The association brings together 40 artists in a dialogue of themes and styles

With the annual exhibition, the Association of Visual Artists of Kosovo has continued the tradition by uniting artists of different generations and styles. This year there are 40 artists participating in the exhibition, which above all aims to promote artists and artistic values. The opening was also done with the distribution of prizes. Erzen Vala received the first prize, Marigona Ademi the second and Mal Myrtaj the third prize

There are 40 works, as many artists united in the exhibition, which when seen as a whole resembles a mosaic that narrates different topics, digs into history, displays different techniques and styles, but the common denominator is artistic values. This is also the goal of the Association of Visual Artists of Kosovo and an exhibition like this is already traditional. On Wednesday night, in the atelier of the Palace of Youth, the fourth edition of the annual exhibition was opened and it brings together artists of different generations. Sculptures, which take place on stone and wooden pedestals, communicate between paintings and graphics. The opening was also done with the distribution of prizes. Erzen Vala received the first prize, Marigona Ademi the second and Mal Myrtaj the third prize.

Without a specific theme, each of the creators presented a work made no more than two years ago, as was the criterion for participation.

The exhibition was scheduled to be held in November last year, and there is a reason for that.

"It comes as a traditional exhibition due to the fact that it was once held as the 'November Salon'. This exhibition is also held in November, but this year due to the budget that was approved later, we had to hold it in February. In these exhibitions, the valorization of artists, their works and jobs is done and at the end we reward them with a prize for the work they have done. Here we have all the artists who are members of the Association and it is a small criterion for the artists to bring works that they have worked on during the last two years", said Kamuran Goranci, president of the Association of Visual Artists of Kosovo.

The jury consisting of Hivzi Muharrem, Faik Krasniqi and Eshref Qahili decided on the winners.

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"This time there are three members in the jury, Professor Hivzi Muharremi, Professor Faik Krasniqi and Professor Eshref Qahili. All are art professors, Hivziu is also an art historian, researcher and art critic. They are professionals and that is why it is called a professional jury. They are independent and evaluate the works based on the trends and creativity of the last two years", said Goranci.

Erzen Vala received the first prize with the work "Fingerprint, the center of the world" from the series with the same title. Done with acrylic on canvas, the red fingerprint in the center of the painting immediately catches the eye. According to Vala, it symbolizes identity. He said that he feels honored for the evaluation that has been given to him.

"The award is an incentive to score future successes so that the work is a continuation. I feel honored with this selection that has been made. It is a new cycle that I have started now in 2023, 'Fingerprint, the center of the world', the cycle that includes identity. It means fingerprint as identity, everyone's world, different identities. This is the concept of all this," said Vala.

Marigona Ademi with "Lux solaris" of the second prize, captures the illumination of the sun, as the Latin title means. Bright colors dominate the painting. It is a play between orange and yellow. The work comes as part of the last cycle by Ademi, with which it was presented in Paris.

"'Lux solaris' means illumined by the sun or affected by illuminance. It is made with acrylic and oil. I also used different leaves. It belongs to my last cycle that was also exhibited in Paris, and I chose this work because it seemed more suitable for the format of the exhibition", said Ademi.

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Mal Myrtaj received the third prize with his work in sculpture.

The painter Isa Alimusaj, who was the winner of the last edition with a work from the "Dardane Profiles" cycle, was also presented in this year's edition in the same spirit. In his depiction of Fairy Shadows, Bjeshke and Nemuna and the Region of Dukagjin complete the work.

"With a painting like this, I participated in the last edition and received the first prize. This is like a sister to the one that was last year. It is one of the paintings from the cycle 'Dardane Profiles'. Here we are dealing with the Shadows of Fairies, Dukagjin, Bjeshke and Nemuna and so on. It is with the imagination, but the atmosphere is that of Bjeshke and Nemuna", said Alimusaj.

National motifs, the legend of Constantine and the interweaving of literature with figurative art were presented in Refki Gollopen's painting. All in black and white with acrylic on fabric, the author says he was inspired by the novel "Who brought Doruntina" by Ismail Kadare.

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"I feel good in this exhibition, I have participated in every edition. I will be coherent with all the organizations for the contemporary art of Kosovo. I tried to present myself with a more special and different work. In this case, I presented the concept of legends", said Gollopeni.

The exhibition will remain open for two weeks and for a while it will also be accompanied by classical music, as the Kosovo Philharmonic is rehearsing there.