by Riccarda Mandrini

15 September Tirana opens its first art biennial. And if it is true that up until today Albania has seemed to be more a state of mind, a metaphor for space, a place of migration for refugees from Kossovo or a point of no return to the myth of the west, this exceptional event will transform Tirana for two months with a privileged meeting point for art, people and artists in a spectacular exhibition from a country with an extraordinary and unexpressed energy.

With the Biennial, Tirana also aims to attract the attention of Europe which counts, where culture is considered a useful tool for upping the gross national product, particularly in view of a widening to the east of the European Union.

The exhibition is presided over by the mayor of Tirana Edi Rama, Giancarlo Politi, director of the Biennial and editor of the catalogue, Edi Muka and Gëzim Quëndro, curator and director of the National Gallery.

The work of 230 artists from all over the world, chosen by 34 curators will be housed in the National Gallery and the Chinese Pavilion, a 4000 sq m hangar built in the late fifties by Maoist China for Enver Hoxha.

The theme of the Biennial is ‘Flight’. "a subject very relevant now" explains Giancarlo Politi, "but that has always been so". "One flees from a place or a territory, from an idea, after a meeting, from ourselves". A theme which has been much appreciated by the artists, with which almost all have been able to identify themselves.

http://www.tiranabiennale.org/