MERITA KOCI
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MERITA KOCI
Merita Koci has come back with a novel work openly highlighting contemporary art´s effort to perpetuate sovereign images, not only by simulating a potential presidential campaign, but also by routing a more refined model of such a campaign. The artist topples the workings of a confined electoral campaign that sees politicians and parties riding the vehicle of art to create convincing and imposing images aimed towards earning the trust of the voters and empowerment. On this occasion, Mrs. Koci is clad in the image of a politician aspiring to higher ambition, thus transforming the means of promoting the power of social representation, into a promoting potency of her art and self as an image-producing sovereign. Another piercingly provocative aspect of her work deals with overcoming the notion the ordinary citizen has about the sovereign cell that rules society and that is traditionally embedded in a male figure. The project Vote Merita Harxhi Koci for President of Kosova publicized at a time when women celebrate March 8, defends the idea of a new order of social representation, not reserved for men only. With such a provocation the auteur goes beyond the line dividing a simulation of power play on the reality of imaginary and factual discrimination against women in Kosovar and other societies. Party of Contemporary Art and the subsequent presidential campaign is truly a virtual projection of Merita Harxhi Koci. The work itself, too, evokes powerful ideas and consequences. Shkëlzen Maliqi (March 8, 2003) |