Unveiling of the “Alma Mater” Sculpture at the University of Mostar

In front of the Rectorate building of the University of Mostar, the sculpture “Alma Mater” by academic sculptor and Professor Stjepan Skoko was unveiled in a formal ceremony. This monumental sculpture symbolically embodies the mission and vocation of the University – the transmission of knowledge, the preservation of language, the encouragement of scientific thought, and the nurturing of art and cultural identity.

The sculpture was unveiled by academician Dr. Dragan Čović, President of the Croatian National Assembly, Prof. Dr. Zoran Tomić, Rector of the University of Mostar, Prof. Dr. Ivo Čolak, Vice-Rector for Science and Development of the University of Mostar, Dr. Mario Kordić, Mayor of the City of Mostar, Darijana Filipović, Member of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH, and the author of the sculpture Prof. Dr. Stjepan Skoko, academic sculptor and Assistant to the Rector of the University of Mostar for Art.

The author emphasized that “Alma Mater” arose from a search for a form connecting the intimate and the universal, the personal and the shared: “I wanted to shape the mother not as an abstract allegory, but as a living presence – a body that connects, transmits and remembers. This sculpture is not a monument to a system but an act of transmission. It contains the form of the institution but also a moment that transcends institutions: a word spoken in trust, a gesture born of love, a memory that endures when facts are forgotten,” Skoko stressed.

“In her arms is a child holding the Humačka Ploča, the oldest written trace on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The stone in its hands is not merely an archaeological remnant but a sign of knowledge that always embodies itself in matter and is passed on through generations. ‘Alma Mater’ can be linked in tradition with masters who shaped the maternal as the centre of human experience – from Giotto to Michelangelo. For me, this work above all represents a personal testimony: I wanted one child to be the bearer of memory, and the other to embody the restlessness and movement of art,” the author concluded.

With the unveiling of the “Alma Mater” sculpture, the University of Mostar further affirms its role as a guardian of knowledge, cultural identity and creativity.

“‘Alma Mater’ in Mostar is not only a work of art but a powerful message and symbol of the University. It embodies the universal image of the nurturing and enlightening mother who carries knowledge, passes on experience and provides security. In its figure it connects past, present and future, and in its message it unites science, art and identity. That is why this sculpture transcends mere form – it is a visual manifesto of academic values, a reminder of cultural tradition and proof that the University of Mostar remains firmly rooted in its environment while at the same time open to modernity and European trends,” said Marin Ivanović, Director of the Museum of Modern Art of the University of Mostar.

The sculpture not only enriches the space in front of the Rectorate but also serves as a permanent reminder of the importance of education, art and community in shaping future generations. It becomes a symbolic bridge between tradition and innovation, an inspiration to students, professors and all who seek knowledge and meaning through the University.