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NewsScottish NewsBosnian War exhibition opens at Scottish gallery

Bosnian War exhibition opens at Scottish gallery

A NEW exhibition commemorating the Bosnian War and the genocide in Srebrenica has been unveiled.

The brand new exhibition in the Community Gallery at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow will showcase stories of ordinary people who lived through the war.

It will also explore some of Scotland’s connections with Bosnia during and after the war with a unique collection of personal items from Bosnians who now live in Scotland on show.

David Hamilton of remembering srebrenica scotland| Scottish News
David Hamilton, Secretary and Treasurer of Remembering Srebrenica Scotland, volunteered as an aid convoy driver during the war, and his parents-in-law Alan and Christine Witcutt also delivered aid from Scotland to Bosnia( Photo by Elaine Livingstone)

Several items are also on loan from the Historical Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

A new painting by acclaimed artist Peter Howson, ‘Bosnian Twilight – the Silent Forest’, which was produced for the 25th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre, will also be showcased at the museum.

David Hamilton, Secretary and Treasurer of Remembering Srebrenica Scotland said:“My late father-in-law and his wife Christine Witcutt went out to Bosnia in 1992 and sadly when they left Sarajevo, Christine was shot by sniper and died.

“So it’s very poignant to come back here and see Alan’s ID card in this exhibition, which shows the connection Scotland had with Bosnia during that terrible time.

“What this exhibition does is tell the story of ordinary people and how they were affected by the war.”

Robert Mcneil ambassador of remembering srebrenica uk| Scottish News
Robert McNeil, a forensic technician from Glasgow who helped uncover mass graves in Bosnia and is now an Ambassador of Remembering Srebrenica UK( Photo by Elaine Livingstone)

Remembering Srebrenica Scotland has organised nearly 20 delegations to Srebrenica since it was established in 2015, with participants including First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and MSPs from all parties.

Robert McNeil, Ambassador of Remembering Srebrenica UK said:“The UN cap was given to me when I first arrived in Bosnia in 1996.

“I wore it throughout my numerous deployments to Bosnia, particularly to Srebrenica and then to Kosovo, and I hang on to it because it’s a constant reminder of the work I was engaged with out there.

“It will mean so much to the Bosnian population, not only in Scotland but throughout the world.

“It’s a forgotten war in a lot of ways, and it’s a reminder of the genocide that happened there.”

The exhibition will remain in place during July when the 26th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide is marked.

 

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