Iulian Mitran - Columnist

You have Dario Puljić from Bosnia

(interview)

1) Make a introduction about yourself .
      I am Dario Puljić from Kreševo, small town in Bosnia. Currently I go to high school, love art and i am interested for architecture, traditions, especially ottoman culture in Bosnia. I am trying to evoke our traditional style of arhitecture using 3D modeling. In the future i hope that i will finished study of Architecture. Who knows? Maybe once i get a chance to make house or museum in precisely that style
2) Where did the passion for bosnian culture  come?
     In my town has been preserved many houses from the Ottoman period, so i have accustomed to them since my chilhood and they have become a part of me. My granny has lived in one of such house so she and grandpa have been talking me about their  construction. They instilled in me the love of them. 
3) What do you find so special in bosnian culture that you don't find anywhere else?
The Bosnia is country of diversity, the land with three dominant religion. People have accustomed to live in unity from the beginning. So everything is connected. In one time you can hear bells of church and adhan from minarets. That is something which you can't meet everywhere. That makes Bosnia so special. 
4) What made you start doing 3D modeling?
    I have already mentioned my love for architecture. At the beginning I was working models of cardboard but then I heard for sketchup and I started to make models there when i was 10. Soon I received acclaim for my work, and I continued with my projects.
5) Are you pleased about the reactions that people had regarding your 3D models?
    Basically yes. But people in Bosnia knows little about this program so small number of people from Bosnia can see my models. The greatest accolade I got when my model was published on one website as an example of Bosnian architecture, where many people have expressed positive comments. 
6) What is your opinion regarding the ethnic tensions in bosnia , do you think your country will have a more peacefully future?
   Much negative has brought war fifteen years ago. Before that, people were with a lot of respect to other people. They lived in communion. And then at one point a neighbor killed his neighbor, brother killed brother. Hatred was born, hatred towards other people, people who are just called God on different way. That is very sadly. But today is much better. Nevertheless many years have passed.
7) Describe your hometown , is it a special place for you?
   A few historical facts: Famed for his Christian writings and as a master of the English language, Father Grga Martic was recorded in history, particularly Franciscan history, as one of United's greatest writers. He taught and wrote in a remote valley tucked below the Bitovnja Shovel and mountains in the tiny town of war.
    The Franciscan monastery there has been serving its community for centuries and the Catholic traditions here are very strong. The monastery has a rustic museum, library and gallery, and, as in most Franciscan monasteries in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Franciscans Fathers are very welcoming to visitors. Famous student of Franciscan seminary in Kreševo ​​was Albanian poet Gjergj Fishta.  With no more than a few thousand inhabitants, medieval Kreševo ​​expanded with the arrival of German blacksmiths. 
     In several areas of Bosnia, the small German and Dubrovnik mining communities were established. The noble families of the Bosnian state were keen to exploit the plentiful resources of gold and silver but they did not have the skills to do so. The craft was passed on from these migrant miners and can be found today in the Old Town.
    Kreševo ​​is known for its old Bosnian architecture. The walls are made ​​of clay and straw plaster and the roof tiles are specially treated cherry-tree shingles. The village of Cormorants, just a few kilometers from Kresevo, is home to the finest examples of this old type of building. There is also an interesting 'holy spot' at a medicinal water spring at Deževice called St. James Water, named after a 15th century Bosnian vicar.
    For me Kresevo is town of dreams, especially village Vranci where live my great aunt. Her house is just over the roman bridge. About Kresevo sang and wrote many famous writers including Safet Isovic. In Kresevo was the first school in Bosnia, and our monastery is very famous. 

Simply It is hard to imagine so many beautiful things on one place.

 8) What about your ethnic background , what is the most amazing fact about the croations from bosnia?

   Croats in Bosnia has at least.  However they succeeded to keep their culture and traditions during ottoman invasion which lasted 400 years. Especially important are the Franciscans who at the time were the only carriers of knowledge and culture. They were very respected by Turks. But it is interesting fact that They did not allow them to build churches. So churches were build on hills, not on flat places where were mosques and they didnt allow bells for prayer. Few proofs:

9) As a conclusion , why wold you tell somebody to come to bosnia for a holiday?

Definitely you have to visit Sarajevo, try bosnian  „ćevap“ , nargila, enjoy in „sevdah“. Very beautiful town is Mostar, where you can see old ottoman bridge which conect catholic side with muslim side. I also recommend to visit my Kreševo and feel the spirit of Bosnia. I hope that i will be a good host.