Dear colleagues and students, ladies and gentlemen,

it is an honour and pleasure to have this opportunity to say a few words on

the occasion of the opening of the exhibition “Raised hands”, curated by our
colleague dr. Meliha Teparić. I will admit that it is in fact the first time that I am
visiting the beautiful IUS Art Gallery, and I certainly hope that, in the future,
there will be many more opportunities to visit exceptional and seriously cu-
rated exhibitions, such as the one we can see today. An active and attractive
gallery space certainly is an enrichment for our university and can significantly
contribute to IUS becoming an even more vibrant intellectual centre and a
relevant part of the cultural landscape of Sarajevo. Thus, first of all, I would
like to congratulate and thank dr. Teparić for her efforts in making sure that
the IUS Art Gallery continues fulfilling its purpose of artistically enriching our
academic lives.

The exhibition “Raised hands” consists of works by both established Bosnian

artists of the older generation such as Safet Zec, probably the most significant
contemporary Bosnian painter and Alma Suljević, Stjepo Gavrić and Asim Đe-
lilović, all professors at the Sarajevo Art Academy, as well as representatives of
the younger generation of artists such as Velija Hasanbegović, Mirza Hasane-
fendić, Taida Jašarević and our very own Roman Sulejmanpašić and dr. Meliha
Teparić, who doubles as a participating artist in this exhibition. The exhibition
is also diverse in a stylistic sense, containing classical media such as prints by
Zec and sculptures by Gavrić on the one side, a sub-group of the photography
of Hasanefendicđć, Hasanbegović and Đelilovic, and finally the post-modernist
video-installation by Teparic, performance piece by Suljevic and readymade - if
I may call it that - by Roman Sulejmanpašic. Being generationally and stylistically
diverse, the exhibition is conceived iconographically, grouped around the cen- Đelilović’s and Sulejmanpašić’s works warn us that modern civilization may
tral motif of the hand. have given up on spiritual and humanistic ideals and thus turned its hands into
mere tools for the acquisition of money and power embodied in technology.
Quite coincidentally, just when I was asked to prepare a few words for this The hands are thus, once again, ambivalent symbols, reaching both high up in
exhibition, I was reading an article about the role of the hand in the tradition the sky and deep below into the darkest recesses of humanity.
of Manichaeism, that almost forgotten ancient religion, whose followers once
spread from Morocco in the West to China in the East, and which also left its What is it, in the end, that the viewer of this exhibition can take back from
distant traces in the medieval Bosnian Church. In Manichaeism, it was by a clasp these hands of hope and warning? A wonderful short poem by the Bosnian
of hands that Man was liberated from the constraints of the material world and poet Mak Dizdar expresses it succinctly:
pulled up to the Heavens. In other religions, the hands also play a central role,
which, in fact, forms the central subject of Zec’s dramatic prints, in which suf- This hand tells you to stop and reflect upon your own hands.
fering Bosnian Muslim man and women are praying, or in the more restrained
photography of Jašarević, which alludes to Indian religious traditions. The sa- Dr. Gorčin Dizdar
cred meaning of hands is of course also present in what may be described
as the centrepiece of the exhibition, Teparić’s video installation based on the
words of the Sufi, alluding to the fundamental duality of the human condition
and the eternal wish to overcome it - through devotion to God, and also, per-
haps, through contemplation and creation of art, another singular creation of
human hands.

Besides their sacred symbolism, the hands are also present in this exhibition
through their specifically human and humanistic meanings. In Hasanefendić’s
photograph, there are no explicitly metaphysical allusions: the man’s hands
may be joined in prayer, but also in a this-worldly concentration ready to burst
at any moment. Hasanbegovic’s photographs show three fundamental social
concepts expressed in sign-language: happiness, help and unity, thereby using
hands to communicate values that make us truly human. On the other hand,
Asim Đelilović
Works Book – Words Book, object,
2002

Asim Đelilović
In God We Trust, digital print, 1999
Stjepo Gavrić
Salvation, sculpture, 2015

Stjepo Gavrić
For One Love, sculpture, 2012

Stjepo Gavrić
Consolation, sculpture, 2012
Velija Hasanbegović
Happiness, photography, 2014

Velija Hasanbegović
Help, photography, 2014

Velija Hasanbegović
Community, photography, 2014
Mirza Hasanefendić
Like a Prayer, photography, 2015
Taida Jašarević
Perfect Balance I, print, 2016

Taida Jašarević
Perfect Balance II, print, 2016
Alma Suljević
Prayer - Suicide Bomber,
photography, 2003

Alma Suljević
Suicide Bomber - Kiss, pho-
tography, 2003
 Meliha Teparić
To Douse out Hell and To Burn Down Paradise,
video, 2016

