Sometimes you meet super nice people when travelling. I
love to listen and learn from others, a great insight how the rest of the world
ticks. Very often people tell me about their bucket list, and one place I hear
repeatedly, is the bridge in Mostar. The other day I meet this absolutely
lovely couple, and at one point the guy tells me “The Bridge in Mostar is
impressive, the rest is, how to best put it, there is nothing to see really, it
is all very run down and neglected.”
The war ended only in 1995. People make a living somehow,
they probably, most certainly love their home country. They didn’t just rebuild
that bridge in 2004 to make tourists come and visit. Mostar is a place where
real people live, they are not actors employed to entertain day visitors. The victims of the war still work their way
through the consequences of it, and there are many bombed out buildings still.
There are of course plans to restore destroyed buildings,
like the famous Staklena banka, the Glass bank but it takes time and costs
money. It would be a positive action; it is time to move on. People shall not
live forever in a town with bullet holes in buildings. It is horrible to see
what a war can do. I have seen it on TV and in films. This is a recently
destroyed city. This is reality. Maybe it is best to tear down the destroyed
places, and have a fresh start. They surely are an amazing playground for
future architect visionaries.
Mostar is a rather small town; you can walk pretty much
everywhere. It is not really busy and seems a bit more on the sleepy side. I
still don’t understand at all why they aren’t Yugoslavians anymore, like it was
before the war. Again, as so often in history, a few individuals were able to
manipulate people, spread hate and start a war. And I imagine it to be so
exhausting for the people living in this part of the world to find out who they
are or what they shall be, and that every day. People must surely wonder what
to do now; they can’t stop analysing things and simply stop looking for
solutions. They all lived peacefully together. It would have been fantastic if
all the countries of the former Yugoslavia would have stayed together as
equals, and form one democracy. At one point they all join the
European Union, whose motto is: “United in Diversity.” Many questions are left
unanswered. I’m sure there must be many different ideas, answers and opinions.
When I arrive in Mostar I can’t believe what I find, and
honestly I expected everything but street art. That there is so much street art
everywhere surprises me tremendously. There is a massive street art scene in
this small town with a population of only 100,000. And obviously there is so
much optimism and hope. People actively care for their town, not for one moment
do I have the impression they neglect it. See for yourself, it has a
magnificent vibe.
 |
| Street Art by Ante Babić |
 |
| Street Art by Antonia Nikolić |
 |
| Street Art by ELLA+PITR |
 |
| Street Art by Ema Jons |
Street Art Festival in Mostar – multicultural and impressive
I see posters, advertising the Street Arts Festival in
Mostar. A guy at a café tells me that this year it is the fifth festival, with
around one hundred international and local artists. Everybody can join, no
matter their age, hair colour or ethnical background. It doesn't even play a
role whether artists are professionals or beginners. Jump onto the Street Art Festival Mostar fb page
for more information.
Where to find Street Art in Mostar
 |
| Street Art by Aleta Rajic |
 |
| Street Art by Carmen Obrdalj |
 |
| Street Art by Marijana Cigić |
 |
| Street Art by Marko Zakky Zadro, Anja Maricic, Sunita |
 |
| Street Art by Pupo Bibbito & Astronaut |
 |
| Street Art by Robin Abramovic |
 |
| Street Art by Robin Abramovic |
What did I learn in Mostar?
After I walked around town for a few hours I go to a
restaurant near that bridge. Waiters are dressed in fancy dress, they call it
traditional costume. The food is yummy, and the waiter chatty. I notice that
nearly every diner takes a photo of the fountain in the middle of the
restaurant. Since I can’t see the point I ask the waiter what is so special
about this fountain.
He smiles, a cheeky smile “Nothing. It is one of these
ones you find in mosques that provides water for ritual ablutions. This one is
very obviously a replica. I have no idea why they take a photo of it, but you
know, as long as it makes them happy, let them do it.” The waiter could barely
finish his sentence, when a guy sitting at a table nearby asks him whether he
has a moment to stand next to the fountain because he would like to take a
photo of him.
That is what I take home with me from Mostar: Live and let live, regardless …
Do you like Street Art as much as I do? Look at my Street
Art finds in
Madrid,
Athens,
Cape Town,
London,
Rotterdam,
Los Angeles and
Berlin.
Madrid,
Athens,
Cape Town,
London,
Rotterdam,
Los Angeles and
Berlin.
From Berlin with love