From bras to bags - Kosovo artist makes bold statement for breast cancer awareness
By Fatos Bytyci
PRISTINA, Oct 25 (Reuters) -On a sunny October day in Pristina, women line up at a stall to donate bras to be turned into bags sold to raise money for those with breast cancer, as part of a project launched by artist Ermira Murati to raise awareness among Kosovo women.
For the fourth straight year in October - breast cancer awareness month worldwide - Murati is collecting bras as part of a campaign called "Shliroj Cicat" (Free the boobs), which for its logo including a cartoon-like drawing of a breast has led to criticism in Kosovo's patriarchal society.
Despite the criticism from some in 90%-Muslim Kosovo, Shkurte Kafexholli was happy to donate a bra.
“We are here to support 'Shliroj Cicat'," she said.
The bags made of bras in all sizes and colours are then showcased on social media. With the money raised from selling them Murati buys mastectomy bras, which resemble regular bras with pockets inside to hold breast prostheses in place, or other supplements that women may need.
"You can wear your bra as a bag," Murati said. "This means you can use them in another way and an even more meaningful one."
According to Kosovo health ministry figures, in 2022 some 547 new cases of breast cancer were recorded in Kosovo.
Murati is known in Kosovo for her provocative work. Her two previous projects - one showing two men in Albanian national clothes kissing each other on the mouth and another one showing a Kosovo and a Serbian leader kissing on the mouth have also drawn criticism.
"What I am doing is very provocative," she says as she makes bags in a basement studio just a few metres from the main mosque in Pristina. "It does not create a lot of comfort for many people."
Reporting by Fatos Bytyci; Editing by Ivana Sekularac and Hugh Lawson
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
