THE KOSOVARS
Kosovo declared its independence in 2008 making it Europe's newest country. One of the surreal consequences of the 1998-99 Kosovo War is that half of its population is still under 35. There’s an anecdote that while half of the youth want to leave Kosovo, the other half are forced to stay, none want to be here. At first glance, the capital Pristina looks messy and undeserving of attention but just scratching a little bit beneath the surface, I found a buzzy energy in its dimly lit side streets and underground ateliers. A youthful ambition swirling in teeming initiatives, this restlessness disguised by a generally laid back populace. This portraiture project attempts to document the young people who, contrary to popular belief, have decided to make a stand and are making things happen in Kosovo. And they are The Kosovars I've come to cherish and admire.
![Blerina | Architect](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/7f82c270-7487-4809-926e-2169020df62b_rw_1920.jpg?h=0a4075088b47374b56c04061073c705f)
Blerina | Architect
![Jon | Model](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/657ffb9c-788d-4e28-92ac-d948514e62a9_rw_3840.jpg?h=1376312e6049b950619c875ed99338bb)
Jon | Model
![Kaona | Singer](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/8908bd66-8e79-4012-8346-922b68d7c69a_rw_1920.jpg?h=77effb89dfd71bf0a65c012b5b8f5646)
Kaona | Singer
![Allmir | Actor](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/26103a36-7825-4936-9ef9-7d80548d0b4c_rw_3840.jpg?h=2a853b6b3a7b4f2ccafc08365161ae3e)
Allmir | Actor
![Dea | Model](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/51da632f-f7ff-4162-a3fb-279291ab3f46_rw_1920.jpg?h=2057d4fa8ebf610b1120111dbe64288a)
Dea | Model
![Tringa | Artist](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/487a2603-828e-4793-9921-59cca45a0663_rw_1920.jpg?h=23c049e695cc4c02274b2d55f1219180)
Tringa | Artist
![Bersata | Ballerina](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/caf01e93-97e9-41cf-a17a-fe3bf1d0eb61_rw_3840.jpg?h=695535abf92c872e8baeecfbb42de602)
Bersata | Ballerina
![Flakarta | Ballerina](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/72536680-4354-480d-904a-1f5d483a53a9_rw_1920.jpg?h=348cfed35c2cfc0c8e91a39c736d4591)
Flakarta | Ballerina
![Liri Linda | Ballerina](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/5963dd9b-d4df-40e7-ae06-94afc2c68d9e_rw_1920.jpg?h=eb619caf81e3e54e917614fd8f1a5b5f)
Liri Linda | Ballerina
![Doni | Writer](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/85d28076-805d-49d8-8c83-1b6adf4dbc5a_rw_3840.jpg?h=92100933678cc2bb717c2b0fbb39feb0)
Doni | Writer
![Gent | Activist](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/1fa656fa-e886-46e0-bec6-03762678c7ad_rw_3840.jpg?h=9b2747f60356ef1e3e84ae5be5063b82)
Gent | Activist
![Adea | Journalist](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/bff8bb5d-8138-4927-b5f8-b13819c5b9a0_rw_3840.jpg?h=e7761c79085e9626def47f8a6f224391)
Adea | Journalist
![Linda | Artist](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/6f9e0704-dae5-44c1-b407-b9c1f1e5b765_rw_1920.jpg?h=3c0c04dee2e955b4c6e1128b53b8ad46)
Linda | Artist
![Gresa | Designer](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/beb9c52d-366e-4e3b-b50a-9e7f8cec1df5_rw_1920.jpg?h=a1ad388da2a5dcabca40ff891f01d3db)
Gresa | Designer
![Besfort | Photographer](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/01109ab8-af27-44ef-98fc-fda1561f8616_rw_1920.jpg?h=11ef6830b7865f6e2ec524395b7d4250)
Besfort | Photographer
![Erblina | Model](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/d452108c-5efd-48aa-830d-fdab6e8d2ba2_rw_3840.jpg?h=2f6a891bb39a099da9fa11aa606e0d54)
Erblina | Model
![Leonik | Content Creator](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/ccfca0ed-3be6-4e6f-b1f3-332fe840cd4c_rw_1920.jpg?h=05ef1743e5d6de5bdf1deaaff8fcae6d)
