Madison Novak: Uncovering Identity in Kosovo through Lumos

Novak (‘26) brings voices to life through experiential design exhibition  

The path after graduation was unclear for experiential design alumna Madison Novak (‘26), but through a radical opportunity, she found passion and purpose in Kosovo as a Lumos Traveler. “I always knew I wanted to travel, and I wanted to do something that would help a community,” said Novak. 

Novak was awarded the Lumos Travel Award, which enables young adults aged 20-26 to embark on travel journeys and take on real-world problems that expand their knowledge and perspectives on the world. In her Lumos travels, Novak lived in the southeastern European country of Kosovo for four months where she immersed herself in the challenges, beauty and uncertainties that face young adults in a post-war society.  

In 1998, the lesser-known country of Kosovo experienced a brutal war involving conflicts between the presiding Serbian and Yugoslav forces and ethnic Albanians who wanted independence. The conflict that lasted over a year resulted in numerous casualties and displacement of Albanians, leaving the region in turmoil.  

Through her Lumos Travel experience, Novak aimed to create an interactive storytelling exhibition highlighting Kosovo’s resilience and strength while implementing her knowledge of experiential design.  

When Identity Crosses Cultures

In her senior capstone course at Belmont, Novak and her classmates wrestled with questions centered around their identities and who they aimed to be after graduation. These questions led her to further introspection. She wondered what identity looks like in other contexts, and what does it mean for young adults in other countries.  

“I think that the best way to learn something is to take yourself out of the equation and look at it from someone else’s point of view,” she said. 

Motivated by this idea, Novak embarked on her Lumos travel experience to examine how the young people of Kosovo approach questions of identity and the future outlook of this post-conflict society. 

Kosovo eventually declared independence from Serbia in 2008, however Serbia, along with many other countries, do not recognize their independence. 

Knowing the hardships Kosovo continues to face today, Novak aimed to explore how the youth of Kosovo are rebuilding and understanding their identities.  

“As an outsider, I can look at myself and see the progress that I have made over the years. But how did the people of Kosovo experience progress? How did they understand it? How did they view it within their own nation?” Novak asked. 

In Kosovo, Novak partnered with, an organization that helped her transition into the country and allowed her to partner with their youth mentorship programs.  

With young people making up 65% of the Kosovo population, youth programs help with issues of unemployment and help to open dialogue after experiencing the hardship and destruction caused by the war. 

Uncovering Lesser-Known Stories

To aid in telling a clearer depiction of Kosovo’s story, Novak interviewed 10 young people from the ages of 21 to 33 to hear their perspectives and get a sense of their concept of identity as residents of Europe’s newest country. Through hearing each individual story, she gained understanding of how the people of Kosovo are responding and growing after conflict, and how that shapes their own view of identity. 

“What we experience directly impacts our outlooks on the future and factors into our identity,” she said. “It is not just what we experience but it is how we keep on going.” 

From Kosovo to Nashville

Novak’s journey did not stop when she arrived back in the states in June. Using the stories and perspectives of the young people of Kosovo, she created a multimedia exhibition entitled “Forging a Nation,” sharing the resilience of this country with her own Nashville community.  

In creating this immersive experience, Novak acknowledged that some of the questions she aimed to find answers to originally still remain unclear. 

“No matter how hard or long I searched, there were constantly new questions posed,” Novak shared. “I now realize art isn’t about answering questions, but rather about proposing questions in an interactive way,”  

Through firsthand accounts and evolving technology, Novak’s exhibition invites audiences to engage with the voices of Kosovo — a new country forging its place in the world. 

The exhibition debuted on Oct. 9 at Gallery 121 in the Leu Center for the Visual Arts. Here, the Nashville community can gain insight and a new understanding of identity across cultures and be inspired by the hope and resilience of the youth of Kosovo. Novak’s exhibition runs through Oct. 24.