Balancing art and army, Ramiza Sarić confronted enemy occupation on two fronts during the wartime period in Bosnia and Herzegovina: the cultural and militaristic. Today, at the age of 77, having traveled the world extensively, she claims that we are “the best country with the best people who are the most cultured and civilized.”
The painter Mira Kovačević found her passion for art in the technique of painting with wine, thereby confirming that using even the most unusual materials can reach the hearts of others. After becoming bored with standard painting techniques, she wanted to do something different and unique.
For some, maps serve as a streamlined tool to help one get from point A to point B. But for the team of the Subjective Atlas project, the act of cartography itself represents a complex journey informed by politics, history, and the personal relationships we have to the landscape in which our lives unfold.
The economic, political, and cultural climate of the moment constantly questions the organization of independent spaces where contemporary art can be produced. This art aims to challenge, criticize, and forge connections with the community. It also provides insights on how to overcome patriarchal cultural norms which view art as merely an extension of its regressive politics.
The siege of Sarajevo, the longest siege of a capital city in the history of modern warfare, continues to be remembered for its brutal disregard for life. Nevertheless, amidst the grave destruction, daily shelling, and the constant struggle for survival, the people of Sarajevo refused to surrender. During this harrowing period, artists played a vital role, contributing to the birth of a culture of resistance in the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina and showing that the spirit of Sarajevo will never die.