BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: Streetart Sarajevo - Mejtaš - Muhameda Kantardžića 1 - Liberation Square - Writers Sculpture Park

Liberation Square – Trg Oslobođenja – Writers Sculpture Park

Around Trg Oslobođenja, or in English Liberation Square, busts of prominent national writers and poets serve as a reminder of the rich literary heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The figures immortalized here have shaped the country’s culture through their novels, poems, and stories, while also telling the story of its diverse history. Metal busts are mounted on marble blocks and depict authors who embody the power of literature to preserve a society’s experiences, traditions, and identity. Also check out the individual page for the big sculpture by FRANCESCO PERILLI in the middle of the Liberation Square, called „Multikulturalni Čovjek„, or in English the “Multicultural Man”, as well the war memorial dedicated to the First Police Brigade.

Tribute to Skender Kulenović

Skender Kulenović lived from 2nd September 1910, to 25th January 1978, and was a prominent Bosnian writer, poet, and playwright. He is considered one of the most important authors in 20th-century Bosnian literature and is particularly known for his poetic works.

He became famous for his renowned poem “Stojanka majka Knežopoljka,” which addresses the suffering of the population during World War II. In addition to his literary work, he was also active in politics and culture and left a significant legacy in the literary history of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Tribute to Branko Ćopić

Branko Ćopić lived from 1st January 1915, to 26th March 1984, and was a prominent Bosnian writer, storyteller, and poet. He is considered one of the best-known authors in Yugoslav literature and became particularly famous for his humorous yet profound stories about the lives of people in Bosnia.

He gained fame through works such as “Ježevа kućica” (“The Hedgehog’s Little House”) and numerous novels and short stories in which he explored childhood, wartime experiences, and rural life in his homeland. His works combine humor with social commentary and established him as one of Bosnia’s most important literary voices of the 20th century.

Tribute to Ivo Andrić

Ivo Andrić lived from 9th October 1892, to 13th March 1975, and was a prominent writer, poet, and diplomat from Bosnia and Herzegovina. He is considered one of the most important authors of the South Slavic region and became known primarily for his historical novels and stories about multicultural Bosnia.

He became famous, among other things, for his novel *The Bridge on the Drina*, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1961. In his works, he explored the history, conflicts, and coexistence of different cultures in Bosnia, leaving behind a significant literary legacy.

Tribute to Meša Selimović

Meša Selimović lived from 26th April 1910, to 11th July 1982, and was a prominent Bosnian writer, novelist, and essayist. He is considered one of the most important figures in 20th-century Bosnian literature and is particularly known for his profound works on morality, freedom, doubt, and human existence.

He became famous, among other things, for his renowned novel *The Dervish and Death*, which is considered one of the most significant works of South Slavic literature. In his novels, he combined historical themes with philosophical questions, creating a literary body of work of enduring significance for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Tribute to Isak Samokovlija

Isak Samokovlija lived from 3rd September 1889, to 15th January 1955, and was a prominent Bosnian writer and physician. He is considered one of the leading figures in Bosnian-Jewish literature and became particularly well-known for his sensitive stories about the lives of ordinary people in Bosnia.

He became known, among other things, for his short stories, in which he depicted the life of the Sephardic Jewish community as well as social conditions and human relationships in Sarajevo and Bosnia. Through his literary work, he preserved important insights into Bosnia’s cultural diversity and left a significant legacy in the country’s literature.

Tribute to Alija Isaković

Alija Isaković lived from 18th December 1932, to 15th March 1997, and was a prominent Bosnian writer, literary historian, and linguist. He was deeply committed to the study and preservation of the Bosnian language and culture and played a significant role in shaping the cultural identity of the Bosniaks in the 20th century.

He became known for his works on the history of Bosnian literature as well as for editing and compiling collections of literary works. His commitment to the recognition of the Bosnian language and cultural tradition made him a key figure in modern Bosnian cultural history.

Tribute to Mak Dizdar

Mak Dizdar lived from 17th October 1917, to 16th July 1971, and was a prominent Bosnian poet and writer. He is considered one of the most important figures in modern Bosnian literature and is particularly known for his profound, symbol-rich poetry, which intertwines historical, spiritual, and philosophical themes.

He became famous, among other things, for his major poetry collections *Stećci* and *Kameni spavač* (“The Stone Sleeper”), in which he explored Bosnia’s medieval heritage and the mysterious Stećci tombstones. His works established him as a central figure in 20th-century Bosnian culture and literature.