From September to November 2024, artist Lora Adžić joined Kuma International for a two-month residency in Sarajevo. Originally from Sydney, Australia, with family roots in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lora came to Kuma to further develop her artistic research on diaspora experiences, memory, identity, and intergenerational connection to place.
During the residency, Lora combined artistic research, writing, conversations, and field visits across Bosnia and Herzegovina, including study trips to Mostar and Banja Luka. Her time at Kuma focused on exploring the experiences of the former-Yugoslav diaspora and reflecting on how artists reconnect with cultural heritage, family histories, and places marked by displacement and migration.
Throughout the residency, Lora worked closely with Kuma’s network of artists, researchers, academics, and cultural workers, using the residency as a space for dialogue, exchange, and reflection. Her presence at Kuma highlighted the growing interest among diaspora artists in reconnecting with Bosnia and Herzegovina through artistic practice and research.
For Kuma, residencies such as Lora’s are an important part of creating long-term relationships between local and international artistic communities, while offering space for slower forms of research, learning, and cultural exchange.
“Kuma is a welcoming, dynamic, and stimulating space that fosters meaningful exchanges and genuine collaboration. Thanks to the invaluable support of Claudia and her team, I was able to expand my research by connecting with local artists, scholars, and researchers, enriching my work with fresh perspectives and valuable insights.
Beyond Sarajevo, Kuma’s extensive network across Bosnia and Herzegovina allowed me to work efficiently in other regions, offering crucial support that would have otherwise been difficult to access. Kuma has become a key reference point for my work in Bosnia—a place to return to and a vital hub for my ongoing research.”
— Lora Adžić