The “Magnificent Architectures” exhibition of Venetian artist Luigi Ballarin was opened at the Madrasa Gazi Husrev-Begova in Sarajevo in partnership with the Italian Embassy. The works will be on display at the prestigious museum until 12 May 2022. In addition to the artist, the ribbon-cutting ceremony – which counted on the participation of a large public and many media organizations – was also attended the Italian Ambassador, Marco Di Ruzza, the Director of the Museum, Gazi Husrev Bey, Hafÿz Mensur Malkic, Prof. Aida Abadzic Hodzic, the curator, Beste Gursu, artist Safet Zec, writer Dzevad Hodzic and Prof. Dzevad Pleh.
Through the work displayed, Luigi Ballarin interestingly makes subtle connections between the roots of Western and Eastern art, transposing common traditions and cultures onto the canvases. The pluralist and multicultural connection between East and West makes up the leitmotif of the exhibition which, drawing inspiration from an exhibition held in Qatar in 2020, is now offered to the public of Bosnia-Herzegovina for the first time.
The project – with an Italian artist, a Turkish curator and the exhibition held in a multicultural space in Sarajevo – constitutes an interesting example of an intercultural and multireligious bridge. “The support that we provided in organizing the exhibition – explained Ambassador Marco Di Ruzza – is perfectly in line with our cultural diplomacy activities in Bosnia-Herzegovina, which not only aim to promote Italian culture in a Country in which Made-in-Italy products are highly appreciated, but also to interconnect different ethnic and religious components through initiatives capable of fostering dialogue and reconciliation, with an eye especially focused on the young generations. I am also confident that the “Magnificent Architectures” exhibition can pave the way for new exchanges and collaborations between Italian artists and those of Bosnia-Herzegovina.”