Arben Golemi is a very important painter of modern Albanian art. By seeking new artistic forms and expressions, Golemi left a mark on the art circles of his native country, and in the process helped form the image of a modern painter. His earliest painting broke the mould of the prevailing realist art mentality, and he was one of the main protagonists of what can now be called the modern Albanian painting of the late 20th century . His contribution is specific in the Albanian visual arts, so much so that after the 1990 s, his work appeared in many national and international exhibitions, in solo and group shows.
Arben Golemi has set off on his creative journey with passion and integrity, sharing with the putlic a singular world of captivating colours, tones and graphics, interpreted through a unique artistic code. an interesting and impressive creative output, Golemi belongs to a mature generation of modern Albanian artists. Golemi has a notable style focused mainly on colour rapports, in the deconstruction of the embedded architectural memories of his native city of Berat, of European gothic cathedrals, of monumental buildings in New York, and most especially in capturing the botanic world of Albanian natural forests and flowers bathed in an entrancing mediterranean light. This entire universe, often displayed in linear structures, is interpreted and hidden beneath a powerful, intense palette and masterful structural interweaving. Such an approach and inclination has created a rich vocabulary of formal, strihing and inspired interpretations. Yet, above all, Golemi is and remains a powerful and startling colourist.
Deep within, Arben Golemi has a core of motives and interpretations that ignite in him vibrant contemporary artistic situations. Through his balanced tonal code , he has, for many years, created large-scale paintings, which often suddenly explode in energetic layers of colour through strong, rough brushstrokes, enriched with tonalities and structure in an impasto shape. The visual aspect of Golemis paintings is also the foremost element that distinguishes him from other current Albanian artists. Through the scaling of tonal gradients, the artist often creates horizontal bands suffused with a glowing light that enliven the painted image. To enter into the composite elements of these paintings is key to understanding his ability to communicate artistically. Golemi s attitude is stylized, interpreted and uniquely built into all his work, whether in his accentuated architectural structures or in his brightly painted pictures. With his compelling gestural brushwork, Golemi destroys the real image and rebuilds another pictorial reality that he is constantly enriching with meaning.
The exhibition of paintings and drawings at the National Gallery of Arts in Tirana firmly establishes Arben Golemi as an early 21st century master of modern Albanian painting.