BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: Streetart Sarajevo - Džidžikovac - Maršala Tita - Mali Park - Poets and Writers Sculpture Series - ENES SIVAC & VOJIN BAKIĆ

With its monumental busts, the Mali Park in Sarajevo preserves a piece of the literary history of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The first portraits of writers were created as early as 1951, including works by the renowned sculptor VOJIN BAKIĆ. The series was expanded after the war: in 2011, sculptor ENES SIVAC created new busts of the poet Izet Sarajlić; after the busts of Derviš Sušić and Ćamil Sijarić were stolen, the artist also crafted replacements for them in 2013. Thus, several generations of Bosnian-Herzegovinian writers meet in Mali Park today, united in bronze and stone.

Tribute to Hamza Humo – 1951 – VOJIN BAKIĆ

Hamza Humo was born in Mostar on 30th December 1895 and was a prominent Bosnian writer, poet, and journalist. He studied art history in Zagreb, Vienna, and Belgrade and began publishing his own poetry and prose in 1919. Among his best-known works is the lyrical novel „Grozdanin kikot“ (1927). Humo also worked as an editor and cultural official, and in 1969, he became a member of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He died in Sarajevo on 19th January 1970.

Tribute to Izet Sarajlić – 2011 – ENES SIVAC

Izet Sarajlić was born on 16th March 1930 in Doboj and was a prominent Bosnian-Herzegovinian poet, essayist, translator, and historian of philosophy. He grew up in Trebinje and Dubrovnik and moved to Sarajevo in 1945, where he spent the greater part of his life. Sarajlić published more than 30 volumes of poetry—which were translated into numerous languages—and was considered one of the most renowned poets of the former Yugoslavia. He became a corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1984 and a full member in 1995. He passed away on 2nd May 2002 in Sarajevo.

Tribute to Petar Kočić – 1951 – VOJIN BAKIĆ

Petar Kočić was born on 29th June 1877 in Stričići near Banja Luka and was a prominent Serbian writer, poet, and politician from Bosnia. He studied in Vienna and, through his literary works and political activities, campaigned against Austro-Hungarian rule and advocated for the rights of the peasantry. His best-known works include „Jazavac pred sudom“ („The Badger on Trial“) and „Jauci sa Zmijanja.“ Kočić is considered one of the most important figures of Serbian realism; he died in Belgrade on 27th August 1916 at the young age of 39.

Tribute to Derviš Sušić – 2013 – ENES SIVAC

Derviš Sušić was born on 3rd June 1925, in Vlasenica and was a prominent Bosnian writer, journalist, and playwright. During World War II, he joined the Partisans, an experience that later shaped many of his works. His best-known novels include „Ja, Danilo“, „Uhode“, „Hodža Strah“, and „Tale“. Sušić also served as director of the city library in Tuzla and, from 1981, was a full member of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He passed away on 1st September 1990 in Tuzla.

Tribute to Silvije Strahimir Kranjčević – 1951 – VOJIN BAKIĆ

Silvije Strahimir Kranjčević was born on 17th February 1865 in Senj and was a significant Croatian poet. He is considered one of the most important Croatian lyric poets of the late 19th century. After a brief period of theological training in Rome, he became a teacher and, from 1886 onwards, worked in various Bosnian cities, including Mostar, Livno, and Sarajevo. In Sarajevo, he also served as the editor of the literary journal „Nada“ and his best-known works include „Bugarkinje“ (1885), „Izabrane pjesme“ (1898), and „Trzaji“ (1902). His poems frequently address social injustice, freedom, and human existence. Kranjčević passed away on 29th October 1908 in Sarajevo.

Tribute to Ćamil Sijarić – 2013 – ENES SIVAC

Ćamil Sijarić was born on 18th December 1913, in Šipovice near Bijelo Polje and was a prominent Bosniak writer, journalist, and novelist. He studied law in Belgrade and later worked for Radio Sarajevo, among other places. In his novels and short stories, he focused primarily on the life and culture of the Sandžak region and its Bosniak population. His best-known works include „Bihorci“, „Konak“, and „Mojkovačka bitka“. Sijarić was a member of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as the Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts. He passed away on 6th December 1989 in Sarajevo.

Tribute to Jovan Kršić – 1951 – VOJIN BAKIĆ

Jovan Kršić was born in Sarajevo on 18th January 1898, and was a prominent Serbian literary critic, translator, and cultural historian. He studied Slavic studies and philosophy in Prague and earned his doctorate from Charles University in 1923. From 1927 onwards, he played a key role in the journal *Pregled*, which he edited until 1941. He focused particularly on Bosnian-Herzegovinian and Czech literature, translating works by Czech authors, among others. A committed anti-fascist, he was killed near Sarajevo on 24th July 1941, during the early months of the occupation.