Culture, Past Events, Visual Arts

WITH MY COUNTRY IN THE BACKGROUND

WITH MY COUNTRY IN THE BACKGROUND“With my country in the background” is a photography book with a series of pictures carefully selected by Kaltrina Krasniqi and Alban Muja. It is made of 90 images taken by young people spanning from 14-year-old to 25 and with no particular connection with photography. Kaltrina and Alban distributed 100 single use photo-cameras around Kosovo and hoped to catch the perspective of those that are usually in front of the camera.

Tirana Ekspres is pleased to host the exhibition titled after the book.
Genc Salihu will follow with a live performance. Alban Muja will follow with a DJ set.WITH MY COUNTRY IN THE BACKGROUND“With my country in the background” is a photography book with a series of pictures carefully selected by Kaltrina Krasniqi and Alban Muja. It is made of 90 images taken by young people spanning from 14-year-old to 25 and with no particular connection with photography. Kaltrina and Alban distributed 100 single use photo-cameras around Kosovo and hoped to catch the perspective of those that are usually in front of the camera.

Tirana Ekspres is pleased to host the exhibition titled after the book.
Genc Salihu will follow with a live performance. Alban Muja will follow with a DJ set.

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Culture, Past Events, Visual Arts

HIDE AND SEEK

HIDE AND SEEKAleanca Kundër Diskriminimit të LGBT (Gay-Straight Alliance Against lgbt Discrimination) would like to invite you to the official opening of the exhibition “Kukafshehti” (“Hide and Seek”) on May 16, 2012, at 18:00 at Tirana Ekspres at the occasion of the Internation Day Against Homophobia.

“Kukafshehti” is the first exhibition to address the love and life of the gay community as integral of the Albanian society. It documents the characters and actions of this community in their at- tempt to raise awareness. “Kukafshehti” strives to portray, without hiding itself, the gay community and its strong bond with the whole of Albanian society in its lifestyle, eroticism, and thought.

The International Day Against Homophobia is a commemoration of the removal of homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases of the World Health Organization (who) on May 17, 1990. All around the world this day is celebrated with exhibitions, manifestations, and other events.

Aleanca Kundër Diskriminimit të LGBT is an Albanian non-governmental organization that envisions a free, open and equal Albanian society that embraces diversity and is inclusive of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. To achieve this vision, Aleanca strives to support and empower a visible and inclusive lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community while increasing public understanding, education, and awareness of issues of sexual orientation and gender identity.

http://www.aleancalgbt.org/HIDE AND SEEKAleanca Kundër Diskriminimit të LGBT (Gay-Straight Alliance Against lgbt Discrimination) would like to invite you to the official opening of the exhibition “Kukafshehti” (“Hide and Seek”) on May 16, 2012, at 18:00 at Tirana Ekspres at the occasion of the Internation Day Against Homophobia.

“Kukafshehti” is the first exhibition to address the love and life of the gay community as integral of the Albanian society. It documents the characters and actions of this community in their at- tempt to raise awareness. “Kukafshehti” strives to portray, without hiding itself, the gay community and its strong bond with the whole of Albanian society in its lifestyle, eroticism, and thought.

The International Day Against Homophobia is a commemoration of the removal of homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases of the World Health Organization (who) on May 17, 1990. All around the world this day is celebrated with exhibitions, manifestations, and other events.

Aleanca Kundër Diskriminimit të LGBT is an Albanian non-governmental organization that envisions a free, open and equal Albanian society that embraces diversity and is inclusive of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. To achieve this vision, Aleanca strives to support and empower a visible and inclusive lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community while increasing public understanding, education, and awareness of issues of sexual orientation and gender identity.

http://www.aleancalgbt.org/

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Culture, Music, Past Events, Visual Arts

TIRANA THRASH

TIRANA THRASHTIRANA THRASH.
A Night with: ATTILA THE STOCKBROKER

Saturday, May 5, 2012
EXHIBITION OPENS AT: 7.30 pm
CONCERTS STARTS FROM: 8.30 pm

Tirana Art Lab – Center for Contemporary Art, and Tirana Ekspres – The Alternative Art Space, are pleased to present: “TIRANA THRASH”, the first showcasing of the British punk musician and Slam Poet Attila the Stockbroker in Tirana after 23 years. A CONCERT & EXHIBITION in homage of the artist’s clandestine performance of 1989 behind the walls of Hotel Dajti.

