In the verdant hills and meadows of central Bosnia, a local entrepreneur has fulfilled his lifelong aspiration: reimagining Vincent van Gogh's iconic painting, The Starry Night, as a natural park. Halim Zukic, a resident of Visoko, embarked on this project after acquiring land and a cottage in a neighboring village two decades ago, though he initially lacked a specific vision for the space. It was six years prior, while observing tractors in a hay meadow from a hilltop, that he was struck by the spiral patterns left by their wheels, reminiscent of the dynamic forms in Van Gogh's 1889 masterpiece. "From that point forward, I had no more doubts," Zukic confided to Reuters. However, the realization of his dream demanded significant time, financial investment, and labor.
Zukic envisioned the 10-hectare Starry Night park as an integral component of a broader facility designed to provide a serene escape for guests. He expanded the tree population and engineered 13 lakes by harnessing existing streams. To mirror the painting's essence, he cultivated 130,000 lavender shrubs in a spectrum of six hues, alongside other therapeutic and fragrant plants like sage, echinacea, wormwood, and chamomile, which together created vibrant circles, spirals, and natural amphitheaters. Zukic personally oversaw all aspects of the landscaping. He expressed that the endeavor to replicate the painting deepened his appreciation for artists and the artistic process.
"This stands as the most extensive depiction of The Starry Night, a testament to 20 years of dreams and the commitment to turn those dreams into reality," he remarked. Zukic plans for the Starry Night park to serve as a hub for artistic initiatives and to highlight the cultural legacy of central Bosnia.
