Sarajevo's Street Art: The Unlikely Legacy Of The Bosnian War

Post-war Sarajevo has reminders of the sad past many of the current residents experienced, such as bullet-riddled apartment blocks, and memorials on almost every street. But there’s another way the city is trying to brighten up its past, which is in the form of street art.

Sarajevo’s street art

Large colourful murals and images decorate some of the derelict and crumbling walls of Sarajevo’s suburbs, acting to commemorate victims, show defiance, or distract people from the unrepaired damage. Art comes in many forms, and there’s a fine line between one person’s view of art and vandalism. Unintelligible scribbles and tags – like most cities suffering from high unemployment and little in the way of opportunities – cover the same walls as the murals.

Some Sarajevans express themselves in words, paintings, and others through street art. So, when you’re walking through the city, keep your eyes open for the art described below and take the time to understand what they mean, rather than just snapping a selfie.

The Rose

https://www.instagram.com/p/ccR-XNRUhY/

Mr Chat

If you’ve visited other cities around Europe, you may have noticed a large yellow cat with a big grin on the walls. The cat is known as Mr Chat and is one of the most popular images in street art. But, those in Sarajevo are slightly different and tend to carry a deeper meaning than just a quirky image. You’ll often see Mr Chat around Sarajevo surrounded by red roses. Approximately 12 are in the city decorating the otherwise grey and decaying walls.

https://www.instagram.com/p/ceCHfExUlN/

Stop the War. Save the Children.

As the name suggests, this message is another symbol of peace in the once war-torn capital. During the Siege of Sarajevo, more than 1,500 children lost their lives. Parents often had to rely on their children to help bring essential supplies such as food and water back to their house. A young Sarajevian remembers that ‘we were smaller than our parents and it was easier to hide. Our parents had no choice but to ask us to fetch water from the fountains’. The sentiment acts as a reminder of the unnecessary loss of young lives in an unnecessary war.

Srebrenica

Srebrenica carries a sad connotation among Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims) after the July 1995 massacre in this eastern Bosnian village. Serb forces murdered more than 8,000 men and boys, burying them in mass graves. Two decades later and the scars still run deep for many, especially since few were brought to justice for their crimes. As you walk around Sarajevo, you’ll see the name Srebrenica on the walls. Sarajevo’s Gallery 11/07/95 chronicles the events through photographs, documents and archives. Street art serves as a reminder never to forget what happened.

Everything Alright

The Everything Alright mural at Sarajevo’s bobsleigh track is an attempt to brighten up a dark and dismal place with a role in the city’s recent past. Serb snipers hid in the bends and twists of the track just eight years after the glory of hosting the 1984 Winter Olympics. During the Siege of Sarajevo (1992-1995), snipers shot innocent people in the city below. The colourful mural with the positive words ‘Everything Alright’ underneath serves to distract people from the damage and dilapidation of this once proud structure.

The Bosnian Soldier

‘I love this city. I defend this city,’ is the caption beside a black and white image of a citizen aiming a gun in one of Sarajevo’s alleys. The Bosnian Soldier, or an armed citizen, shows the attitude and approach of young Bosniaks living in the besieged city. ‘You attack us, we attack back’, is the clear message behind the art.

https://www.instagram.com/p/cd6BgtRUt7/

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.