Vasko Lipovac cyclists on display in London
As the British leg of the Tour de France becomes a faint memory, the sight of one group of brightly coloured cyclists still lights up the City of London, thanks to the Croatian Embassy and the British-Croatian Society.
Unveiled by the Croatian Ambassador to London Ivan Grdesic as part of Broadgate’s Summer of Sport, the Cyclus display shows a group of adults and children enjoying the thrill of the road.
At first glance, these plump and rounded riders by award-winning artist Vasko Lipovac are not the usual sporty type.
But a closer look shows them to be full of life and real character.
Fans of Lipovac’s work will be very familiar with his work, although most Londoners will be pleased simply by the smiles that these sculptures evoke.
Bosnian horror of good tainted by evil
A psychological horror story set in the dark days of the Balkan conflict of the early 1990s might not be everyone’s most appealing premise for a book, especially from a debut author.
But in the hands of Bosnian author Selvedin Avdić it becomes a haunting tale of loss, human suffering and a constant battle to hold back the tides of evil.
Selvedin’s acclaimed debut novel, Seven Terrors, has the unsettling power to conjure chilling images and disturbing characters that linger long after the lights have gone out.
This is a genuine old fashioned horror story but also unlike the teenage fear fodder or psycho killer thrillers that publishers seem to love so much (for the money they rake in, of course).
This story starts in 2005 when the unnamed narrator wakes from nine months of self-imposed sleep, seemingly brought on by his wife leaving him.
Silk & Stone: Amira is simply breathtaking
Something very moving happens when an artist can master a singing talent so keenly that their voice can reach deep inside to caress your heart and appear to slow the beat of time.
Bosnia’s Amira Medunjanin is blessed with such an astonishingly rich and emotive voice that all else can seem to slow down when she sings the hauntingly beautiful songs of her Balkan homelands.
On her fourth studio album, Silk & Stone, Amira again performs traditional songs from Serbia, Bosnia, Macedonia, Croatia and Montenegro. This time, though, there is more going on.
While her previous work perfectly showcased Amira’s pristine voice across a range of classic sevdalinka and revealed an interest in working with jazz as well as traditional musicians, Silk & Stone presents a performer who has grown significantly in confidence and standing.
Books in translation overlooked in school reading list
People at all points of the compass place great social and cultural value on the art of storytelling.
Words can transport us to different worlds and times in just a few lines, while getting lost in a story, via a book, e-reader or even the spoken word, we learn about life, ourselves and the world around us.
Books and literature have long been at the heart of a good education, at home and at school.
Learning by any means fuels the engine of a considerate and well-informed society and many of life’s hardest lessons can be learned by reading a rich blend of literature and poetry from writers old and new, from close to home or further afield.
My love of books came from my parents. Books have always been a large part of my life and I enjoy reading different genres to suit the time, occasion or my mood.
