ABOUT THE COLLECTION

ART COLLECTION

The art collection of the Bosniak Institute – Adil Zulfikarpašić Foundation originated from the private collection of the Institute's founder. Today, it includes approximately 1,500 works by over 200 artists, primarily from Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the region and Europe. A selection from this rich collection - titled In Focus: The Collection- is displayed as part of the Institute's permanent gallery exhibitions. Through thematic sections such as Old Masters, Figures, Neighborhoods, Bazaars, and Landscapes, Bosnian Graphic Art, and Abstract and Associative, the exhibition offers a representative overview of the artistic richness of the Bosniak Institute's collection. It provides insight into the artistic achievements of Bosnian-Herzegovinian fine art from the 20th and early 21st centuries. Among the featured artists are some of the most significant local painters, graphic artists, and sculptors, including Mersad Berber, Vojo Dimitrijević, Emir Dragulj, Dževad Hozo, Gabrijel Jurkić, Alija Kučukalić, Hakija Kulenović, Ibrahim Ljubović, Ismet Mujezinović, Affan Ramić, Iva Despić Simonović, Petar Šain, Rizah Štetić, Halil Tikveša, Mehmed Zaimović, Safet Zec, and others. The collection also includes legacies of Mersad Berber, Ismet Rizvić, Edin Numankadić, and Fuad Arifhodžić, as well as a permanent exhibition of sculptures by prominent local and regional artists from the Institute's collection. Additionally, the portrait gallery showcases notable figures from Bosnian history, depicted through various artistic techniques.

IN FOCUS COLLECTION

OLD MASTERS

The works of the first generations of academically trained Bosnian-Herzegovinian artists offer a unique cross-section of the richness and diversity of artistic expressions by some of the pioneers and prominent representatives of modern art in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A connection to tradition is evident in the depictions of old Sarajevo and its inhabitants by Petar Šain (1885–1965) and Đoko Mazalić (1888–1975). Landscapes dominate the canvases of Hakija Kulenović (1905–1987) and Rizah Štetić (1908–1974), with the latter achieving recognizable chromatic harmony even in still life. Ismet Mujezinović (1907–1984), a giant of Bosnian-Herzegovinian painting, demonstrates the breadth of his skill across various techniques and themes, with his most striking works being those inspired by wartime. Alongside Mujezinović, the art of World War II in Bosnia and Herzegovina is marked by Vojo Dimitrijević (1910–1980), who achieves dramatic compositions through bold color planes and sharp contrasts rather than detailed figural representation. The still lifes of Roman Petrović (1896–1947) and Behaudin Selmanović (1915–1972) are characterized by a reduction of objectivity and reliance on basic visual elements, blending influences from East and West. The surrealistic and metaphysical atmosphere in Ibrahim Ljubović’s (1938–1995) paintings introduces new values into the thematic and conceptual frameworks of 20th-century Bosnian-Herzegovinian art.

FIGURES

A selection of works from the Bosniak Institute’s art collection featuring figural motifs reflects stylistic pluralism: from realistic portraits created using various artistic techniques, to the vibrant interplay of colors in the works of Ismar Mujezinović (1942), and the expressive dynamism of forms by Izet Alečković (1944). The collection also includes poetic, abstract compositions by Salim Obralić (1945–2018). A special highlight is the piece Hamal with a Sacrificial Lamb by Czech artist Franz Leo Ruben (1842–1920), who captured scenes of everyday life during his stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina under Austro-Hungarian rule.

NEIGHBORHOODS, BAZAARS, LANDSCAPES

The old architectural structures, intertwined with the natural surroundings of Bosnian-Herzegovinian landscapes, have inspired many local artists to highlight the importance of preserving cultural and historical heritage. Depictions include the Old Bridge in Mostar, the Ferhat Pasha Mosque in Banja Luka, the vistas of Počitelj and Sarajevo, Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque, bazaars, neighborhoods, alleys, cobblestone streets, and gates. These motifs, realized in various painting, graphic, and drawing techniques, underscore the country’s rich architectural heritage. The lyrical atmosphere of Safet Zec's (1943) paintings nostalgically evokes past times, with lush green foliage protectively enveloping the intimacy of Bosnian houses.

GRAPHIC ART

In the latter half of the 20th century, Bosnian-Herzegovinian art entered international art circles, primarily through the works of graphic artists trained in academies in Ljubljana, Belgrade, and Zagreb. The selection of graphic works from the Bosniak Institute's collection, including pieces by representatives of the golden age of Bosnian graphic art, offers valuable insight into the achievements of local artists from the 1960s to the 1990s. Dževad Hozo (1938–2020), with his mastery of complex intaglio methods, developed a concise, content-rich, and formally refined expression of high artistic awareness. Mersad Berber's (1940–2012) works are marked by allegorical motifs and a lush style, harmonizing traditional and contemporary artistic tendencies. The tonal gradation in Emir Dragulj's (1939–2002) aquatint and mezzotint prints evokes a wistful metaphysical ambiance, while Halil Tikveša's (1935) dreamlike depictions of Herzegovinian scenes, purified to the essence of form, exude meditative qualities.

ABSTRACT AND ASSOCIATIVE

The selection of works created in the late 20th and early 21st centuries by Bosnian-Herzegovinian artists moves away from the representation of objective reality, allowing the authors' sensibilities to emerge through pure expressions of color, lines, and shapes. Mehmed Zaimović's (1938–2011) canvases communicate an authentic visual language achieved through a fusion of arabesque-ornamental traditions, organic-microscopic forms, and geometric fields in earthy tones. Edin Numankadić (1948) uses his brush to create elusive yet recognizable sequences that represent fragments of an ongoing, unstoppable creative process. The dynamic instability and dramatic transformation of matter on small formats in Affan Ramić's (1932–2015) works exemplify the suitability of abstract art for expressing the deepest inner struggles of the human spirit.

PORTRAIT GALLERY

A significant part of the Collection of Artistic Works at the Bosniak Institute – Adil Zulfikarpašić Foundationconsists of portraits created in various techniques and materials to honor prominent figures in Bosnian-Herzegovinian history. These include Kulin Ban, King Tvrtko I Kotromanić, Safvet-beg Bašagić, Mehmed Spaho, Mehmedalija Mak Dizdar, and others. The collection also features portraits and busts of Adil Zulfikarpašić and members of his family. A particularly notable piece is the bronze bust of Reis Džemaludin Čaušević, a work by Ivan Meštrović (1883–1962), the most prominent sculptor of Croatian modern art. The works of Špiro Bocarić (1876–1941) reflect the emergence of bourgeois portraiture in Bosnia and Herzegovina, while Ismet Mujezinović (1907–1984), with his masterful painting style, created authentic portraits of the Institute’s founder, Adil Zulfikarpašić, his wife Tatjana, and his father Husein-beg.