- Art of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ancient Heritage
Prehistory
there have been many layers of prehistory cultures and their creation and disappearance is linked to migrations of unidentified ethnic groups.
Paleolithic in B&H is market with oldest monument of Paleolithic in southeastern Europe -engravings in cave "Badanj" nearStolac inHerzegovina . The magnificent one is "Horse attacked by arrows", preserved in fragments and dated around 14500-12000 B.C.During time when
Neolithic andCopper cultures were appearing, in Bosnia and Herzegovina have happened interesting mixture ofMediterranean cultures and those ofPanonian cultures. Herzegovina was under the influence of impresso ceramics from western Mediterranean as seen in "Green Cave" nearMostar , "Čairi" nearStolac , "Lisičići" nearKonjic and "Peć Mlini" nearGrude . People used to live in caves or simple settlements on hilltops. In the upper mainstream of Bosna river and northeast parts of Bosnia ("Obra I" nearKakanj ) people used to live in wooden houses build on river. In that culture we can see influences from Adriatic cultures on south and "Starčević culture" on northeast. Original expressions of that culture are ceramic pots on four legs, so called –riton . We can find the also in "Danilo culture" on the Croatian coast. Thanks to this objects, Kakanj culture is considered a part of wide circle of Neolithic nations that followed a "cult of life force" (from northernItaly ,Dalmatia andEpirus to Aegean).Butmir Culture nearSarajevo is distinctive with fine glazed ceramics with miscellaneous geometrical decorations (often spirals). Figures from Butmir are unique sculptures modeled with hand; heads are almost like portraits with emphasized parts of body.. During that time, bronze arms, decorated plates, flat necklaces and fibulas were decorated with specific geometrical style of engraved ornaments. From 7th century BC bronze is replaced by iron, and only jewelry and art objects were still made out of bronze. Bronze culture of
Illyrians , ethnic group with distinct culture and art form started to organize itself on today’s Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Different Illyrian tribes, under the influence ofHalstat cultures from north, formed original regional centers. With the notable exception ofPod nearBugojno in the upper valley of theVrbas River, nothing is known of their settlements. In eastern Bosnia in the cemeteries of "Belotić" and "Bela Crkva", the rites of inhumation andcremation are attested, with skeletons in stonecists and cremations inurns . Metal implements appear here side-by-side with stone implements. Most of the remains belong to the fully developed Middle Bronze Age.Very important role in their life was "the cult of the dead", which is seen in their careful burials and burial ceremonies, as well as richness of the burial cites. In northern parts there was long tradition ofcremation and burial in shallow graves, while in the south the dead were buried in large stone, or earth tumuli (natively called – "gromile") that in Herzegovina were reaching monumental sizes, more than 50 m wide and 5 m high."Japodian" tribes (found aroundBihać ) have had affinity to decoration (heavy, oversized necklaces out of yellow, blue or white glass paste, and large bronze fibulas, as well as spiral bracelets, diadems and helmets out of bronze foil.In 4th century BC first outbreak of
Celts is recorded. They have brought technique of pottery wheal, new types of fibulas and different bronze and iron belts. They only passed on their way to Greece, so their influence in Bosnia and Herzegovina is negligible.Antiquity
In delta of
Neretva on the south there was importantHellenistic influence of Illyrian tribeDaors . Their capital wasDaorson in "Ošanići" nearStolac ; to date, main center of Ancient culture in B&H. Daorson in 4th century BC was surrounded bymegalithic , 5 m high stonewalls (large as those ofMycenae inGreece ), composed out of large trapeze stones blocks. Daors have made their unique bronze coins and sculptures. Finally, Romans subdued the Illyrians in first century BC, and after that the history of these parts is history ofIllyria n provinces of Rome and Byzantium.. On the reliefs we can feel naturalism of native craftsmen, and in
mosaics the Hellenistic influence, especially in those found invillas nearStolac (second half of 3rd century).Late roman art in B&H is marked with building of villas, Christianmausoleum s,basilicas andoratories like: "Mausoleum in Šipovo" nearJajce and "VillaMogorjelo " nearČapljina (early 4th century).Sculptures that we inherited are ones like: "Hellenistic relief of Minerva, Jupiter and genius-protector from Šipovo" (2nd century) and extremely barbarically stylized relief of "four friends fromZenica " (end of 4th century).Medieval art in Bosnia and Herzegovina
In Bosnia and Herzegovina the Romanesque influence came from
Croatia and it was never accepted in full, only in use of some elements. Those few monuments with Romanesque elements that were preserved are dating from later times. For example: in the motifs from tombstones in Bosnia – natively calledstećak (14th century), or the high parts of "Tower ofSt. Luke " inJajce (15th century).Influences of
Gothic art in 14th century are supported by culture of urban cities,preaching orders, andknight ly culture. On Bosnian culture there was slight influence of religion and the strong one of Nobility. That is recognizable in the organization of a city that is actually a settlement close tofeudal fortress . Feudal fortress is of thick roughly cut stonewalls, shape is following the terrain, buildings have steppe roofs and towers are often and high. The most beautiful one is perhaps "Royal Court inKraljeva Sutjeska "; it has gothic portals and windows,buttresses , and high rooftops (very practical because of snow).and most of the motifs are derived from their believes, but some derived from Romanesque (crosses, arcades with semi-circular arches, son, half-moon etc) and Gothic (arcades with sharp arches, knight riders, shields, swords, lilies etc) art of the West.
