Svjetlana Bukvich: I want to see BiH in the light that belongs to it

As part of the recently held "11 Days of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian-American Academy of Sciences and Arts in Bosnia and Herzegovina," the cultural part of the event was led by composer of Bosnian origin, Svjetlana Bukvich, born in Sarajevo, currently living and working in New York. Svjetlana held a concert with the Sarajevo Philharmonic at the Sarajevo National Theatre, and two days earlier she had a solo multimedia concert with Sarajevo musicians at the Town Hall. Svjetlana is the head of the Art Section of BHAAAS. The Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of BiH, within its competences for emigration, supports the transfer of knowledge from the diaspora in BiH, including the BHAAAS Days in BiH event and cultural cooperation between the diaspora and BiH, so a meeting with Svjetlana was arranged during which she discussed engagement in BHAAAS, existing cooperation with BiH, and possibilities of contribution of the diaspora to the development of culture in BiH.

In a conversation with representatives of the Ministry, Svjetlana confirmed that BHAAAS is a good platform for cooperation in various fields between the academic diaspora and artists of Bosnian origin in America with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The goal of the artists engaged in this largest academic organization of the diaspora is to work with local talents, which, according to Svjetlana, there are a lot of in BiH, but unfortunately, they do not have enough international reputation in which recognized artists from the diaspora can help them. The diaspora from BiH is young but already sufficiently established, so its mutual connection and connection with BiH would help the promotion of BiH and its further development. Bosnia and Herzegovina has good resources, but it is not represented in the world and could become a recognized cultural force. Svjetlana wants to help the development of culture in Bosnia and Herzegovina with the application of modern technologies in music. He says that we can represent our traditional culture, but it is also necessary to create a new culture, to combine the old with the new, which can create a unique artistic expression that no one else in the world has. Svjetlana uses modern technologies in the creation of sound, including three-dimensional sound, which is experienced by the whole body. Even our traditional music can be modernized with three-dimensional sound and thoughtful audiovisual expression. The combination of world processes in music and our traditional culture, along with the talents and experiences we have, can result in a unique cultural product that can reach America as well. There is currently a vacuum in BiH; no new music is being created, and we are in transition here. In addition, Bosnia and Herzegovina is a small market, which makes things difficult. World-renowned artists in the diaspora can also contribute to the development of culture in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the support of local talents and the creation of new music. What Svjetlan is interested in is to be useful and to see Bosnia and Herzegovina in the light that belongs to it. Svjetlana comes to Sarajevo every year, where, as she says, she recharges her batteries. He leaves Bosnia and Herzegovina with a kind of energy that he cannot find in America. This combination of energy—here and there—as well as the combination of old and new, is an opportunity for the development of culture. A few years ago, she also established professional contacts with cultural workers and institutions in BiH, especially with the ballet of the National Theater in Sarajevo. She also brought American choreographers and dancing artists to Sarajevo, so that collaboration continued. Svjetlana graduated from the Music Academy of the University of Sarajevo in the Department of musicology under Professor Zija Kučukalić and then in the Department of composition under Professor Josip Magdić. At the tender age of twenty, she wrote her first symphony, and soon after, her interests expanded to sound synthesis, programming, microtonality, avant-garde performance, and video art. She holds a master's degree in multimedia arts from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York. She composes concert music, music for contemporary movement, theater, and film, and today she is considered one of the 25 most outstanding female composers in America. He records numerous performances, both in America and around the world. In 2013, the New York Foundation for the Arts awarded her the prestigious NYFA Fellowship in Music/Sound. Her solo album EVOLUTION was well-received by critics. Svjetlana is one of the authors of the book Perspectives in Music Production. She is currently a professor at the City University of New York, while she previously taught at Pratt Institute and New York University. She led the visits of many American artists in Sarajevo and Mostar, and she is especially happy that she can contribute through the Bosnian-Herzegovinian-American Academy of Sciences and Arts. You can listen to Svjetlana's music at: http://www.svjetlanamusic.com. (https://dijaspora.mhrr.gov.ba/)