Roman Sulejmanpašić
End of Civilization, installation, 2018
Safet Zec
Prayer, print, 2003
Asim Đelilović (Vitez 1964.), vanredni
profesor, magistar produkt dizajna. Ob-
javljeni radovi: Alina Boboc & Daoud
Sarhandi Evil doesn’t live here, Princeton
Architectural Press, New York, 2000.; Liz
McQuiston, Graphic Agitation 2 – Social
and political graphic in digital age, Phaidon
Press Ltd., London, 2004.; Dekada dizajna
– Savremeni dizajn u Bosni i Hercegovini,
Grupa autora, ULUPUBIH, Sarajevo, 2009.
Objavio je zbirku eseja i kritika Okvir za
sliku, Omnibus Sarajevo, 2010. Član je
organizacionog odbora Sarajevo Green
Design Week Festivala (2009 – 2011). Ko-
selektor je Budimpesta Design Week 2011
za autore iz BiH.
peripheryart@gmail.com
museuminexilee@gmail.com
http://asimartworks.com/
Stijepo Gavrić (Tuzla, 1958.) godine 1978.
završava Srednju školu primijenjenih um-
jetnosti u Sarajevu, a četiri godine poslije
(1982) okončava i skulptorski studij, na
Odsjeku za kiparstvo Akademije likovnih
umjetnosti, također u Sarajevu. Od 1985.
angažovan je kao profesor u školi čiji je bio
nekadašnji učenik. Izlagao je na mnogo sk-
upnih i nekoliko samostalnih izložbi, kako u
zemlji, tako i u inozemstvu. Autor je i ne-
koliko spomenika postavljenim na javnim
mjestima. Sudjelovao je u mnogobrojnim
kiparskim kolonijama, kojima je i značajno
doprinio svojim učešćem. Dobitnik je
Šestoaprilske ULUBiH nagrade za skulp-
turu.
http://www.stijepogavric.ba/index.html
Velija Hasanbegović (Foča, 1975) Autor je
nekoliko izložbi ”Drina/JezeroPerućac”,
“I moja bijela traka”, “Potočarske sjene”,
“Atlete srca”. Izlagao je širom svijeta: Sara-
jevo, Zagreb, Beograd, Budimpešta, New
York I dr., a njegove radove su objavljivali
eminentni časopisi kao što su: Theather
der Zite, Süddeutsche Zeitung, Financial
Times I dr.
Oficijelni je fotograf Internacionalnog
teatarskog festival MESS I Sarajevskog rat-
nog teatra – SARTR. Dobitnik je nagrada
za najbolju umjetničku fotografiju ULUPU-
BiH-a (2011 I 2016).
info@velijahasanbegovic.com
Taida Jašarević (Sarajevo,1979), BA -
Akademiji likovnih umjetnosti u Sarajevu,
Odsjek grafik. MA i PhD na Joshiba uni-
verzitetu za umjetnost i dizajn u Tokiju.
Ostvarila je 14 samostalnih, 57 kolektivnih
izložbi u zemlji i inostranstvu i 16 nagrada.
Učestvovala je na brojnim konferencijama.
Čaln ULUBiH.
taida.jasrevic@gmail.com
http://jataida.com/wp/
Roman Sulejmanpašić (Sarajevo, 1986)
BA MFA Akademija Likovnih Umjetnosti u
Sarajevu, odsjek Kiparstvo. Sudjelovao je u
40 kolektivnih izložbi, a 5 puta je izlagao
samostalno. Clan je ULUBIH. Docent na
Internacionalnom Univerzitetu u Sarajevu.
rsulejmanpasic@gmail.com
h t t p s : / / w w w. b e h a n ce . n e t / r s u l e j -
manp617c
Alma Suljević (Kakanj, 1963) živi I radi u
Sarajevu. Od 2000. Godine predavač je na
Likovnoj akademiji u Sarajevu. Završila je
postdiplomski studij na odsjeku za skulp-
turu na Akademiji u Sarajevu, kao I studij
savremene filozofije na Filozofskom I Prav-
nom fakultetu u Sarajevu. Radila je kao
deminerka tokom I nakon rata u BiH. Um-
jetnica performansa I skulptorica, koristi
ratna iskustva kao temu za svoja djela.
Izlagala je svoja djela širom Evrope i radila
na podizanju svjesti o minama. Također,
radila je na prikupljanju novca za demini-
ranje.
http://www.alu.unsa.ba/nastavnicisurad-
nici
Meliha Teparić (Sarajevo,1978), BA i MA
Akademija likovnih umjetnosti u Sarajevu,
odsjek slikrstvo. Ostvarila je 48 kolektivnih
internacionalnih i domaćih izložbi, 8 samo-
stalnih i 17 objavljenih članaka iz oblasti
islamske kaligrafije. Čaln je ULUBiH. Do-
cent na Internacionalnom univerzitetu u
Sarajevu.
melihateparic@yahoo.com
http://melihateparic.com/
Safet Zec (Rogatica, 1943)
Nakon završene Srednje skole primijen-
jenih umjetnosti, nastavlja svoje studije u
Beogradu gdje je diplomirao na Akademiji
Likovnih Umjetnosti 1969. 1972. završio
je postdiplomski studij. Jedan je od pred-
stavnika umjetničkog stila poznatog kao
“poetski realizam”. Od 1992. živi u Italiji I
od 1998. Posjeduje studio u Veneciji u bliz-
ini crkve San Francesco della Vigna. Brojne
su njegove izložbe, kako u BiH, tako i u
Evropi.
contact@safetzec.com Velija Hasanbegović (Foča, 1975) is an au-
http://www.safetzec.com/
Asim Đelilović (Vitez 1964) - associate pro-
fessor with a Master’s degree in Product
