Focus on this artwork and explore the Background.
Newborn was designed and created in a collaboration between Kosovar designer Fisnik Ismaili and creative agency Ogilvy Kosova. Upon completion and approval of the design, the monument was created and installed in only 10 days. Fisnik Ismaili graduated from high school in Kosovo when it was still part of Serbia. He went on to study at the University of Westminster and from Robert Gordon University, earning degrees in Computer Science, Corporate Communications and Public Relations. Ismaili returned to Kosovo after completing his studies and fought in a guerrilla unit of the Liberation Army of Kosovo. At the unveiling the monument was signed by the President and Prime Minister of Kosovo, followed by 150,000 citizens celebrating their independence.Weighing in at 9 tons, Newborn's dimensions are 3.0 metres (10 ft) by 24 metres (79 ft) by 0.9 metres (3 ft), set in DIN Black typeface. Newborn was the first large public monument to commemorate Kosovo's independence. It was built in ten days of round-the-clock work."Newborn" was chosen as a single English word for the power to describe the birth of a new country, its positive connotations, ease of understanding by non-native English-speakers, and potential to present Kosovo as a new, contemporary, trendy country. The yellow color was chosen in combination with blue banners and the supporting slogans to represent both Kosovo's new flag colors as well as EU colors. The design was chosen for several reasons. It is a simple, easily understood and easily translated word with a variety of meanings. It represents the national pride that the people of Kosovo felt for earning their freedom and establishing themselves at the world’s newest state. The slogans that media outlets in Kosovo ran following the unveiling represent the plurality of meanings citizens found in the monument. These included: "NEW life is BORN", "NEW hope is BORN", "NEW future is BORN" and "NEW country is BORN".
DIN Black Liberation Army of Kosovo EU colors Kosovo Kosovo's new flag Newborn