The exhibition Knots of Time brings together works by three artists from Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Ukraine/Switzerland. They explore cultural influences such as the faiths into which they were born or the cities in which they grew up. They weave moments from the past into new, imaginative narratives centred on themes such as queer identity and family relationships. In doing so, they work artistically with a diverse range of materials and media, including textiles, installation and performance. The exhibition is curated by Simon Kurti. He is a curatorial fellow of the GfZK – Galerie für Zeitgenössische Kunst Leipzig and the Cultural Foundation of the Free State of Saxony (KdFS).
Artists in the exhibition:
Kemil Bekteši is a Kosovar artist. Drawing on his personal history, which is shaped by borders and migration, he explores themes such as identity, geopolitics and cultural memory. His artistic practice encompasses installations, sculptures and public interventions. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Sarajevo (BA) and the Faculdade de Belas Artes da Universidade do Porto (PT). Bekteši has received numerous awards, including the 2024 ZVONO Art Prize for young visual artists in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He lives and works in Sarajevo.
Rina Krasniqi is a Kosovar artist and writer. Her drawings have been published in books, magazines, exhibitions and festivals. She currently runs the Lirindja publishing house and is the artistic editor of the magazine meDiell. Her first solo exhibition, *Drawings*, was held in 2023 at the Ministry of Culture’s gallery in Pristina, Kosovo. She has participated in several group exhibitions, including Only the Rain Saved Us (YIHR Kosova, 2023), Why Haven’t We Built a Dyson Sphere (2022) and Artists of Granfest – Graphic Novel Festival (2025). She lives and works in Pristina.
Denys Shantar draws on his experiences as a queer Ukrainian immigrant who grew up in an Eastern Orthodox community in Zurich. He works with textile collages and embroidery, using recycled materials to create personal narratives. In these, he references Byzantine and Catholic iconography as well as monumental works from the Soviet era. Shantar studied at the Zurich University of the Arts (CH) and completed a Master’s degree in costume design at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp (BE). He has exhibited at venues including Z33 in Hasselt (BE), Zilberman (DE) and the Helmhaus in Zurich (CH). He lives and works in Antwerp.
Denys Shantar draws on his experiences as a queer Ukrainian immigrant who grew up in an Eastern Orthodox community in Zurich. He works with textile collages and embroidery, using recycled materials to create personal narratives. In his work, he references Byzantine and Catholic iconography as well as monumental works from the Soviet era. Shantar studied at Zurich University of the Arts (CH) and completed a Master’s degree in costume design at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp (BE). He has exhibited at venues including Z33 in Hasselt (BE), Zilberman (DE) and the Helmhaus in Zurich (CH). He lives and works in Antwerp.