Bosnia remembers its hero David Bowie, unveils mural

To the sound of Bowie’s Space Oddity, hundreds of people attended the inauguration of the mural, which bore the inscription: “Fashion changes, but you’ll always be my heroes.” The 43- foot high mural is painted on a building on the university campus, a short distance from the street once known as Sniper Alley, and is intended to symbolize the way Bosnia has changed since the end of the 1992-95 war. 

Sketches were done by Marvel comics illustrator Enis Cisic and turned into the mural by painter Zoran Herceg, who took a month and half to complete it. The plan to immortalize Bowie, who died of cancer at age 69 on Jan. 10, was initially put forward by local musician Vedad Trbonja. The project was supported by thousands of Bosnians, who have been posting Bowie-style photos on social networks, as well as some of Bowie’s co-workers. 

Bowie was moved by the sufferings of Bosnians and he used his fame to increase awareness about the war and raise money for humanitarian purposes, although he did not visit Sarajevo.