Serbia celebrates age-old traditions

Weaving, painting, and pottery are just a few of the country's treasured arts. The artisans of the land are commited towards preserving them for future generations

In today's era of high technology, there are still a number of artisans in Serbia trying to preserve the old crafts and rich traditions of the country. Serbian villages are known to be the centre of preserving local handicrafts, folk embroidery, and the crafts of loom weaving and wood carving. The skills have been passed down through generations and the people are continuously working towards preserving the knowledge and skills for future generations.

The city of Pirot in eastern Serbia is famous for its kilims (carpets) that are made of high quality wool and have beautiful motifs and ornaments, and has been a part of Serbian tradition since the Middle Ages. The carpet has two identical sides with various symbols that carry different meanings. The process of making a kilim is long and arduous, and each is a unique piece of art that is recognised as a symbol of Serbia around the world. Even though it is a 400-year-old tradition, nothing much has changed in the creation of Pirot kilims, except for modernising the tools that are used. The carpets are still handmade in the old-fashioned way, using looms and sheep wool from Stara Planina of the Balkan Mountains, and great skill is required to weave these beautiful and high-quality handmade designs. Due to the complexity of the pattern, it could take up to two to three months to create a piece. In addition to creating new kilims, weavers are also engaged in the restoration of old kilims to preserve their family heritage.

The design on these rugs is always geometrical and the same pattern is often repeated in different colours. Some of the common designs include imagery of dining tables, chests, lizards, flames, doves, and roses. It is popularly seen in light to bold (red) colours. It is available in base colours like blue, black, and green. These carpets are used for various purposes such as covering the floors or furniture, hanging them on the wall as a tapestry, as curtains, bedspreads or as covers over blankets. It is also a very popular souvenir. Kilims are made for a number of reasons such as to wish good health, happiness, luck, and success at work, among others. These ethnic looking carpets add a dash of tradition to interiors and are a symbol of Serbian heritage and a coveted piece of folk art.

Another important heritage is pottery that has been preserved in the village of Zlakusa in western Serbia. Artisan potters create clay pots here that are made in various sizes and shapes, and with different motifs using an ancient technique. They use clay to make pots, casseroles, lids, and other dishes that can be seen in every Serbian kitchen. Serbian legend has it that the food cooked in Zlakusa pottery has a special taste and aroma. Also, preparing food in these pots is healthy as it guarantees a richer dish - what differentiates it from other earthenware is that these pots are made from a mix of stone and clay. Locals are known to proudly invite tourists, who are visiting town, to watch them create these works of art. Zlakusa is one of the select few places in the world where pottery is made using a centuries old technique of hand-powered wheels, and a lot of hard work and experience is required to master this craft. Artisan potters transfer their knowledge to the next generation, in order to prevent this valuable art from being forgotten.

Another town, Kovacica, in the northern part of the country, is home to naïve art, which is inspired by the love for one's homeland, people and their traditions, as well as its lush nature. This art form is said to be almost six decades old and exhibitions around the world are a testament to the long tradition of naïve painting in Kovacica. Naïve art typically portrays people in their national costumes, depicts their life in the countryside such as them working on a field, the diverse customs, and everyday moments. It is characterised by child-like drawings, a strong use of patterns, bold colours, and simple designs. These colourful and whimsical paintings are stunning artworks that can be admired around the country and the smaller canvases can also be bought as souvenirs.

deepa@khaleejtimes.com

Deepa is a proud geek and an unabashed Harry Potter fan