Design. Artworks: Alina Boboc & Daoud
Sarhandi Evil doesn’t live here, Princeton
Architectural Press, New York, 2000.; Liz
McQuiston, Graphic Agitation 2 – Social
and political graphic in digital age, Phai-
don Press Ltd., London, 2004.; Decade of
Design – Contemporary Design in Bosnia
and Herzegovina, Group of authors, ULU-
PUBIH, Sarajevo, 2009. He published the
collection of essays and reviews Picture
Frame, Omnibus Sarajevo, 2010. He was
a board member of Sarajevo Green De-
sign Week Festival (2009 – 2011). He was
a co-curator for the artists from Bosnia at
the Budapest Design Week in 2011.
http://asimartworks.com/
Stijepo Gavrić (Tuzla, 1958) In 1978 he
finished Art school in Sarajevo, and four
years later (1982) he graduated at the
University of Fine Arts in Sarajevo on
the Department of sculpture. Since 1985
he worked as a teacher in school that he
used to attend. He had several individual
exhibitions and participated in numerous
group exhibitions in Bosnia and Herze-
govina and abroad. He significantly con-
tributed to multiple art colonies on which
he attended. He is the author of several
monuments placed in public areas. Stijepo
Gavrić is a winner of ULUBIH (Association
of fine artists of Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Sixth of April Award for sculpture.
http://www.stijepogavric.ba/index.html
thor of few exhibitions Drina/ Perućac
Lake, My White Ribbon too, Shadows of
Potočari, Athletes of the Heart. His works
were shown around the world, in Sarajevo,
Zagreb, Belgrade, Budapest, New York
etc. and in magazines such as Theather der
Zite, Süddeutsche Zeitung, Financial Times
etc. He is the official photographer of the
International Theatre Festival (MESS) and
Sarajevo War Theatre (SARTR). He won
the Association of fine artists of Bosnia
and Herzegovina’s award for the best art
photograph in 2011 and 2016.
info@velijahasanbegovic.com
Taida Jašarević (1979), BA - Academy of
Fine Art in Sarajevo, departmep printe-
makig. MA and PhD at Joshibi University
of Art and Design in Tokyo. she ahs ex-
hibited at 14 solo, 57 collective exhibitions
and 16 awards. Member of applied art as-
sociation - ULUBiH.
http://jataida.com/wp/
Roman Sulejmanpasic (Sarajevo, 1986)
BA and MFA Academy of Fine Arts in
Sarajevo, department of Sculpture.
He has participated in 40 collective exhibi-
tions and had 5 solo exhibitions.
Is a member of ULUBIH. Assistant Pro-
fessor at the International University of
Sarajevo.
rsulejmanpasic@gmail.com
h t t p s : / / w w w. b e h a n ce . n e t / r s u l e j -
manp617c
Alma Suljević (Kakanj, 1963) lives and
works in Sarajevo. From 2000 she is a lec-
turer at the Academy of Fine Arts in Sara-
jevo. 1982-1991 - Postgraduate studies at
the Academy of Fine Arts, Sculpture de-
partment, Sarajevo. She did Post-graduate
course in contemporary philosophy at the
Faculty of Philosophy, Sarajevo and grad-
uated from the Academy of Fine Arts,
Faculty of Philosophy and Law, Sarajevo.
She is a landmine artist. During and af-
ter the war she worked as a de-miner.
A performance artist and sculptor, she
uses these war-time experiences as basis
for her artistic work. Currently, Alma is
a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts
in Sarajevo. She has exhibited her work
throughout Europe and raises awareness
about land mines. She also raises money
for de-mining.
http://www.alu.unsa.ba/nastavnici-
suradnici
Meliha Teparić (Sarajevo, 1978), BA and
MA in paintig , Accademy of Fine Art in
Sarajevo. she has been exhibitid so far 48
colective in a broad nad in the country,
8 solo exhibitions, and she published 17
articles in a filed of islamic calligraphy.
Member of artist association - ULUBiH.
Assistant professor at International Uni-
versity of Sarajevo.
http://melihateparic.com
Safet Zec (Rogatica, 1943) After complet-
ing Art High School in Sarajevo, he con-
tinued his studies in Belgrade where he
graduated at the Academy of Fine Arts in
1969. In 1972 he obtained his postgrad-
uate diploma. He went on to become an
exponent of the recent art style known
as “Poetic Realism”. Since 1992 he’s been
in Italy and since 1998 he has his studio
in Venice near San Francesco della Vigna’s
church. Exhibitions in his country and all
over Europe are many.
http://www.safetzec.com/