The Drawing Biennale fuses cultures into a common artistic language

The international art scene, namely drawing as a medium, merges with Albanian art in the third edition of the International Drawing Biennale in Pristina. The event, which is always taking more shape in each organization, this year has proven its echo beyond the borders. A total of 34 artists have joined this year's narration of the event.

There are different styles and spirits. But visual art as a medium unites them. As traditionally, on the opening night of the event, three winners were announced for their works.

The artist Aleksandra Gieraga won the grand prize entitled "Gjelosh Gjokaj". The work of the multidimensional Polish artist seems as abstract as it is poetic. On the white background, the entire narrative is built with black marks.

The Polish Andrzej Brzegoëy and the Croatian Igor Modric have also been rewarded for their works. The work of the first is like a map of visas. Modriq's work on the other hand shows two bodies of different people. The technique is pure drawing in the works of both artists.

In some of the works, there was a combination of techniques, which, according to the jury, could not be taken into account in their assessment.

The jury was composed of Croatian artist Marion Richter, graphic design professor Agim Salihu and sculpture professor Artan Peqini.

The latter has said that many of the works that were done pretty well, were not taken into account in the evaluation, as they went beyond the drawing technique.

"I think it is a very interesting exhibition, very subtle, because it relies on only one medium, which is drawing. We as a jury have tried to stick to this medium. There is a lot of good work here, but from the point of view of expression, of medium, they go beyond the technique of drawing, and that is the reason why they were not winners. In this case, we have respected the drawing technique, we have tried to judge the three most prominent drawing techniques and what the three selected works were based on our assessment".

Each work exhibited within the Biennale of Drawing in the Gallery of the Faculty of Arts has been a unique narrative.

Some resemble architectural constructions and those that tend to emerge from the surface of the work through the use of textiles. All of this makes it clear that some of the works actually have no place in such a biennial that is entirely devoted to drawing as a medium.

The works seem to communicate, but also clash with those of international artists. There are 19 foreign and 15 local artists.

The artist Albulen Neziri exhibited at the Biennale the work "Vibrimi", an abstract work created this year.

"A combined technique of acrylic on fabric, but also graphics as well as several different types of markers. It is an abstract topic. Vibration is one of the topics I deal with recently, but with larger dimensions. This is one of the works with the smallest dimensions".

The exhibition had two curators. Nysret Gjurkaj deals with the works of international artists, while Zeni Ballazhi deals with those of local artists.

Ballazhi on stage expressed that working with two curators in one concept was difficult. He said that the space of the Gallery of the Faculty of Arts in Pristina has limited them in the inclusion of a larger number of artists.

Last edition, the International Drawing Biennale took place in the National Gallery of Kosovo. Kamuran Goranci, chairman of the Association of Visual Artists of Kosovo, which organizes the International Drawing Biennale, said that this year, the GKK rejected the event, but announced that the Municipality of Pristina has made the Association its home, giving secured a space in the Palace of Youth.

Goranci said that this year a kind of echo of the event was observed through the greater participation in the number of international artists.

"This year, the echo of this biennial has increased. It has taken it to a much wider level internationally. This year we have 23 international artists and 11 are from Kosovo. This number shows that the biennial is taking its internationalization. Drawing is a sensitive construction, it is not painting. Visa is studied there, many creators and people do not understand it, but professional juries emphasize and appreciate it".

One of his works was also exhibited, but it was outside the competition of the Biennale.