Students of the Department of Digital Communications and Public Relations at the International Burch University visited the Art Gallery of Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday, May 12, where they explored the exhibition Culture in Wartime by photographer Milomir Kovačević Strašni.

As part of the visit, students had the opportunity to speak with guest lecturer Enes Zlatar Bure from the band Sikter, as well as with the exhibition’s author himself. Through conversation and the exhibition tour, they gained deeper insight into the stories behind the photographs and the role of art, music, and culture during the siege of Sarajevo.

The discussions particularly focused on art as a form of resistance to violence and destruction — a way of preserving humanity, dignity, critical thought, and freedom even in the most difficult circumstances. Students were especially moved by Bure’s reflections on concerts held during the war years and the unique atmosphere surrounding them. He described how music became a temporary escape from reality, allowing both performers and audiences to feel, even briefly, as though they were somewhere far from besieged Sarajevo.

“During those moments, it felt as if we had been teleported,” Bure shared, recalling the emotional intensity and connection that characterized the wartime cultural scene.

Through the exhibition and accompanying discussions, students were encouraged to observe war from a different perspective — through the endurance of art and culture, which continued to exist despite the circumstances surrounding them.