Everyone loves a secret. Especially one that has been hidden deep underground for 40 years, and I don't mean that figuratively.
In the small town of Konjic (an hour South West of Sarajevo), the embodiment of cold war fear is tucked neatly behind a nondescript garage door; a bunker built to survive the worst. The Yugoslav leader Marshal Tito commissioned the bunker in the 1950s. Whilst today, an underground enclosure might seem like the manifestation of apocalyptic paranoia, in the midst of the cold war it was nothing short of rational. At the time, although Yugoslavia was waving the Swiss flag of neutrality, it was still a region geographically vulnerable to nuclear threats.
Josep Broz Tito was just as susceptible to dooms day dread as anyone else. Fortunately for him, he had $4.5 billion and limitless authority to put his mind at ease. The bunker itself has a width of 6500m2 and is 280m deep. It had the capacity and supplies for him to live with 200 of his closest chums for about 6 months. Tito never actually saw the bunker before his death in 1980 and it was almost destroyed before its public discovery in the 90s.
Today the bunker is still guarded by the Bosnian army, although it no longer serves its original purpose. Artists from 19 different countries including many from the former Balkan states have instead temporarily opened it up to the public in the form of an exhibit. Many of the contributors have taken the bunker; a symbol of anxiety and war, and imbued it with their own meaning. A stroll through this youtube video can show you the ins and outs of the newly invigorated space.
The Highlight: The installation 'Fear' by Nebosja Seric Shoba draws on the ominous environment for artistic emphasis. Despite my lack of creative insight this artwork stands out to me for its dark yet candid message; fear spreads as easily as a breeze. Featured artists such as Shoba have skilfully turned this Balkan bunker into an eclectic blend of complex history and contemporary thought.
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| Konjic, BiH |
In the small town of Konjic (an hour South West of Sarajevo), the embodiment of cold war fear is tucked neatly behind a nondescript garage door; a bunker built to survive the worst. The Yugoslav leader Marshal Tito commissioned the bunker in the 1950s. Whilst today, an underground enclosure might seem like the manifestation of apocalyptic paranoia, in the midst of the cold war it was nothing short of rational. At the time, although Yugoslavia was waving the Swiss flag of neutrality, it was still a region geographically vulnerable to nuclear threats.
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| Russian ICBM, 1965 |
Josep Broz Tito was just as susceptible to dooms day dread as anyone else. Fortunately for him, he had $4.5 billion and limitless authority to put his mind at ease. The bunker itself has a width of 6500m2 and is 280m deep. It had the capacity and supplies for him to live with 200 of his closest chums for about 6 months. Tito never actually saw the bunker before his death in 1980 and it was almost destroyed before its public discovery in the 90s.
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| Bunker entrance guarded by soldiers Konjic, 2013 |
Today the bunker is still guarded by the Bosnian army, although it no longer serves its original purpose. Artists from 19 different countries including many from the former Balkan states have instead temporarily opened it up to the public in the form of an exhibit. Many of the contributors have taken the bunker; a symbol of anxiety and war, and imbued it with their own meaning. A stroll through this youtube video can show you the ins and outs of the newly invigorated space.
The Highlight: The installation 'Fear' by Nebosja Seric Shoba draws on the ominous environment for artistic emphasis. Despite my lack of creative insight this artwork stands out to me for its dark yet candid message; fear spreads as easily as a breeze. Featured artists such as Shoba have skilfully turned this Balkan bunker into an eclectic blend of complex history and contemporary thought.
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