Rikardo Druskic, a young artist from Sarajevo whose mural dedicated to the Western Balkans was recently presented Brussels, told European Western Balkans in an interview published on Friday that Europe is afraid of people in the Balkans and that culture can change that.
The name of the mural, “It is only with the heart that one can see properly,” is dedicated to “all people on the planet Earth,” Druskic said.
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“In a time of consumerism, false democracy, wrong idols, we have become people of lost values. The mural, as a reference to ‘The Little Prince’, speaks about learning to love with an open heart, without prejudices,” he explained.
His work of art “carries a message of peace and tolerance” and aspires to make all those who come to see it in Brussels “change their perception of my country and region I came from.”
Druskic explained that the term ‘heart’ he used in the name refers to “love for the world, for every man on the planet, empathy, respect, caring for others those who are different.”
“I’m speaking about that heart, not only through this work but through my whole creativity and work in general. Humanity is on its material path and I aspire to offer spiritual direction,” the young artist said.
As the mural was being presented, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, said that it “brought the Balkans back to the heart of the European Union.”
“For me, that means a lot,” he said. “One of my main aspirations as an artist is satisfied, which means that through my work and art, I’m representing the area I come from in a more positive light.”
He said it gives him “a special feeling of pride.”
For Druskic, Europe is “one great, well-organised mechanism, with some imperfections.”
“I consider it an ideal platform to present my work and ideas, also as a great platform for all young people with a clear vision for their future and the future of the world,” he said.
According to Druskic, people in Western Europe think that Balkan people are “crazy, they drink, shoot at weddings, kill each other, they are dangerous.”
“They are afraid of us. And what is worst of all is, I have the feeling that we, people from the Balkans, like that identity. Because, since they already don’t like us, it is better if they fear us,” he said.
“The most efficient way for us to fight against those prejudices, but also against our own illusions, is culture,” he said.
Druskic also spoke about what the many vivid colours in his mural represent.
“My work puts this diversity into harmony and into forms which communicate with each other with respect. It suggests that it is possible to merge differences, that it is possible to build a coherent environment from diversity. One of the aims of the mural is to connect people, cultures, energies,” he said.