Attila the Stockbroker, a central personality from the British Punk scene, was also one of the very few British citizens who traveled to Albania still before the end of the regime. In 1989, Attila, the nom d’art of John Baines, achieved to gain an entry visa – ‘disguised’ as a soccer fan – in the context of the UK-Albania soccer match held in Tirana. Amongst the many anecdotes that stem from this notable journey, Attila’s visit also culminated into a spontaneous punk concert at the prominent diplomate’s Hotel Dajti. Featuring songs like “Blitzkrieg Bop” by the Ramones and supported by the resident Beatles Cover Band, the unlikely incident counts amongst the first punk performances in town.

Today 23 years later, TIRANA THRASH takes this very happening from 1989 as a starting point for an unprecedented review. Borrowing from the artistic concept of ‘Re-enactment’, TIRANA THRASH has invited the musician to perform once again his legendary concert – “a live image, in real space and real time, but simultaneously displaced” (Rod Dickinson). The adjoint exhibition offers a rare glimpse at the key memorabilia deriving from the event, such as Attila’s handmade soccer shirt from 1989, snapshots, or the actual “Tirana Thrash”: a self-published fanzine, which Attila edited during the 1980ies. “You know socialist realism. I do socialist surrealism.” (Attila the Stockbroker). In addition to the historical playlist of 1989, Attila will perform a selection of “surreal poetry”, pieces which addressed Albania under Hoxha and which will be staged in Tirana for the first time. Their strongly satirical tone is characteristic for Attila’s distinct approach towards dealing with political issues that were central to the British punk movement of the 1980ies.

TIRANA THRASH is not asking what really happened in 1989, but provides the grounds from where to transform a historical event into embodiment and involvement of the artist and the audience. It implies the idea of a difference that can be brought out to create something new. A platform for Attila’s lifelong obsession and artistic occupation with the country, TIRANA THRASH goes exemplary for the many missing bits and cultural curiosities of the the recent Albanian history.
The performance of Attila the Stockbroker proudly features: ILIR KRYEKURTI (Percussion), and ANGJELIN TOMA(Bass).

TIRANA THRASH is a collaborative project of Tirana Art Lab – Center for Contemporary Art, and Tirana Ekspres – The Alternative Art Space.
Curated by Sonja Lau. Curatorial Assistant: Kerstin Feldmayer Production: Rubin Beqo. Made possible with the support of the Robert Bosch Foundation.

ONCERTS STARTS FROM: 8.30 pm
At: Tirana Ekspres, Rr Karl Gega, Blloku i Magazinave

Tirana Art Lab – Center for Contemporary Art, and Tirana Ekspres – The Alternative Art Space, are pleased to present: “TIRANA THRASH”, the first showcasing of the British punk musician and Slam Poet Attila the Stockbroker in Tirana after 23 years. A CONCERT & EXHIBITION in homage of the artist’s clandestine performance of 1989 behind the walls of Hotel Dajti.

Attila the Stockbroker, a central personality from the British Punk scene, was also one of the very few British citizens who traveled to Albania still before the end of the regime. In 1989, Attila, the nom d’art of John Baines, achieved to gain an entry visa – ‘disguised’ as a soccer fan – in the context of the UK-Albania soccer match held in Tirana. Amongst the many anecdotes that stem from this notable journey, Attila’s visit also culminated into a spontaneous punk concert at the prominent diplomate’s Hotel Dajti. Featuring songs like “Blitzkrieg Bop” by the Ramones and supported by the resident Beatles Cover Band, the unlikely incident counts amongst the first punk performances in town.

Today 23 years later, TIRANA THRASH takes this very happening from 1989 as a starting point for an unprecedented review. Borrowing from the artistic concept of ‘Re-enactment’, TIRANA THRASH has invited the musician to perform once again his legendary concert – “a live image, in real space and real time, but simultaneously displaced” (Rod Dickinson). The adjoint exhibition offers a rare glimpse at the key memorabilia deriving from the event, such as Attila’s handmade soccer shirt from 1989, snapshots, or the actual “Tirana Thrash”: a self-published fanzine, which Attila edited during the 1980ies. “You know socialist realism. I do socialist surrealism.” (Attila the Stockbroker). In addition to the historical playlist of 1989, Attila will perform a selection of “surreal poetry”, pieces which addressed Albania under Hoxha and which will be staged in Tirana for the first time. Their strongly satirical tone is characteristic for Attila’s distinct approach towards dealing with political issues that were central to the British punk movement of the 1980ies.

TIRANA THRASH is not asking what really happened in 1989, but provides the grounds from where to transform a historical event into embodiment and involvement of the artist and the audience. It implies the idea of a difference that can be brought out to create something new. A platform for Attila’s lifelong obsession and artistic occupation with the country, TIRANA THRASH goes exemplary for the many missing bits and cultural curiosities of the the recent Albanian history.
The performance of Attila the Stockbroker proudly features: ILIR KRYEKURTI (Percussion), and ANGJELIN TOMA(Bass).

