The War Zone of Our Interest – Larisa Kasumagić-Kafedžić

I recently saw Jonathan Glazer’s film The Zone of Interest about German Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss and his wife Hedwig, who are building a dream family life in their “zone of interest” in the garden next to the German concentration camp. Just as the film uses a dual narrative—what is seen and what is invisible but can be heard—to underscore a horrifying reality in times of the global collapse of humanity decades ago, I see the parallels with the collection of the paintings “This is A®merica” created by Muhamed Kafedžić. These paintings also contain two stories: the visible images and the screaming sounds of the commercialization of childhood and normalization of violence and brutality in children’s lives within “our zone of interest” in today’s global collapse of humanity. The images of military-themed decorations in the context of children’s birthday parties highlight the alarming level of desensitization within our own local community. You can hear the destruction and ravaging that resonate beneath the surface.

It is the power of this deeply seated struggle for reclaiming humanity that echoes a powerful commentary in Muhamed Kafedžić’s paintings on the widespread normalization of violence and militarism in contemporary culture in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also worldwide. This normalization, which portrays violence as an exciting, consequence-free, and heroic act, benefits systems of power that seek dominance, marketing, and profit. In societies still recovering from the devastation of war and genocide, the challenges to address the prevalence of militarism and war culture remain constant. You can easily turn the traumas of the war into fancy and expensive birthday packages for your kids and their best friends. Such desensitization is a symptom of a collective inability to confront our own traumas, leading to a profound disinterest in the real-world consequences of violent actions. The artworks created by Muhamed Kafedžić in this collection reflect a painful reality of our present times, where violence is often embraced as a legitimate means of communication, individual and collective expressions for belonging. It is a well-known patriarchal and historical legacy of justifying the use of militarism to restore power and dominance.

Artists often feel a moral imperative to use their work to alarm societies, to heal wounds, and advocate for change. Their art transforms from a purely aesthetic medium into an urgent vehicle for social change, driven by the raw authenticity of their first-hand sensitivity to what is harmful for the individual and collective well-being and what is morally wrong. The works of Muhamed Kafedžić in this collection embody this commitment, serving as a powerful protest against all forms of violence, dehumanization, and the abuse of power.

Will the world ever become less violent and more peaceful with all the technological advancements? Can artists and educators ever contribute to the peaceful vision of the world? What will become our zone of interest in the coming years? How easily can violence, militarism, and evil be normalized, especially when one feels distracted by capitalism, social traumas, and consumerism? What do we offer to our children as role models? “Warzones” of simulations of shootings, snipers, and birthday cakes with grenades and bombs as treats for their birthdays, with unforgettable sites of entertainment? The commonplace presence of weapons and gun culture in everyday life from being celebrated on dates to appearing as motifs on children’s team-building activities and birthday celebrations. Will the “war zones for children” ever be transformed into peace zones for the whole of humanity?

I do not have the answers, but I sincerely hope that this exhibition will be seen as an alarming call to action. It is an urgent call for all parents, teachers, and educators. It invites all of us to confront the violence in our communities—within ourselves, our families, our homes, our schools and classrooms, and the wider world—to challenge indifference in our zones of interest and inspire collective action toward building a more humane, peaceful, and inclusive society. It is an urgent call for restoring humanity in our children’s lives, their childhoods, and their upbringing. Just one step at a time.

Larisa Kasumagić-Kafedžić
Professor, University of Sarajevo- Faculty of Philosophy
President, Peace Education Hub

Sarajevo, September 4, 2025