Leonik | Content Creator
![Daniela | Actress](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/89d29514-8274-4281-8907-a5b80d45632a_rw_1920.jpg?h=9831b132314a9365c2d00fe8109349c7)
Daniela | Actress
![Qendresa | Actress](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/d340890b-76e0-4c3b-b53e-ff0be756c27a_rw_1920.jpg?h=72b688c09cadc3a5e610966358912870)
Qendresa | Actress
![Elisa | Architect](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/61bf8bd8-2fed-41d1-b513-3a5facb966f1_rw_1920.jpg?h=388d9bdade7f4635a5570cb0b21ba4a7)
Elisa | Architect
![Mikel | Actor](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/2f51d0e0-bcca-4e2b-99e4-820a61d376f1_rw_1920.jpg?h=f74d3c984f91a718e3c3d5495efbd307)
Mikel | Actor
![Redon | Actor](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/8e658b85-fad5-4cf2-903c-d3acd14e657c_rw_1920.jpg?h=89a1565e1dfe4fc0207428aa2d1ed83b)
Redon | Actor
![Atdhe | Artist](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/e921876b-6c10-4f6b-b00c-f9a6335024f0_rw_1920.jpg?h=be28b196158c69dea39f3810047ec2c1)
Atdhe | Artist
![Gent | Actor](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/94838f30-f71d-4dac-bdcb-6d76720835cd_rw_1920.jpg?h=91970f46d271810f807edafff5fefa5d)
Gent | Actor
![Jora | Designer](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/dc2be589-13f6-49f2-a2d5-45fbfc73b6ac_rw_1920.jpg?h=95715a1bfed666001d0b562d1d2b276d)
Jora | Designer
![Beg | Ballerino](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/40ff0257-27c1-43ee-82ca-2b7450b534ba_rw_1920.jpg?h=06895f77461cf2d8100b5589305e81d2)
Beg | Ballerino
![Fitore | Architect](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/39736080-6f07-4ff2-bf53-c8751f477d72_rw_1920.jpg?h=4f5095a5b86ed273ecc4b0a1981fc324)
Fitore | Architect
![Linda | Artist](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/a642f8a6-0a5f-4339-ad3d-7b37e2fa4c59_rw_1920.jpg?h=6e836a6e009df1be9943096d71eee30b)
Linda | Artist
![Anita | Writer](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/9e80723f-e1e4-431b-ae51-094461fda521_rw_1920.jpg?h=d8383bc0bb6e2bbf95ed527a2e4702e9)
Anita | Writer
![Miranda | Social Worker](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/ce66146e-5865-48d7-b081-2c3f67039553_rw_3840.jpg?h=b879d4d2e9f65feb5146150189a1925a)
Miranda | Social Worker
![Blerina | Singer](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/044892e8-a31d-4535-ab14-0c4501d9e51d_rw_3840.jpg?h=a207ca2233bfa491443613622d9811af)
Blerina | Singer
![Sovran | Filmmaker](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/94818e9d-b288-495e-8b70-54795abe1974_rw_1920.jpg?h=7d006055bb5bf2cd5c20d4ade44c9b66)
Sovran | Filmmaker
![Dea | Artist](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/38f5cc93-1121-4282-a700-3d562a252522_rw_1920.jpg?h=36345729a31234b8a6874e81dbfb78a5)
Dea | Artist
![Teuta | Filmmaker](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/c4ffa02a-7dd3-453d-8f77-aa1eb9f8c910_rw_3840.jpg?h=eff9005a61051f80fc9f3e271b923421)
Teuta | Filmmaker
![Hajat | Actress](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/d6976b49-099d-4b6b-8b0e-b90210ae1a1a_rw_3840.jpg?h=5c116110bc53ffae9a97bea94e19323f)
Hajat | Actress
![Zana | Actress](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/351641df-6f5f-40f2-a4ac-85737f064484_rw_3840.jpg?h=d21a5d9b091ee40ceafb2e9e108f48b6)
Zana | Actress
![Venera | Actress](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/de0a59a7-9fef-4250-8744-2589a98e785e_rw_1920.jpg?h=386fca43aae7122c6b2f230533f96f1d)
Venera | Actress
![Dina | Fashion PR](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/cc4c24f7-6081-4843-ac7a-8925e1f53604_rw_1920.jpg?h=6737bf68e1350d5593d9028e597d41d4)
Dina | Fashion PR
