of this year we organized training for members interested to use computer equipment in order to record and put together music and different sounds. Training was implemented by organization from New Zealand.

1998.
Education program continued through whole academic year. The project is implemented in 15 elementary schools and 7 kindergartens. 15 local, young people are involved in this work and they act as music teachers. Aim is to introduce music education in different and creative ways. We are also working on children's creativity and originality. This program is educational for teachers in schools too. In future our methods of work should be part of Bosnian education system. In collaboration with Pavarotti Music Center we are going to continue with project till the end of the academic year 1999-2000.

1999 and Future Projects

Education program continues.

Another "Vesela Ulica", sponsored by ECHO, helped by OHR in Mostar and British SFOR from Gornji Vakuf, in collaboration with Music Centre Pavarotti is successfully organized and implemented in Mostar, Blagaj, Grude, Bijelo Polje, Donja Dreznica and Seonice. Activities: clowns, circus skills, drawing, singing, making of kites, puppets, instruments, dance, circus show. Final manifestation represented 10 days of children work and joint life between different ethnic groups in FBiH. Participants: Mostar bands, Trebinje band, dancing group, SFOR band, fire show and Royal Highland Fusiliers.

Music Festival of young bends in order to make the CD compilation together with music bends from west side of the town. The project is supported by Music Centre in Modena and funded by Regione Emilia Romagna.

Internet magazine will give the opportunity to young people to write about Mostar and everything interesting to the youth. This project represents the corporation between StradaNove (Italy) and East and West Mostar.

Apeiron de Art
PUT 29 HUD 39a, 88000 Mostar
Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Phone: 571-318
Fax: 552-081
Mail: mo-art@bih.net.ba

Nedim Cišic born in Mostar 1976.
Editor of Guide for the Urban Sleepers magazine for tha alternative literature or something like that.
He's tired and sleep.
Fondator of Alternative Institute.

Mili Krpo born in Mostar 1978.
Actor and painter.
3. year of Law university.
Member of Alternative Institute.

Armin Voloder, born 1980.g. in Mostar where he going to Electro-technical school. Sometimes he writing and sometimes reading. He love electricity. He  is one of the fondator of “Apeiron de art” and “Alternativni institut”. Editor of  Guide for the Urban Sleepers magazine (KOLAPS) for the literature and culture.

Miran Čerkić, born on June 20th 1982 in Mostar and ever since then he lives there and nowhere else. He goes to the 3rd class of the Grammar school in Mostar and it's going quite well. He's single and momentary he lives from air and from the mercy of his parents. But he thinks his life is nice and pleasant (lies, lies ...)

Adla Velagić, I was born on January the 14-th 1982. in Mostar where I actually live. (with my parents and sister) For three years I lived in Norway, where I wert to school, and worked as a translator from time to time  ('93-'96). I was member of an acting and dance group in Norway. I'm in the third great of the secondary medical school now (an A - student). Including Bosnian, I speak 3 languages (Norwegian, English ). I'm a member of the drama group at the medical school. I love the art, go out, and dance. I can't like to talk about myself (too much). I have many goals in my life, and I'm working on reaching them all.

Mehmed Begić, born 1977 in Čapljina. 
Fish in zodiac.
Lives in Mostar, studies Pedagogy at the Faculty of
Philosophy (each day less)
On of editors of Kolaps.
In loved
and loves.

Marsela Roga
Date of birth: 22.02.1981
I was born in Mostar, then with 13 I left the city during the war. In Germany I have spent three years of my young life. Well, now when I look back to the time when I was in Germany and compare it then with all this I have in Mostar. I must say (write) that I love to be back here again. Here I have many friends and a boyfriend. These words are enough for you to get to know me now.  

Nerma Čolaković, I was born in Mostar on 13.04.1981. Twelve years of my life I’ve spent in Čapljina, and after finishing the fifth class I was chased to Mostar. I attend the fourth form of high school in Mostar where I live with my parents. I’m an excellent pupil. I speak English and French. I have achieved some notable results on physics’ and math's’ competitions and from many portfolios. I am the member of school health section, and considering the faculty I have some doubts about medicine faculty and and faculty of management, but I’d love to study abroad if I’ve going to have an opportunity for that. In my free time I read books, go out, watch TV, take up sports, listen to a music, actually I do everything that every young man does.

Nađa Krvavac, I was born 05.03.1981 in Trebinje. I spent my childhood in Gacko with all my family. But in beginning of the war I was relegated and I came in Mostar in 1993. So I practically have been living here for six years. I attend the fourth class of the grammar school - Mostar. I’m excellent student, I speak English and French, I’m very good at physic, mathematic because I had a lot of competitions. Also I’m the member of the schools health – organization, I’m an ecologist. Free time is filled by spending with my friends, reading books, watching films and listening music. I like sport very match especially tennis. And finally I do all things that young people are interested of. My future aim is to become a doctor and that’s why I study so hard.

Šejla Maslo, was born in Mostar on the 20.11.1982. And she goes into the 3^rd class of the Mostar Grammar school. She sings in the quire called "Mostarske Kise" and beside that she has many other hobbies such as cooking, ironing (of the people), and other house works. And who dare to say she is not hardworking.

Adnan Rahimic, was born on April 26^th 1982. in Mostar. I’m a senior of high school Gymnasia Mostar. I’m a member of drama and ecological club in my school. I speak English and little bit of Spanish, and I plan to learn German, too. I like traveling and meeting new people, so I think that languages can help a lot with that. After high school I’ll go to medicine or Computer College.

Demirović Jasmin - Jasko, born on 08.02.1976 in Mostar, where he finished the elementary and high school as well, and still live there. In the world of music and art enters as a teenager when he starts to play. In 1996 along with a friend creates a band "Jasko i prijatelji", and the band got the name according to his personal characteristics. He is former assistant of the Operational Manager on non-governmental organization War Child, and actively participates in implementations of different organization's projects. After that he worked as an assistant of a music teacher in a few elementary schools. In the last few years he enters the world of African drums and percussions what he do actively. He participated in many concerts in B&H and wider. He works as a leader of percussions workshops in the summer camps for children. He plans some workshops in Apeiron as well (his basic organization). At the moment he is a member of "Mara" band, where he works on a new Bosnian Ethno music. Recently he became a member of Mostar Wave project. He is planning to go to USA for a long time, but no way... His dream is to live in Amsterdam and it might come true with a help of his friend and former boss Irish.