, Croatia.
Ottoman Art in Bosnia and Herzegovina
In 16th century, entire Bosnia was under Ottoman rule so the influences of renaissance and later baroque from west were extinguished. The only places where some western art could be fined were lonesome
Franciscan monasteries inVisoko ,Kreševo ,Fojnica ,Kraljeva Sutjeska etc. and it flourished until 19th century. Actually there were three constant art traditions in B&H living side by side: Catholic-Western one, Orthodox-Byzantine (unique illuminated manuscripts and painted icons) and one and Ottoman-Islamic that was the most powerful one.Ottomans were developing urban cities very fast upon their conquest of B&H. Enriched by
Arabian andByzantine experiences they build so much that it can be compared only with medieval building in Dalmatian cities. For example, inFoča in 16th century Ottomans build 17mosque s, 29 publicfountain s, 6 public baths ("hamam") and 13 caravanserai motels (han).Sarajevo is an example of a non-urban open city where the most important buildings are organized around one veining street – "čaršija" (Persian chahar-su meaning all four sides). In Sarajevo the largest is famousBaščaršija with shops of 50 different crafts from 15th century. Also in Baščaršija is most impressive "Gazi Husrev-beg’s mosque", also known as "Beg’s mosque", built in 1531. Founded on Byzantine central square plan it has dome on large drum, two smaller domes leaning on both sides of drum and a semi-dome behind; in addition, above entrance is a porch with five tiny domes. Inside it is filled with rich wall ornaments in wood and Arabiccalligraphic writings. The complex is complete with a high tower ("munara") and fountain ("šedrvan") in the courtyard., were often in B&H so now we have numerous in the Bosnian libraries. In 16th century the
Jews expelled from Spain came to Sarajevo where they were allowed to settle. Beside important influence on Bosnian culture, they brought with them luxury decorated manuscript calledSarajevo Haggadah from 14th century, now in the Sarajevo museum.The Bridge in Islamic art was very important, not only because it request great skill of an architect, but also because of symbolic meaning of a bridge in
Islam where it is a mediator between heaven and earth. That’s why there is no surprise that the high point ofIslamic architecture in B&H is a bridge. Bridge of artisan "Hajredin" (pupil of the famous architectSinan fromIstanbul ) inMostar (so called: Old Bridge) with its arch over river Neretva is 29 m long and 19,5 m high. With subtle parabola it looks higher and more fragile than it is, an effect seen only in Gothic cathedrals.In Bosnian Islamic architecture, stone is reserved for religious, public buildings and fortifications, while private houses were built out of wood and "ćerpić" (native simple bounding material made of clay and straw). With often consol constructions of the upper floors they could be more open with large windows.When the power of Ottomans started to descend in the middle of 17th century, so did the influence of Islamic art in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Art in Austro-Hungarian Period
(Retirement Home).
First B&H born artists were educated in large European academies (
Vienna ,München ,Prag ,Krakow ,Budapest andParis ) thanks to scholarships of cultural societies like Serbian “Prosvjeta ” and Croatian “Napredak ”. All those artists like "Atanasije Popović, Lazar Draljča,Gabrijel Jurkić , Branko Radulović, Petar Šain" etc., are marked withacademism with slight touches ofimpressionism ,art nouveau , andpointillism . After the Great Exhibition of B&H Artists in 1917, the native born artists have prevailed. Modern styles that entered B&H wereexpressionism andCézanne s-ism.Art in Yugoslavian Kingdom
.
