Traditional Bosnian Tattoos
by Boris Lalić, Mladen Topić & Zoran Stojanović (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Upon Balkan Trafik’s request, three passionate artists from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Boris Lalić, Mladen Topić and Zoran Stojanović, who love photography and writing unveil an old tradition of Bosnia and Herzegovina through a series of pictures.
“Sicanje”, “bocanje” or “križićanje” are local words used to describe traditional Bosnian tattooing. Supposedly, this was old Slavic tradition which, later on, in the time of the Ottomans empire in Bosnia it acquired catholic symbolic features as a way of protecting the Catholic heritage.
The pictures were taken in the municipality of Prozor-Rama, where a large number of traditionally tattooed old women still live. They were all photographed in traditional costumes and with traditional tools from their region.
Andja is from the village of Ljubunci, Prozor-Rama municipality, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
She holds in her hands a wooden spinning wheel, a tool for spinning wool.
Andja is from the village of Ljubunci, Prozor-Rama municipality, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
She holds in her hands a wooden spinning wheel, a tool for spinning wool.
Ana is from the village of Proslap, municipality of Prozor-Rama, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
She holds in her hands a bucket for bringing spring water.
Ana is from the village of Proslap, municipality of Prozor-Rama, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
She holds in her hands an old lantern.
Janja Ćališ is Prozor-Rama Municipality, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
She holds in her hands a tool for combing raw wool.
Janja Ćališ is Prozor-Rama Municipality, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
She holds in her hands a tool for combing raw wool.
Janja Veselka Čuljak is from Prozor-Rama Municipality, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Janja Veselka Čuljak is from Prozor-Rama Municipality, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Kata Fofić from the village of Rumboci, Prozor-Rama municipality, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
She holds a rosary in her hands and a prayer book on the table.
Kata Fofić from the village of Rumboci, Prozor-Rama municipality, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
She holds a rosary in her hands.
Luca Nović is from the village of Proslap, Prozor-Rama municipality, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
She holds in her hands a part of a spindle.
Luca Nović is from the village of Proslap, Prozor-Rama municipality, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
She holds in her hands a part of a spindle.
Luca Pavličević from the village of Proslap, Prozor-Rama municipality, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
She holds in her hands a bucket for bringing spring water.
Luca Pavličević from the village of Proslap, Prozor-Rama municipality, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
She holds in her hands a bucket for bringing spring water.
Manda Burečić is from the village of Rumboci, Prozor-Rama municipality. Bosnia and Herzegovina.
She holds in her hands a wicker basket with apples from Rama.
Manda Burečić is from the village of Rumboci, Prozor-Rama municipality. Bosnia and Herzegovina.
She holds in her hands a wicker basket with apples from Rama.
Ruža Nikolić is from the village of Rumboci, Prozor-Rama municipality. Bosnia and Herzegovina.
She holds in her hands a wooden wheel for wool spinning.
Ruža Nikolić is from the village of Rumboci, Prozor-Rama municipality. Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Veronika Crnjac is from the village of Donja Vast, Prozor-Rama municipality, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
With an old cast iron.
Veronika Crnjac is from the village of Donja Vast, Prozor-Rama municipality, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
She holds a rosary and a prayer book in her hands.
© photos: Mladen Topić & Zoran Stojanović – text: Boris Lalić
About the artists
Boris Lalić
Boris Lalić (1988) is a writer and journalist from Sarajevo. He published five books of prose and also wrote the comedy “Mirna Bosna”, which plays for the fourth season in Kamerni teatar 55 from Sarajevo. He received several awards for his works.
Mladen Topić
Mladen Topić (1989) is a journalist. His master thesis was on the topic of “Hate speech in contemporary media.” He’s an editor on “Ramski Vjesnik” and a passionate photographer. He presented his work at various exhibitions in Sarajevo, Mostar, Stolac, Split, Vukovar, etc. He’s also a poet and an author of the book “Ptice će preletjeti grad”. He is preparing another collection of poems, called “Pod opsadom srca”.
Zoran Stojanović
Zoran Stojanović (1970) is a professor of philosophy and religious sciences in the secondary school of Prozor. An editor, journalist and writer of the portal www.ramski-vjesnik.ba. Among his main interests next to journalism, there’s folklore and Rama’s tradition. He’s a lover of photography. He spent years collecting numerous information and photographs regarding the traditional tattoos of women, but also men from the area of Bosnia and Herzegovina.