The exhibition “Interrupted Play” has opened in Pristina, displaying the toys children held during the war of 1999. This is the first exhibition held at the newly inaugurated Museum of War Childhood in Pristina. The museum features dozens of toys from children during the Kosovo war, conveying messages filled with complex emotions that only war can evoke.
Bjeshka Guri, the museum’s director, stated:
“It takes us back to the lives of children who survived the war. This exhibition will transport you to moments of flight, fear, hiding, play, and complex emotions that only war can bring. Every object and story in this exhibition invites you to confront the truths of war and the past with a critical mind and an open heart—ensuring that we never allow such events to become part of the present. ‘Interrupted Play’ addresses the violently disrupted childhoods caused by war.”
The exhibition also features works by renowned Kosovar artist Petrit Halilaj. Reflecting on his contribution, Halilaj said:
“The drawing on display, created in 1999 when I was in refugee camps in Albania, brings back memories of that part of my childhood. As a family, we have two drawings exhibited there; it was incredibly important for us to express ourselves through drawing and share our war experiences.”
Despite several years of effort, the opening of this museum has not received institutional support. As a result, it has been temporarily housed in a private space.
Marigona Shabiu, director of YIHRS, explained:
“This museum is not merely a physical space but an effort to build bridges between the past and the future—a space to hear voices often forgotten, to understand the pain of the past, and to learn from it. For the past five years, we have been searching for a public space to establish the museum, but all our efforts have failed, reflecting the lack of willingness from public institutions to support such memory initiatives. Therefore, we are opening the museum temporarily in a private space.”
The museum will include personal items, video testimonies, and exhibits showcasing the experiences of children during the Kosovo war.