TIRANA THRASH is a collaborative project of Tirana Art Lab – Center for Contemporary Art, and Tirana Ekspres – The Alternative Art Space.
Curated by Sonja Lau. Curatorial Assistant: Kerstin Feldmayer Production: Rubin Beqo. Made possible with the support of the Robert Bosch Foundation.

 

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Culture, Past Events, Visual Arts

CAPTURE ALBANIA

CAPTURE ALBANIAOur next activity will mark the end of this year’s edition of Capture Albania and the opening of the selected photographs exhibition. There will be 45 carefully selected photographs amidst 100 works submitted by young photographers. This year’s photographs show many aspects of modern Albania. They fall into three categories: The natural landscapes, the urban landscapes and the people.

The natural landscapes of Albania show more things than any words could ever describe. As for the urban landscapes and the people, they hint to what the participant’s eye values as aesthetic, authentic and representative. This is why “Aesthetics of Transition” would have been a good name for this year’s photo collection. In essence, each photograph conveys a genuine social concern subtly shared by the author. If the whole transition of Albania could be summarized in one picture, we would like it to be a beautiful postcard. In reality, the transition has produced varied images of great interest for architects, urban developers, sociologists etc. Our daily use of the word transition has made it a synonym of economic distress, institutional reforms etc.

In photography, the transition takes as many shapes and colors as light carries through the camera lenses. Interactivity is the way through which life in society expresses itself. It draws a picture that inspire to the creation of poetry, mysticism, nostalgia, comedy etc. These are albanian pictures that give colors, shapes and expressions to an albanian reality. They were primarily taken by albanian professional and amateur photographers and show a need to self-actualize in our surrounding. After all, we all draw inspiration from Mr. Martin Parr’s participation as a jury director in this edition of Capture Albania.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Parr

This edition of Capture Albania is brought to you by the British Council in collaboration with Tirana Ekspres. Three pictures, selected by Mr. Parr will receive th best photograph award. One picture, selected by the rest of the jury, will receive the special award.CAPTURE ALBANIAOur next activity will mark the end of this year’s edition of Capture Albania and the opening of the selected photographs exhibition. There will be 45 carefully selected photographs amidst 100 works submitted by young photographers. This year’s photographs show many aspects of modern Albania. They fall into three categories: The natural landscapes, the urban landscapes and the people.

The natural landscapes of Albania show more things than any words could ever describe. As for the urban landscapes and the people, they hint to what the participant’s eye values as aesthetic, authentic and representative. This is why “Aesthetics of Transition” would have been a good name for this year’s photo collection. In essence, each photograph conveys a genuine social concern subtly shared by the author. If the whole transition of Albania could be summarized in one picture, we would like it to be a beautiful postcard. In reality, the transition has produced varied images of great interest for architects, urban developers, sociologists etc. Our daily use of the word transition has made it a synonym of economic distress, institutional reforms etc.

In photography, the transition takes as many shapes and colors as light carries through the camera lenses. Interactivity is the way through which life in society expresses itself. It draws a picture that inspire to the creation of poetry, mysticism, nostalgia, comedy etc. These are albanian pictures that give colors, shapes and expressions to an albanian reality. They were primarily taken by albanian professional and amateur photographers and show a need to self-actualize in our surrounding. After all, we all draw inspiration from Mr. Martin Parr’s participation as a jury director in this edition of Capture Albania.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Parr

This edition of Capture Albania is brought to you by the British Council in collaboration with Tirana Ekspres. Three pictures, selected by Mr. Parr will receive th best photograph award. One picture, selected by the rest of the jury, will receive the special award.

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Culture, Past Events, Visual Arts

STATION TO STATION

STATION TO STATIONDear Friends and Supporters of Tirana Ekspres,

This Saturday, March 17th 2012, at 19h00, Tirana Ekspres will host the opening exhibition of Heldi Pema’s most recent work, a series titled “Station to Station”. It consists of an art installation that began durin Pema’s participation in the Artists in Residence program at the “Kultur Kontakt” in Vienna. This huge “mixed technique” installation encompasses various objects, some of which are recycled. He makes special use of fashion magazines as well as old Soviet magazines taken from East Germany’s vast DDR archive (Auchtung Berlin).