![Tadi | Artist](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/4a84081f-30f9-4d09-bd20-04da7c049efe_rw_3840.jpg?h=a32c75726c63227b6f7ebc62c63e0616)
Tadi | Artist
![Elsa | Guitarist](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/a9e395ef-803c-40f4-9098-774ba6bdd81e_rw_1920.jpg?h=f17919c2d73bbddd1425021d5c144ca7)
Elsa | Guitarist
![Flamur | Photographer](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/8d617eec-96fd-4c6c-a9d3-438eb0709132_rw_3840.jpg?h=dd61ba205e4ff740836c2b18fac0f8bf)
Flamur | Photographer
![Gjeni | Actor](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/db8c87b9-3e0a-4260-9650-59afe58aecea_rw_1920.jpg?h=ffecd484f3e7da2226a6b0d6810beb74)
Gjeni | Actor
![Andi | Guitarist](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/1fa5526b-72b7-41ae-906e-8c603a050bd2_rw_1920.jpg?h=78417da86361c40cb3634bc48c6d49d5)
Andi | Guitarist
![Orges | Bassist](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/3335f29d-90f9-4eb5-8855-8bbb74f80ae9_rw_1920.jpg?h=bb423412fc65a4a4c2704b6b289f4a82)
Orges | Bassist
![Philipp | DJ](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/15756b19-3468-4705-9552-c7d482c4a68a_rw_1920.jpg?h=d3c01d0c95cd134889e47421a62771fe)
Philipp | DJ
![Suada | Vocalist](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/c301f88d-e0f2-4451-95c9-e6031c2cc839_rw_1920.jpg?h=b79ae36a586887d6fab7a7553170469f)
Suada | Vocalist
![Didi | Interior Designer](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/bdc6c93a-553c-4baa-b3ea-03497cd9fc9d_rw_3840.jpg?h=0a9d6a65bf9ee3b9a18a3df9bbabfa62)
Didi | Interior Designer
![Ron | Music Producer](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/dffcc4dc-9149-4614-8ccc-a8390adbbe1d_rw_1920.jpg?h=5074626b57f727774b7ca76f2e0f00e8)
Ron | Music Producer
![Lira | Actress](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/d815ec71-8b06-48e9-8132-1ef2ab269cfa_rw_3840.jpg?h=214a100de0073afb8e636d1611e3dd0c)
Lira | Actress
![Eli | Actress](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/4fc03e8e-c9c2-4035-bed1-eb1c97c15607_rw_3840.jpg?h=1815d21699d6548098def17756edad37)
Eli | Actress
![Era | Actress](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/966c141f-5530-44fb-b462-0ee92a3ef680_rw_3840.jpg?h=05a0a09ca553b8785e74dea2cd7ef06e)
Era | Actress
![Ximon | Stylist](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/6b15d699-cf7b-41eb-b562-d964e2dd4582_rw_3840.jpg?h=58fb0061b1dba6021dbd58fe59ac0e86)
Ximon | Stylist
![Nita | Singer](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/600c2c64-6a57-4e14-b083-20a65a69b951_rw_3840.jpg?h=bd387e550a3bcdb7e327f5b57aa46063)
Nita | Singer
![Entela | Violist](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/7a986e63-1bb2-4863-9158-66dab298607e_rw_3840.jpg?h=4e8a85dfc564945e2af23312a22c0431)
Entela | Violist
![Elira | Journalist](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/fe56d270-a4ee-4905-a41f-9d701efd39c6_rw_3840.jpg?h=b0ff30039e38b494e4ed408910874c87)
Elira | Journalist
![Nita | Coder](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/80ecb4e3-01f6-430f-980c-609b6f7a2456_rw_1920.jpg?h=91f706741f9c0717c867441961a00658)
Nita | Coder
![Sara | Explorer](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/820668bf-94dd-494b-89a1-5b9dc545d789_rw_1920.jpg?h=f54a500c85a0502e89d79350512f479a)
Sara | Explorer
![Debora | Writer](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/6a3b7b43-9d1d-43de-8708-3f298cec753b_rw_1920.jpg?h=f7c7448c811c267f919ede5326d7d553)
Debora | Writer
![Zana | Philosopher](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/e1390582-a6ee-43aa-b58d-d8fa0be111e7_rw_3840.jpg?h=6f907d6c00e4eea4424a235839d79932)
Zana | Philosopher
![Lisa | Psychologist](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5a8c88a632d780e56fff46e12e4c8755/f13dc46b-e78a-4b0d-91a1-3ecf5e10dcb4_rw_3840.jpg?h=eddcbe13c50ccc3752b47f77b3d86d72)