Sadly, the art production in B&H was reduced to crumbs by the Yugoslavian government, so lots of artist never returned to B&H from their studies in
Zagreb andBeograd , while many were also leaving the country.First renewal happened with the "“Group of Four”" and "“engaged art”" of Roman Petrović and his cycle called "“The children of the Street”."Mijić and "Đoko Mazalić" founded the art association called "“Krug”" (The Circle) with strong urban aesthetics of nature.Vojo Dimitrijević painted "“Spain in ‘37”"; a representative artwork of colouristic expression with traces of Picasso and Chagall.In thirties the architects were influenced by ideas of
functionalism , humane architecture andBauhaus . Those buildings were uniting a function, content and form, without unnecessary plastic decoration, and with simple rhythm of windows and modern constructions (former "Social Security Building" in Mostar byDrago Ibler , 1935.).Art in SFRJ (Social Federal Republic of Yugoslavia)
made powerful almost abstract engravings.Architecture was also under the direct influence of Socialistic architecture, but never reached the monumentality of the original works.
In the fifties, careful and slow, the transformation of art through economy and decoration toward abstraction happened. The first was sculptor "Mirko Ostoja" who replaced classical modelling with iron welding. Even the Communist State changed its feeling toward modern art by commissioning large abstract monuments dedicated to famous battles in The War (
Sutjeska ,Kozara , Makljen etc.).Young architects, gathered around professor "Juraj Neidhardt", were trying to achieve connections of modern architecture and B&H tradition and surroundings. Those were buildings like The Mostar Mall - "“Razvitak”" in 1970 by "A. Paljaga" or "Jajce Mall" in 1976 by "R. Jadrić, Dž. Karić and N. Kurto".In the sixties many architects were leaving traditional boundaries and made important buildings in manner of functionalism: "Telecommunication building inAddis Abeba " by "Ivan Štraus and Halid Muhasilović", or "“Skenderija ” Hall" in Sarajevo by "Živorad Janković, H. Muhasilović and O. Malkin".(1980, by Živorad Janković and S. Rozić).
An art expression inspired by old Bosnian culture and tradition appeared in the
graphic work ofDževad Hozo and in paintings of "Mehmed Zaimović, Seid Hasanefendić andMersad Berber ".Quite opposite to that, the urban expression of "Ismar Mujezinović" is more related to modern film montage andphoto -optics , whileBraco Dimitrijević is aConceptual art ist who works mainly outside B&H.An example of architecture in the eighties is "
Holiday Inn Hotel" built in 1983 and the "“Unis” Twin Towers" built inSarajevo in 1986 and designed byIvan Štraus . Among the people of the city, the twin towers are commonly called Momo (Serbian name) and Uzeir (Bosniak name).Art after the Bosnian War
Cultural preservation is under way in Bosnia and Herzegovina which can be seen with the most recent reconstruction of Stari most in Mostar and many other structures of cultural and historical significance which were damaged or destroyed in the recent war. Many other projects, unfortunately, are still stifled by political disputes and lack of funds.
Commercial construction in the years following the Bosnian War has seen a boom in Sarajevo. Sarajevo is one of the cities with the most construction in southeastern Europe. "The Unis Twin Towers" have been renovated completely. On the site of the former "Oslobodjenje Towers", "the Avaz towers" have now been constructed. In the "Hrasno" residential area, the Bosnian Company Bosmal has constructed the
Bosmal City Center , which includes the tallest set of twin towers in the Balkans at 120 meters each.References
* Malcolm, Noel (1994). BOSNIA A Short History. New York University Press. ISBN 0-8147-5520-8.
* Riedlmayer, Andras (1993). [http://www.kakarigi.net/manu/briefhis.htm A Brief History of Bosnia-Herzegovina] . The Bosnian Manuscript Ingathering Project.
* “Umjetničko Blago Bosne i Hercegovine”, several authors, Svjetlost, Sarajevo, 1987.Links
*
Culture of Bosnia and Herzegovina External links
* [http://www.muslibegovichouse.com Bosnian National Monument - Muslibegovica House]
* [http://www.croatianhistory.net/etf/gjurkic.html Gabrijel Jurkic]
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