“XANTEA 2502” CLOSES ITS PREMIERE CHAPTER IN SARAJEVO

After more than two weeks on display, followed by a five-day extension due to exceptional public interest, the exhibition XANTEA 2502 has closed at Sarajevo’s City Hall (Vijećnica), marking one of the most striking cultural events of this winter season.

The world premiere of the new body of work by artist Rikardo Druškić confirmed that contemporary art, when bold, consistent and authentic, has the power to communicate far beyond the narrow confines of traditional gallery audiences.

With more than 3,500 visitors, XANTEA 2502 ranks among the most visited exhibitions in the recent history of Bosnian-Herzegovinian painting. The steady flow of visitors, strong interest across generations and the decision to extend the exhibition’s duration clearly demonstrated that this project transcended conventional exhibition formats, evolving into a broader urban and social phenomenon.

The organizers expressed special gratitude to JU Sarajevo and the management of Sarajevo City Hall, whose co-organizational and partnership roles were crucial to the realization of the project. By opening this monumental space to contemporary artistic expression, Vijećnica once again affirmed its role as a living meeting point of the past, present and modern cultural narratives of Sarajevo.

Curated by Elma Hodžić, and supported by a strong artistic and production team, XANTEA 2502 was conceived as a comprehensive experience, seamlessly combining painting, animation, light and narrative into a unique artistic universe. This carefully constructed whole enabled the exhibition to communicate both locally and internationally, further positioning Sarajevo as a city where globally relevant contemporary art is created.

The closing of the exhibition does not mark the end of the XANTEA 2502 story.

On the contrary, this chapter signals the beginning of a long-term artistic journey and international presentation of a cycle that found its point of origin precisely in Sarajevo.

In the coming period, XANTEA 2502 will be presented at the Riga Contemporary Surrealism Biennale, hosted at the Railway Museum in Riga, Latvia, from 9 to 29 May 2026. Within the Asian art scene, the project has also been selected for KOSMOS – Between Spirit and Matter (Asian Art Century) and will be showcased in Chiang Mai, Thailand, from 12 to 15 February 2026.

The international tour will continue in South America, where XANTEA 2502 will take part in the FILE Festival – Electronic Language International Festival, one of the world’s most important festivals dedicated to art and technology. The festival will be held in São Paulo, Brazil, from 18 August to 11 October 2026.

This marks only the beginning of the project’s international journey, with new geographic destinations for presenting the XANTEA universe to be announced in the near future. XANTEA 2502 thus stands as clear proof that a consistently realized artistic vision can leave a lasting impact that extends far beyond the duration of a single exhibition.

The project was realized in cooperation with the Association for Social, Cultural and Creative Development Zora, with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Sport of Canton Sarajevo and the Ministry of Culture and Sport of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.