ZMIJANJE EMBROIDERY PRESENTED IN PARIS

Zmijanje embroidery, one of the most recognizable symbols of cultural heritage in Republika Srpska, has reached the international stage, continuing to affirm its global significance more than a decade after being inscribed on the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage.

PHOTO: SeeSrpska

According to Danijela Đukanović, museum advisor and ethnologist at the Muzej Republike Srpske, the process of nomination began after Bosnia and Herzegovina ratified the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009.

In 2011, Republika Srpska established its own list of intangible heritage, which included Zmijanje embroidery among its first seven elements. At the initiative of the “Zmijanje” Heritage Association, the proposal for UNESCO nomination was submitted through the Museum of Republika Srpska, the central institution for intangible heritage.

Following extensive research, fieldwork, interviews, and documentation, the application was officially submitted in 2013. Zmijanje embroidery was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List on November 24, 2014.

The project was led by the Museum of Republika Srpska in cooperation with cultural associations, including the humanitarian organization “Duga” and the national ensemble “Veselin Masleša,” which played a key role in preserving and promoting this traditional craft.

Zmijanje embroidery is unique in Bosnia and Herzegovina for its use of a single dark blue thread, dyed naturally, and for its distinctive geometric motifs such as rhombuses, crosses, and stylized apples. Its authenticity has been preserved for more than a century, largely due to the historical isolation of the Zmijanje region, which limited external cultural influences.

Today, this traditional embroidery continues to evolve. While no longer limited to 19th-century folk costumes, its patterns are increasingly incorporated into contemporary fashion and applied arts. Workshops and educational programs are regularly organized, particularly for younger generations, ensuring the transmission of knowledge and skills.

Since 2015, the exhibition “Zmijanje Embroidery – World Intangible Heritage” has been presented in numerous countries, including Russia, Greece, Bulgaria, Lithuania, and Serbia.

The latest international presentation is taking place in Paris, in cooperation with the Etnographic Museum in Belgrade. The exhibition, hosted at the Serbian Cultural Center, runs from April 23 to May 30 and showcases both historical and contemporary pieces, along with live embroidery workshops led by expert collaborators.

“Without the people who preserve and practice it, Zmijanje embroidery would remain only a museum artifact. Thanks to them, it continues to live and holds its place on the UNESCO list,” Đukanović emphasized.