ABOUT

Artist, Adela Kusur was a Bosnian refugee who migrated to Australia during the war. She has since returned to Sarajevo, where she now resides and continues her artistic pursuits. Her work is profoundly influenced by the interplay of tone and form. Adela finds inspiration in the manner in which tones and the arrangement of painted figures can evoke a myriad of emotions within a given space or environment.

Adela's art is never a product of chance. It emerges from the sense of detachment she experiences between the continent of her birth and the one she grew up in. This separation has served as a wellspring of inspiration, motivating Adela to transition from what once confined her to the expansive embrace of her current surroundings back in her home country - Bosnia and Hercegovina.

Recent Work

In her recent body of work, the artist experiments with resin, textures and colour to depict the dynamic landscapes and boundaries encountered by migrant and displaced people. Especially poignant is the situation of children, who represent half of the world’s refugee population. They bear a disproportionate burden of suffering, primarily due to their heightened vulnerability. 

Adela’s primary intention is to draw attention to the significance of hope, highlighting its fundamental role in the lives of refugees, displaced individuals and victims of war. The artist aims to emphasize the importance of countries and communities offering adequate resources and support to these vulnerable individuals, enabling them to fully integrate into society with relevance and purpose.

As a refugee herself, the artist understands the disorientation and the crucial role of support during times of displacement. Her family's escape from the Bosnian war led them to Australia, where they received a warm welcome and were encouraged to adapt while preserving their cultural heritage.

Residency

During this journey, I am working from a studio space provided by Kuma International, an NGO founded in Sarajevo in 2018. With its unique mission of teaching the next generations how the arts can grapple with challenging histories and pursue transformation, this support further enriched my creative exploration and helped me reconnect with my homeland.