Interview: Elvis Hajdarevic

WHILE I WORK, I FEEL FREE, AS A CHILD WHO JUST RESEARCHES

"My intentions move towards further search in the field of calligraphy and ebru and their link with painting." (Elvis Hajdarevic)

IAM: When did you begin to show your interest in Islamic art, concretely in calligraphy and ebru, before or after your enrolment to the Academy of fine arts?

ELVIS HAJDAREVIC: I live Islam and I feel it in my heart and from it, my love for the Islamic art sprang. My interest started in the secondary school. When I enrolled to the Academy and heard about the optional department of calligraphy, I did not think a great deal, I enrolled straight away.


IAM: How much today, calligraphy is presented in the society, first of all through exhibitions, newspapers media so that a young artist would get interested at all in such kind of expression?

ELVIS HAJDAREVIC:Presentation in media is very small. In addition, exhibitions are not accompanied, nor there is any serious art criticism, and people are offered all kind of things. However, I am of the opinion that perhaps even such presentation can lead someone to begin to be engaged in Islamic arts.


IAM: Calligraphy used to be dominant art in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in your view why this decline happened?

ELVIS HAJDAREVIC:In the last 100 years, socio-political situation in Bosnia was negative in relations to Islam and its institutions. There was an alienation from the own culture and faith and thus the art was neglected. Among the Sufis, but also among other religious circles, some individuals who were attached to calligraphy stood out and they contributed that it was retained in Bosnia.

The rest of the article you can read in the magazine.