Safet Zec visited the exhibition 'Under the Sky of Serene Faith'

(Patria) - Academic painter Safet Zec visited the multimedia exhibition of the scientific-research, educational, and exhibition project “Under the Sky of Serene Faith – Islam and Europe in the Experience of Bosnia” at the Collegium Artisticum city gallery in Sarajevo today.

After touring the exhibited items with Dr. Aida Abadžić-Hodžić, the concept author, research project leader, and chief curator, Safet Zec told Preporod.info that he was surprised by the amount of exhibited materials showcasing diverse content from Sarajevo, as well as content from other cities, which he had not had the opportunity to see before.

“I am pleased to see many restored sacral objects again.

Conversely, you can immediately conclude that, unfortunately, many have not been restored. Many are still waiting, an entire impressive cultural heritage is actually waiting for restoration,” Zec points out.

Referring to the depicted significance of water in the local culture, he indicated that many could learn a lot from it about this nation, including some prominent government representatives in the region.

“We can all be satisfied that we have this opportunity to renew our memories… In the period of transition from one culture to another, we thought that what was left behind belonged to the past and had no value, so as children, we destroyed copper utensils. Thus, an entire culture was covered up, we were ashamed of it,” recalls the academic painter, emphasizing that he regrets that period of shame.

He pointed out that this phenomenon can still be found today in the destruction of beautiful old buildings for the construction of new ones and improvisations. “My great sadness is that today in Sarajevo, we almost have no more mahalas, we are left with Svrzo’s and two other houses. Everyone is demolishing old ones and building completely new ones, gates have been torn down and replaced with iron ones, and so on” - Zec emphasizes, recalling the number of fountains that brought life to the mahalas, which are displayed at the exhibition.

He warned that neglect and devastation are also present in other areas, citing the town of Počitelj as one of the saddest examples of such a phenomenon.

He said that the exhibition at the Collegium Artisticum gallery should be displayed for months and that he regrets that it is ending soon.

“I believe that the exhibition will be transferred throughout our former country and Europe, so that it speaks in this beautifully gathered and documented way about that part of the Balkans called Bosnia, and its beauties,” believes academic painter Safet Zec.

The multimedia exhibition of the scientific-research, educational, and exhibition project “Under the Sky of Serene Faith - Islam and Europe in the Experience of Bosnia” is open to the public until November 18, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Several panels and interesting workshops will be held during the exhibition, and admission is free.