The Museum of Modern Art in Mostar was founded on the basis of the existing University Gallery. The conceptual beginnings of this cultural institution emerged as early as 2015, followed by the adaptation and adjustment of the space. This preparation culminated in December 2020, when conditions were met for the grand opening and the beginning of the institution's operation. Over three years of work, the University Gallery demonstrated itself as a center of high artistic value through its program concept and exhibition activities. Alongside its rich exhibition, scientific, and publishing production, it became a reference point for Croatian and Bosnian-Herzegovinian modern art, not only in Mostar but also in the surrounding area. Building on these foundations, in December 2023, the University of Mostar Senate decided to establish the Museum of Modern Art.

Within such premises, the idea was born for the Museum of Modern Art to become one of the potential candidates for this year's participation at the 60th Venice Biennale of Contemporary Art. After the initiation and preparation of the entire project, including the selection of artists to represent the University and the Museum, and ultimately, through the official procedure and decision of the Council of Ministers granting the right to the University of Mostar and the Museum of Modern Art to lead Bosnia and Herzegovina's participation in the 60th Venice Biennale, work began on the realization of this significant project. The artistic project "Measure of the Sea," curated by Marina Ivanović and featuring artist Stjepan Skoko, is at the forefront of this endeavor. The driving role of the University and the Museum is evident primarily in the preparation of the entire project, which is exceptionally complex and logistically demanding, demonstrating readiness to respond to such a challenge, thus becoming the first university from Bosnia and Herzegovina to organize an exhibition at the Venice Biennale, the oldest and most significant international exhibition of contemporary art. Stjepan Skoko is an artist whose previous work as an art creator, dean of the Academy of Fine Arts, and educator has significantly influenced the shaping of many generations of young artists and who has left more than 30 monuments and sculptures in the public space of Herzegovina and has been the initiator and advocate for the establishment of numerous cultural institutions in the region.

"I consider it extremely important for artists from Bosnia and Herzegovina to be represented at the Venice Biennale, the most significant international exhibition of contemporary art, the only one that allows national participation. The fact that the Venice Biennale is the most prestigious global event for contemporary art, featuring over 500 exhibiting artists and attracting more than 600,000 visitors each time, represents the most authoritative insight into today's artistic trends. So far, I was unfamiliar with the work of the artist Stjepan Skoko, but I appreciate the effort of my colleague Marina Ivanović, this year's commissioner and curator of the Pavilion of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the Museum of Modern Art of the University of Mostar, to ensure that artists from Mostar are present on the international art scene," said Sarita Vujković, director of the Museum of Contemporary Art of Republika Srpska.

The University of Mostar, together with the Museum of Modern Art, as the organizer of Bosnia and Herzegovina's participation in the 60th Venice Biennale, demonstrates and confirms its role as a regional leader not only in the scientific but also in the artistic field. Its unique contribution to the international visibility, reputation, and recognition of Bosnia and Herzegovina through art and artistic production is undeniable.

"A society is valued by how integrated it is into contemporary trends. Unfortunately, Bosnia and Herzegovina lags behind in many aspects in that sense, but fortunately, there are areas in which it is capable of such integration. Art is certainly one of them. Participation in the Venice Biennale is an expensive project but immensely significant for the development of society as a whole, and it should be viewed as such. Our artists are capable of meeting such a challenge, and I am happy that, after the COVID-19 pandemic, we have managed to organize again and have our pavilion in Venice," emphasized Strajo Krsmanović, director of the Art Gallery of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

By involving Mostar in this project, the unity of Bosnia and Herzegovina in its participation in this significant global art event is clearly demonstrated. It is important to highlight that the University, in organizing the project, aimed to present an artist who permanently resides in Bosnia and Herzegovina, who shares the everyday fate, rather than an artist living abroad who utilizes recent history as a marketing gimmick for visibility elsewhere.