BRINGING SEMBERIJA'S CULTURAL HERITAGE CLOSER TO PUBLIC THROUGH EXHIBITION

VIENNA, SEPTEMBER 24 /SRNA/ - An exhibition of works by academic painter Natalija Cimeša and photographer Dejan Čabrilo has opened at the Steiner Gallery in Vienna, seeking to bring Semberija and its rich cultural heritage closer to the Austrian public through art.

The exhibition features Cimeša’s works from the Horses and Golden Branch cycles, characterised by vibrant colours and strong emotional expression, and landscape photographs by Dejan Čabrilo, through which the artist has captured the distinctive atmosphere and characteristic moments of the Semberija plain.

The exhibition opened last night as part of the "Semberija Days in Austria" event.

It will be open to visitors until October 10, with its humanitarian character giving it particular significance, as all proceeds from the sale of the exhibited artworks will go towards purchasing equipment for the Day Centre for Children with Developmental Disabilities in Bijeljina, the Republika Srpska Representative Office in Austria said.

Mladen Filipović, Head of the Republika Srpska Representative Office in Austria, said that events such as this provide an opportunity to present the beauty, character and cultural identity of Semberija to the Austrian public through various forms of art.

"This is also an opportunity to showcase the creative potential of artists from this region," Filipović said.

BiH Ambassador to Austria Siniša Bencun thanked Cimeša and Čabrilo, as well as the Steiner Gallery, for their hospitality, stressing that events such as this are a fine example of how culture and art can build bridges between peoples and countries.

"It is particularly encouraging that, in addition to its cultural dimension, this exhibition also has a strong humanitarian dimension. In this way, art fulfils its most noble purpose: bringing people together, providing support and directly helping those who most need our attention and assistance," Bencun said.

A tasting of products from Semberija was also organised, featuring, among others, the Legat and Epoha distilleries. There was also discussion of an initiative for Semberija to have its own section in the Krajina House and Herzegovina House, so that products from Semberija would be available to customers in Vienna and across Austria.