Heroinat: A Tribute to the Unacknowledged Heroines of Kosovo

Ilir Blakçori's Memorial Honors Women's Sacrifice During the Kosovo War

Blakçori was inspired to create Heroinat due to the lack of recognition for the tremendous sacrifices made by Kosovar women during the war. While numerous monuments and memorials were erected for Kosovar men, the architectural landscape and history books largely neglected the contribution and sacrifice of women. Blakçori sought to rectify this oversight by honoring each of these anonymous heroines individually.

The designer's inspiration came from a report by the Human Rights Watch, which claimed that nearly 20,000 Kosovar women were raped during the Kosovo war of the late 1990s. Blakçori took this tragic number and transformed it into medals, each one symbolizing a woman's contribution and sacrifice for her country. This concept is what makes Heroinat unique and powerful, setting it apart from other memorials.

The memorial's design process began with the creation of a 3D portrait, followed by the production of the 20,000 brass medals. These medals are held up by poles of varying lengths, creating a relief of the heroine’s portrait. The different lengths of the medals, depending on the light outside, create different shadows on the portrait, adding depth and dynamism to the sculpture.

Heroinat was created and submitted for a memorial competition in Prishtina in the autumn of 2013. It won the competition and is now in the process of execution and completion. The memorial will be placed in a park in downtown Prishtina, one of the city’s most central and frequented areas. This location will ensure that the sacrifices of these women will be acknowledged and remembered by many.

Blakçori faced several challenges during the design process, including how to represent the sacrifice and contribution of all women during the war in one single project. However, by focusing on the 20,000 raped Kosovar women mentioned in the Human Rights Watch report, he was able to highlight an unrecognized aspect of the Kosovo war and honor the sacrifice of all women during the conflict.

The Heroinat memorial is a testament to Blakçori's innovative design approach and his commitment to shedding light on the overlooked aspects of history. It serves as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by the women of Kosovo during the war, ensuring that their stories are not forgotten. The design was awarded the Golden A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award in 2014, a testament to its significance and impact.