The iconic work of one of the most prominent Bosnian and Herzegovinian artists, Safet Zec – “The Great Billboard of Sarajevo”, which he painted in 1983 on the eve of the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, is set to experience its grand return and “rebirth”.
This painting is a kind of symbol of the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as the Olympic Games, measuring 14 x 2.5 meters and was painted on the wall of the Sarajevo hotel “Holiday Inn” in the congress hall.
Zec painted this work of art at the invitation of the famous Bosnian architect of Slovenian origin Ivan Štraus, who designed the hotel and designed the interior.
Sarajevo icons such as Alipašin bridge, Bentbaša etc.
The picture, which was fixed on the wall, stood for several decades in the congress hall, and after the hotel changed owners several times after the war in BiH, one of the previous owners, Alen Čengić, moved it to save it from destruction or deterioration.
The owner and author of the painting, Čengić and Zec, discussed in Sarajevo the possibility of restoring the painting and bringing it back to life.
“I am ready to transfer it to a public institution under a multi-year contract for one mark per year, with the goal that the painting will continue to live for the joy of all of us. We will try to place the artwork in a place where it can be seen by foreign diplomats and people who influence the creation of a global image of Bosnia and Herzegovina. I am happy that Safet Zec is ready to restore it and put it in a place that will be representative enough for this kind of masterpiece,” said Čengić.
With the consent of the owner of the painting, Zec is ready to work on the restoration of this work, which represents an important example of the cultural heritage of BiH.
“Our next step is to hold meetings with representatives of state institutions such as the Presidency of BiH or the Parliament of BiH, in order to first find people who understand the value of this work and so that this valuable work of art can somehow find its resting place in a place it deserves and that can present a work of this kind. It is important to me that the painting is presented with dignity and shown to the eyes of domestic and foreign delegations visiting such institutions,” said Zec, according to a statement from the Safet Zec Atelier.
