Special mention as National Participation
Motivation: “Small yet potent, Doruntina Kastrati’s installation refers to feminized industrial labor and the wearing down of working women’s bodies. Referencing both the walnut shells used in factory-made Turkish delight as well as the medical parts used to replace worker’s knees as they make these sweets, Kastrati’s elegant sculptures invite viewers to interact with them. A vibrating soundscape travels up through the floor, resonating both in our bones and echoing a larger arena of feminist activism.”

In the aftermath of the 1999 war, the widespread use of female labor in Kosovo’s light industries created an illusion of financial independence and social participation for women. However, the workers found themselves actually trapped in a system that maintained traditional gender roles, leaving them economically vulnerable and politically marginalized. Through its shiny and cold geometric shapes , Doruntina Kastrati’s sculptural installation offers a penetrating look at the complexity of women’s experiences in post-war Kosovo.