Edo Kurt & Saša Milićević

Coppersmith

©Edo Kurt

A history lesson depicted on copper

Edo and Saša are a tandem of coppersmiths from Mostar
They started working together in 2015
The history of their homeland is their main source of inspiration

In 2015, Edo Kurt and Saša Milićević became business partners, as well as being long-term friends since elementary school. Edo inherited their coppersmith workshop in the centre of the southern Bosnian city of Mostar from his father, with whom he had learned the craft. He invited Saša to join him on this journey of breathing life into copper and selling their artworks inspired by Bosnia’s fascinating history. Just like Edo's father, Edo and Saša engrave their love for their hometown and homeland in their copper works. Mostar's Old Bridge, which is located just a few steps from their workshop on Kujundžiluk Street, is a frequent motif in their works.

Interview

©Edo Kurt

©Edo Kurt

What are your sources of inspiration?: For years Edo's father collected motifs from the Bosnian medieval stećci tombstones and replicated them in copper. We do the same in the hope that in this way we encourage new generations to study, nurture and preserve our rich cultural heritage.
In what way do you combine tradition and innovation?: We use traditional copper shaping methods preserved by Bosnian coppersmiths for hundreds of years to redesign traditional Bosnian objects and create new works of art inspired by them. Our works aim to preserve tradition.
What do you love most about your work?: It may sound strange, but we enjoy listening to the sound of the hammer hitting the copper. The rhythm of hammer beats changes from strong to weak, fast to slow. It is almost like composing music. Therefore, we often imagine our work as music reflected in metal.
What is something about your work that people do not normally know?: After the copper is sculpted, its surface is treated with various oxidation processes that create a special layer that highlights the relief and movement of the composition. For this, we use our secret recipes and tricks that we do not share with anyone.

Edo Kurt & Saša Milićević are master artisans: they began their career in 2008 and they started teaching in 2012