On Thursday 26th October 2023, the first ‘KFOR and Kosovo +25’ exhibition installation was launched at St Andrew’s Library in Fife. Special guests Cllr Derek Noble – Armed Forces Champion for Fife Council, Chris Mclean – Head of Cultural Heritage and Wellbeing for OnFife and Anna Pilgrim, President of United Nations Association, St Andrews, opened the event. Invited guests from across Fife had come together despite the very stormy weather.
Sitakumari joined online and provided the background to the assignment, the period when it was gathered by Nick Sidle with special access to embed with some of the first UK regiments who were part of the newly formed KFOR, and the historical context of the time. This was an example of many nations working together to intervene in a setting of interethnic conflict and hostility and help to bring stability and security in a setting where basic services, as we would take for granted. were not present. This is reflected in the images selected for the installation, which can therefore provide an effective setting for meaningful discussion and dialogue at a deeper level than usually possible, with all age groups and backgrounds, including veterans and current Armed Forces personnel. The exhibition installation thus provides another mechanism to build contact with a wider general public and a new opportunity through which their unique stories and insights can be shared. Sitakumari presented a selection of the images from the installation, talked of the story being told through them and the power of photojournalism to present a human story.
Cllr Noble, Fife Armed Forces Champion, seated on left of photo, said:
“As the Armed Forces Champion for Fife Council, I was so impressed by the exhibition at St Andrews Library and I look forward to having this rolled out to the rest of Fife.
Having served in Iraq and Afghanistan and as a photographer in Afghanistan, I know how hard it was to get images that told a story. Nick has accomplished this in a time when it was film, and it shows in the exhibition that we have here in St Andrews.
It was down to a team of people here in Fife Council working with Sitakumari and her organisation to make this happen and to be the first Council in Scotland to put this on. I can only hope more Councils in Scotland take the opportunity to put this on in their area.”
Chris Mclean, Head of Cultural Heritage and Wellbeing for OnFife said:
“OnFife are pleased that Fife Council has provided funding to bring the ‘KFOR and Kosovo +25’ exhibition installation to North East Fife and St Andrews Library. The host event was an opportunity to hear from Sitakumari the detailed background and context to Nick Sidle’s astounding photographs, captured at a time before digital imagery and capturing the hardships and friendships from the conflict. We are grateful to Heartstone and to Fife Council.”
Anna Pilgrim, President United Nations Association St Andrews said:
“As a young and, on the whole, privileged group based in St Andrews, it’s so important for photography to communicate to us the experiences of others, especially those living in Kosovo 25 years ago. Nick’s photography is gripping, informative and moving, and the installation does well to guide us in looking at the images.”
Guest comments:
“Thanks again for bringing this exhibition to town. It was very moving and thought provoking”
Cllr Ann Verner
” Incredibly moving exhibition! It is so incredibly important to display a common humanity and bring people together amidst their whole plethora of experiences.”
“How very apt that this display is up trying to highlight the horrors of war, when you look what is happening on the world stage right now”
” Extremely good event done under the most arduous of conditions, well done for persevering! “
“What valuable insights, excellent event”
“Moving and informative. Many thanks to Sitakumari, Jo and her library team for bringing this and displaying for the Town.”
” Extremely thought provoking, a really interesting seamless event. Pity about the weather!”
” Thanks to the Library team for putting on such a moving event, very emotive photos”
” After my first visit the photos stayed with me, I needed to come back for a second look to understand them better.”
“How very apt, in this tumultuous time that we are living through, we need this reminder that we are all the same and that we need to show more humanity to all.”
” It highlights that we need to connect and protect each other.”
The exhibition installation will be going out to reach grassroots communities across Fife in the coming months.
Acknowledgements:
Heartstone would like to thank Cllr Derek Noble, the Fife Armed Forces Champion, Fife Council and particularly Joanne McCormick of St Andrews Library for bringing the installation to Fife and helping to stage it at St Andrews Library. We look forward to working with Fife, UNA St Andrews and the Fife Interfaith Group as this installation moves across Fife in the coming months.
