Šejla Kamerić

How do women carry the weight of imposed identities, and how do they transform them into acts of defiance? What does it mean to be “exed” from history, from belonging, from one’s own body? Who were you before the world put labels on you—and tried to define you? These questions arise from EX YOU, the latest exhibition at Fotografiska Stockholm by Bosnian artist Šejla Kamerić. Born in Yugoslavia, her life and artistic vision have been shaped by the war and its enduring impact on identity, displacement, and survival. EX YOU is a powerful and deeply personal exploration of gender roles, memory, and resilience.

Exploring Identity, Freedom, and the Politics of Belonging

On November 28, Fotografiska Stockholm opens its doors to EX YOU, the latest exhibition by acclaimed Bosnian artist Šejla Kamerić. Born in the former Yugoslavia, “ex-YU,” Kamerić's life and artistic vision have been deeply shaped by the war and its aftermath. With raw, intimate, and unfiltered imagery, Kamerić describes a constant struggle to define herself in a patriarchal world. Her work intertwines deeply personal memories with collective experiences.

Turning Personal Experience into Acts of Defiance

“This exhibition is deeply personal. Its about transition, freedom of choice, it’s about political, social and personal rejection. Identities are not simple and they are not fixed positions, identity is a process of becoming”, says Šejla Kamerić.

“Until I was a young teenager, I felt uncomfortable being a girl — I wanted to be a boy. I understood that boys had more freedom, and the path society built for a female child was not something I felt comfortable with. I recognized from an early age that it’s not something I fit into. Now I use my body and my voice as a woman to speak about that.”

EX YOU opens at Fotografiska Stockholm on November 28, 2025, and runs until April 19, 2026. The exhibition is curated by Marina Paulenka, Independent Curator, on behalf of Fotografiska. The exhibition has been produced by Jessica Jarl, Global Director of Exhibitions at Fotografiska, and Sofia Liljergren, Exhibition Producer at Fotografiska Stockholm.

“EX YOU transforms Fotografiska into a living, breathing space of dialogue and self-reflection. Here, visitors are not just observers – they are part of the story”, says Jessica Jarl.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Šejla Kamerić is a renowned visual artist known for her multidisciplinary work in film, photography, installation, and drawing. She has received widespread acclaim for the poignant intimacy and social commentary that have become the main elements of her work. Taking up subjects that arise from non-linear historical narratives, as well as personal histories, Kamerić focuses on the politics of memory, modes of resistance in human life, and the consequential idiosyncrasies of women’s struggle. Empathy plays a central role in her approach, creating spaces of power and dialogue.

Her works are featured in major international collections, including Tate Modern (London), MACBA (Barcelona), Arter (Istanbul) and MMCA (Seoul). She has exhibited at prestigious institutions such as MUMOK (Vienna), Centre Pompidou (Paris), Portikus (Frankfurt am Main), Museum of Contemporary Art Belgrade, Museum of Contemporary Art Zagreb, The Phillips Collection (Washington, D.C.). Kamerić has also participated in Manifesta Biennale, Gwangju Biennale, and the Venice International Film Festival.

Among her many accolades, she received The ECF Routes Princess Margriet Award (2011), the DAAD-Berlin Artist Residency Fellowship (2007). Her films have screened at over 40 international film festivals, including Venice, Rotterdam, and Sarajevo.