Cilimara Sarajevo - Mersad Berber - Rug - 3 m - 1 m

Mersad Berber (1940–2012) was one of the most eminent Bosnian and Herzegovinian artists of the 20th century. Although he gained international fame for his paintings and monumental graphic works, tapestries occupy a particularly distinctive and highly valued place in his oeuvre. His tapestries are distinguished by the fusion of Bosnia's rich history with a modern artistic expression.
Main motifs and style
Berber's tapestries adopt the visual language of his paintings. They weave complex narratives inspired by Balkan history, Byzantine art, and the great European classics. The most frequent motifs are:
Knights and horses: Often depicted with a patina of the past, they symbolize strength, but also the tragic fate of peoples throughout history.
Caryatids and female portraits: Mysterious female faces, adorned with rich jewelry, flowers, or antique elements.
Golden and earthy tones: The use of rich, warm colors gives the tapestries the appearance of sumptuous historical frescoes or traditional carpets.
Production and collaboration
A large part of Berber’s monumental tapestries were created in collaboration with famous weaving workshops from the former Yugoslavia, notably the renowned Sarajevo rug workshop (Sarajevska ćilimara). These workshops succeeded in faithfully translating his complex designs and their rich color superpositions into the textile language.