Åke Ericson - Kosovo in Progress [signed]

The reconstruction – 10 years in Kosovo ”Kosovo In Progress” is a project about the war in Kosovo and the struggle for reconstruction of the award-winning photojournalist Åke Ericson. The book depicts the reconstruction of the badly ravaged village Loxha, often described as 'the most war-torn village in Kosovo.' Åke Ericson followed the village's way back to a normal life. He made ten journeys to Loxha in western Kosovo during the last ten years, 1999 - 2009. The work attracted the attention of many, not least by former UN General Secretary Kofi Annan, who wrote the foreword to this book and the exhibition. Over ten years have passed since the war, but conflicts remain. It has also Åke Ericson experienced. It was decided that his exhibition, also titled Kosovo In Progress, from 28 August to appear in the UNESCO's main exhibition hall at the headquarters in Paris. It was stopped. Surprising considering the preface of Kofi Annan. The reason given was that the Serbian delegation to UNESCO put foot down - and was allowed to do so. A planned trip to Serbia by the UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova was also given as a reason ! Åke Ericson's journeys and work have resulted in an exhibition of 46 black and white images shown around Sweden in Pristina, Kosovo. The book gives a clear insight into the effects of war on ordinary villagers while it shows that their desire to get back into normal life pattern is not broken.