April 6th Exhibition: Miner Creates Fascinating Artworks

(Patria) - A long-time miner from Breza, Ešref Muratović, better known as Bubby, is a painter in his free time. With brushstrokes on canvas, he creates real magic, and he did not finish the Academy of Fine Arts. Finances were his main obstacle on the path to becoming an academic painter, but that did not stop him from regularly creating masterpieces with his brush while performing his mining duties.

Regional media have written about him as a phenomenon, a man living his dream despite life's obstacles.

Now, Muratović is once again realizing a new dream. On the occasion of Breza Municipality Day, April 6th, Bubby is organizing and gifting his fellow citizens an exhibition at the Breza Brown Coal Mine premises. He emphasizes for Patria that it doesn't matter if you work in the mine; his exhibition is open to all visitors, and a lucky visitor will even win one of his paintings.

Muratović grew up in a working-class family that did not have the means to pay for his education. However, that could not extinguish his impeccable talent.

He had his first solo exhibition precisely at the mine premises, initiated by its director, followed by a major exhibition in Sarajevo, which was also his big dream. 

Due to a work accident that occurred a few years ago, he lost sight in his right eye, so he replaced coal production and processing in the mine with a telephone exchange, where he now works and paints with the same intensity.

“Painting is my love, I have had some important exhibitions. It was truly an honor for me to present my works to the Sarajevo public. I will never give up, simply, this is my life, painting is my way of thinking and living,” says Muratović.