Jakup Ferri
Two names, Video, 15 min, 2008
Jakup Ferri, one of the most successful Kosovo artists, uses himself as the subject of his works in the video. The topics treated in his works, simple and naive at first glance, are related to the world and the system of art in which the artist tries to position himself. During the last few years, Ferri has lived in different countries around Europe, facing different realities and existences by living as a nomad. The video Two Names was created in 2008. Guiding us through his home, the artist goes through his clothes trying to remember whether they were part of his journeys or not. The two »names« used in this video are »they have gone« or »they didn’t go« on the plane. These clothes shape a kind of memory mosaic and memories that the artist has taken with him from his home country, others from the place where he lives, and most of which travel with him around the world. The video creates a personal and warm atmosphere, though the life and movements of the artist remain anonymous.
Jakup Ferri
Born in 1981 in Prishtina, Kosova.
Lives and works in Amsterdam and Prishtina.
Education / Residencies:
2001–04 Academy of Arts, Prishtina. 2004 Cultural
City Network Graz, Austria. 2004 International
Studio and Curatorial Program (ISCP) New-York
2004 NIFCA, West Balkan Air, Rooseum Museum,
Malmo 2005 KulturKontakt Austria, Vienna 2007-08
Rijksakademie Van Beeldende Kunsten, Amsterdam.
Solo exhibitions:
2009 De Expeditie, Amsterdam ››› De Meerse, Hoofd-
dorp 2006 Artists Space, New York ››› Galerie Adler,
Frankfurt am Main ››› 1.60insurgent space, Tirana.
Selected group exhibitions:
2009 Coalesce: Happenstance, Amsterdam ››› Standard
of living , Graz ››› 28th Graphic Bienalle, Ljubl-
jana ››› Niet Normaal, van Berlage, Amsterdam 2008
Buning Brongers Prijzen, Amsterdam ››› U-TURN Quadrennial
for Contemporary Art, Copenhagen ››› Open
Ateliers, Rijksakademie, Amsterdam ››› Quartett, Tanas,
Berlin ››› Dis-Ease, Durban, South Africa ››› For now we
are here, Villa Romana, Florenz ››› Return of the art dead,
Divus Unit 30, London ››› Plazma, Siemens_artLab, Vienna
››› Alpha 2000 – The »Europe’s Future« art prize, GfZK,
Leipzig 2007 PAWNSHOP, e-flux, New York ››› Absolute
Beginners, Milano ››› e-flux Video Rental, Arthouse
Texas, Austin 2006 This is not America, ByArt, Tel Aviv ›››
e-flux Video Rental, KW Institute for Contemporary Art,
Berlin 2004 Love it or leave it, Cetinje biennale 2003
In den Schluchten des Balkan, Fridericianum, Kassel.
