'Als ich ein Kind war, wollte ich Kunstlerin' is the title of a work by Flaka Haliti, borrowed to be the title of this exhibition, while the work itself, however, is not part of this exhibition.

'Als Ich Ein Kind War,Wollte Ich Kunstlerin Werden', wall painting, 4 x 7m, 2010, is based on a sentence used during German lessons that analyzes grammar format, wall painted in the main hall of the Staedelschule Frankfurt during 'Rundgang' 2010.

My reading of 'Since I was a kid, I wanted to be an artist' as a statement that besides its intentional site-specific relevance, makes me think again and again how important is to know what you want in life. Regardless if one wants to be an artist or a president of country club. Over the years working with the art scene in Kosova, I came to understand that one rarely finds artists that actually want to be artists. This was my first attraction with Flaka Haliti.

But, do you want to be neutral or will you be the one (idiot) who speaks up when everyone else is calculating?, is another question that comes to my mind when I think of Flaka Haliti. Do you want to turn left, right, or do you want to speak out your mind. There is quote by Elie Wiesel, a quote that I think a lot when I reflect about the (in) existence of neutrality and today's growing hypocrisy surrounding us: 'We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.' From my own experience, I can tell you that this is a difficult flag to carry around.

You can be delicate, fragile, and not as strong as you carry on your shoulders all the issues that you want to address. You may not be equipped from the start with all the knowledge of the 'system' and you may not have the marketing tools that a contemporary artist is required to have today. You may be the one that has worked as an artist in a general context where the sexist and male dominated structures casts all female artists to 'play' only the role of a woman (artist) that can fit their pre-constructed profile of a woman (artist). You are faced with or ignored by the internationally networked 'partners in crime' that use this ideology for constructing self proclaimed critical gender-based narratives. You are not in a privileged position of having a (strong) nationally established art system that can introduce you walking down Venetian staircases and embrace your work until you grow your own wings to fly independently. And despite it all,you still decide not to play the 'exotic artist' role while working internationally and continue to make (those) questions and remain idealistic.

To contextualize this exhibition in the work of Stacion - Center for Contemporary Art Prishtina, 'Als ich ein Kind war, wollte ich Kunstlerin werden' with Flaka Haliti is the first solo show that Stacion is co-organizing with a strategic partner institution of a bordering country, press to exit project space, skopje, concentrating on works and an artist that is closely associated with the work of Stacion - Center for Contemporary Art Prishtina and the Kosovar context, but not only.

'Als ich ein Kind war, wollte ich Kunstlerin' with Flaka Haliti is structured around works: 'Me, You and Everyone we Know' (2010), a reflection on male and female artist's position in the art history and the institutional power system, 'Now you are so well' (2009), photographs documenting a research, through personal experiences, conducted during studies at Staedelschule, the work that was awarded the First Prize 'Agriculture and Banking', organized by Staedelschule Frankfurt/Main and Rentenbank, Frankfurt am Main and 'My Balls' (2008) the documentation of the illegal intervention performed during the opening of the annual exhibition Muslim Mulliqi Award, organized by 'The Kosova Art Gallery'.

Albert Heta
September 2010

About the artist:
Flaka Haliti, born in 1982 in Prishtina, Kosova, is based in Prishtina and Frankfurt am Main. In 2005 she graduated at the Academy of Fine Arts, Prishtina University, and is currently continuing her education at Staedelschule, Frankfurt/Main, in the class of Professor Judith Hopf.

Haliti works as conceptual artist using video, sound, installation, photography and performance. In her work she has shown continuous interest and courage in exploring challenging themes present in society and/or the art scene.

Her work has been shown in solo and group exhibitions, presentations, symposiums and workshops internationally, including: 'CRW - Contemporary War Reflection', curated by Malene Dam and Julie Galsbo; BKS-Garage Royal Academy Copenhagen 2010; 'Heiss Oder Kalt', curated by Petra Reichensperger; Haus der Kulturen der Welt Berlin, 2009; Brussels Biennale -1 'The World Around You'; project contribution of L'appartement 22/Hordaland Art Centre/ Stacion - Center For Contemporary Art Prishtina, curated by Abdellah Karroum, Anne Szefer Karlsen, Albert Heta, Vala Osmani, Brussels, 2008/2009; 'Plazma' Siemens ArtLab Gallery, Leonhardkultur Project, Vienna 2008; 'Balls! Balls! Balls!', curatorial by Albert Heta, Stacion - Center for Contemporary Art Prishtina, 2008; 'Academy Remix/Missing Identity', curated by Nikola Dietrich, Portikus, Frankfurt Main, 2005.

Flaka Haliti is the winner of the First Prize 'Agriculture and Banking', organized by Staedelschule Frankfurt/Main and Rentenbank, Frankfurt am Main 2009. She is also a recipient of DAAD scholarship 2009-2010.

The exhibition 'Flaka Haliti: Als ich ein Kind war, wollte ich Kunstlerin werden' is supported by Directorate for Culture, Youth and Sports of the Municipality of Prishtina and DZG.