I’m very excited to introduce you my photobook about Bosnia and Herzegovina, Somnambulism.
Somnambulism is the result of my final project during the Master Degree in Photojournalism and Documentary Photography (2011-12). It took four year to complete it, and now it is ready. And you can imagine how enthusiastic I am about it!
Somnambulism is a contemporary journey in the intertwining layers of the Yugoslav and Bosnian collective memory of the last decades. Please support this dream on
Alija Sirotanović was born on the 14th of August, 1914, in Trtorići, a small village near Breza, central Bosnia. In 1949, he became a legend in Yugoslavia for his world record in coal mining, defeating the famous Stakhanov. Tito awarded him with te big honour of the Hero of the socialist labor (Orden junaka socijalističkog rada).
His face was in the 20.000 dinars note.
On the 14th of August, Breza celebrated the 100 years anniversary from Sirotanovic’s birth with a march from the mine to his house in Trtorići, a competition between the new miners in the central square of Breza and a celebration in the Breza’s library.
Yugoslavian diploma awardPicture of tito’s funeral. Sirotanović is the first man on the right, near the coffinSirotanović’s bed
The following pictures are from Trtorići, the small village in central Bosnia where Sirotanović spent his all life.
At the end of the road, Sirotanović’s house
The celebration
The march arriving at Sirotanović’s houseGoing to Sirotanović’s graveSirotanović’s graveZehrid Sirotanović’s nephewThe competition in BrezaThe competition in BrezaCompetitorCompetitorThe winnerFehrid, Sirotanović’s nephew, with the competition winner
Life in BrezaLife in BrezaThe final celebration in Breza’s library
Lara Ciarabellini 