Konjic is a town and municipality in the heart of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Located 60 kilometers (37 miles) southwest of Sarajevo, it is surrounded by mountains, woodlands, and stretches on both sides of the Neretva River. Situated on both sides of the mountain, traditional wood carvings make up a significant part of the interior of a Konjic home and still serve as a gauge of its beauty and elegance.
Konjic woodcarving originated under the Austro-Hungarian monarchy and so medieval motives are intertwined with the traditions of the former Austria-Hungary Empire. The carvings have an Arabic appearance, in combination with geometrical patterns.
Konjic woodcarving stands out in terms of preserving and conveying the traditions of the ancient craft because both skilled craftsmen and those who practice it at home for a hobby play an equally important role in transmuting the skills of the gifted artisans.
A Konjic woodcarver refers to their art as "soul drawing in wood." There is a tendency in Konjic carving to incorporate decorative ornaments. Furthermore, each element is so delicately carved that they create a mesmerizing flow of harmony. The talented woodcarvers of Konjic create intricate carvings of plants and geometric meshes. Besides specimens typical for the region such as grapevines, there are also different flowers.
Despite the fact that virtually all members of the local Konjic community are dedicated to safeguarding the ancestral traditions of wood carving. Konjic carving is an art form with no boundaries. It was done by everyone, including children, families, and neighbors. Today it continues to be a powerful means for bringing local people together and strengthening their sense of social identity.
As a part of the local community's culture, Konjic woodcarvings provide measures of beauty and amenity to home interiors, as well as a tradition that fosters a sense of community and belonging. Woodcarving might be an old skill, but the artisans from Konjic have been successfully merged it with modern techniques, bringing woodcarving to a whole new level.
In order to preserve the wisdom and beauty of the craft of Konjic woodcarving, both the intergenerational transmission and the training at traditional workshops are equally important. The idea of new masterpieces being made through "soul drawing in wood texture" is sure to become a part of the future legacy of Konjic woodcarving.
In the heart of Herzegovina, Konjic is a town and municipality in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Konjic is located around 60 kilometers (37 miles) southwest of Sarajevo, and is surrounded by mountains, heavily wooded, and stretches on both sides of the Neretva River. It is situated on both sides of the mountain. Traditional wood carvings make up a significant part of the interior of a Konjic home and still serve as a gauge of its beauty and elegance.
The fact that Konjic woodcarving originated under the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, considering that medieval motives are extremely intertwined with the traditions of the former Austria-Hungary Empire. With the appearance of Arabic, in combination with geometrical patterns, Konjic woodcarvers are able to achieve deeper tones and hypnotizing shapes. Konjic woodcarving stands out in terms of preserving and conveying the traditions of the ancient craft because both skilled craftsmen and those who practice it at home for a hobby play an equally important role in transmuting the skills of the gifted artisans. A Konjic woodcarver refers to their art as "soul drawing in wood." There is a tendency in Konjic carving to incorporate decorative ornaments. Furthermore, each element is so delicately carved that they create a mesmerizing flow of harmony. The talented woodcarvers of Konjic bring arabesque to perfection with intricate carvings of plants and geometric meshes. Besides specimens typical for the region such as grapevines, there are also different flowers.
Despite the fact that virtually all members of the local Konjic community are dedicated to safeguarding the ancestral traditions of wood carving. Konjic carving is an art form with no boundaries. It was done by everyone, including children, families, and neighbors. It has been, is, and will continue to be a powerful means for bringing local people together and strengthening their sense of social identity.
As a part of the local community's culture, Konjic woodcarvings provide measures of beauty and amenity to home interiors, as well as a tradition that fosters a sense of community and belonging. Woodcarving might be an old skill, but the artisans from Konjic have been successfully merged it with modern techniques, bringing woodcarving to a whole new level. In order to preserve the wisdom and beauty of the craft of Konjic woodcarving, both the intergenerational transmission and the training at traditional workshops are equally important. The idea of new masterpieces being made through "soul drawing in wood texture" is sure to become a part of the future legacy of Konjic woodcarving.
References
(https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/konjic-woodcarving-01288) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konjic) (https://cutthewood.com/featured/ecologically-viable-craft-konjic-woodcarving/#tracing-the-very-roots-of-konjic-woodcarving) (https://epale.ec.europa.eu/en/content/konjic-woodcarving-inscribed-unesco-representative-list-intangible-cultural-heritage) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konjic_woodcarving) (https://www.itinari.com/bosnia-s-intangible-cultural-heritage-konjic-woodcarving-tuyl) |Subject=Art, Craftsmanship and Practices |Country=Bosnia and Herzegovina }}