Pema playfully manipulates and transforms all these archival and recent materials recalling the California paranoia illustrated in Mike Kelley’s “Destroy all Monsters” project. During the opening, the artist will also introduce a sound project entitled “TAXI”. This is an album of soundtracks produced in collaboration with seven other artists, among which are Anri Sala, Bert Theis and Steve Piccolo.

Mr. Pema was born in Tirana in 1977. Upon completio of his studies in the Visual Arts department of the Academy of Fine Arts in Tirana he attended the International Summer Academy in Salzburg, the Real Presence in Belgrade, the O’Artoteca in Milano and the Kultur Kontakt in Vienna. In 1998 he worked for “Manifesta 2” in Luxembourg.

From 2003 to the present, he has worked as a curator in the National Gallery of Arts of Albania. In 2008, Mr. Pema won the special prize in Onufri’s Contest followed by the second prize in the same event in 2009. Hes works have showcased in the 52nd International Art Exhibition La Biennale di Venezia, in the Haus Lutzoplatz of Berlin, in the Museum of Contemporary Art Villa Croce in Genova, in Tirana’s Institute for Contemporary Art, in the National Gallery of Arts Prishtina, the National Gallery of Arts Tirana, the Biennale of Europe and the Mediterranean in Athens, in the second Biennale of Tirana, etc.STATION TO STATIONDear Friends and Supporters of Tirana Ekspres,

This Saturday, March 17th 2012, at 19h00, Tirana Ekspres will host the opening exhibition of Heldi Pema’s most recent work, a series titled “Station to Station”. It consists of an art installation that began durin Pema’s participation in the Artists in Residence program at the “Kultur Kontakt” in Vienna. This huge “mixed technique” installation encompasses various objects, some of which are recycled. He makes special use of fashion magazines as well as old Soviet magazines taken from East Germany’s vast DDR archive (Auchtung Berlin).

Pema playfully manipulates and transforms all these archival and recent materials recalling the California paranoia illustrated in Mike Kelley’s “Destroy all Monsters” project. During the opening, the artist will also introduce a sound project entitled “TAXI”. This is an album of soundtracks produced in collaboration with seven other artists, among which are Anri Sala, Bert Theis and Steve Piccolo.

Mr. Pema was born in Tirana in 1977. Upon completio of his studies in the Visual Arts department of the Academy of Fine Arts in Tirana he attended the International Summer Academy in Salzburg, the Real Presence in Belgrade, the O’Artoteca in Milano and the Kultur Kontakt in Vienna. In 1998 he worked for “Manifesta 2” in Luxembourg.

From 2003 to the present, he has worked as a curator in the National Gallery of Arts of Albania. In 2008, Mr. Pema won the special prize in Onufri’s Contest followed by the second prize in the same event in 2009. Hes works have showcased in the 52nd International Art Exhibition La Biennale di Venezia, in the Haus Lutzoplatz of Berlin, in the Museum of Contemporary Art Villa Croce in Genova, in Tirana’s Institute for Contemporary Art, in the National Gallery of Arts Prishtina, the National Gallery of Arts Tirana, the Biennale of Europe and the Mediterranean in Athens, in the second Biennale of Tirana, etc.

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Culture, Past Events, Visual Arts

THE PYRAMID

THE PYRAMIDTirana Ekspres will host the exhibition of the works of a group of international artists.

Participating artists: Ana Daci, Áron Birtalan, Diomen Bariçi, Eric Peter, Fatlum Doçi, Frederic Janssen, Gosse de Kort, Moritz Geremus, Nika Volkova, Pim van der Heiden, Ronald Schelfhout, Silvia Jánosková, Vincent van Gerven Oei, John Fenning.THE PYRAMIDTirana Ekspres will host the exhibition of the works of a group of international artists.

Participating artists: Ana Daci, Áron Birtalan, Diomen Bariçi, Eric Peter, Fatlum Doçi, Frederic Janssen, Gosse de Kort, Moritz Geremus, Nika Volkova, Pim van der Heiden, Ronald Schelfhout, Silvia Jánosková, Vincent van Gerven Oei, John Fenning.

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Culture, Past Events, Visual Arts

APOLLO IS DEAD

APOLLO IS DEADTirana Ekspres is pleased to host Francesco Acone’s exhibition titled “Apollo is Dead”. Mr. Acone took many pictures while on the road along via Egnatia and would like to share with us his memories, snapshots and perspectives. Don’t miss out!APOLLO IS DEADTirana Ekspres is pleased to host Francesco Acone’s exhibition titled “Apollo is Dead”. Mr. Acone took many pictures while on the road along via Egnatia and would like to share with us his memories, snapshots and perspectives. Don’t miss out!

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