The National Gallery of Arts opens the “Open Archive” exhibit with a rich selection of various works by Albanian artists, all part of the extensive collection of the National Gallery of Arts.

Carefully curated by gallery Director Erzen Shkololli, the “Open Archive” exhibit is meant to introduce the general public to artworks that may have not had the limelight they deserve throughout the years. In a sense, the gallery invites its guests to engage in a more intimate relationship, become closer to what its pavilions, collection, and archive have to offer.

“Open Archive” Exhibit. Photo from the National Gallery of Arts.

Very recently opened, the exquisite exhibit unfortunately could not be properly celebrated with the usual inauguration ceremony, due to Covid-19-related restrictions. Likewise, it must be enjoyed following all the necessary health and safety guidelines by all visitors. The upside of these circumstances is that, due to the limited number of guests to the exhibit and required social distance, each guest will have both the time and space to become especially familiar with the works.

Social Realist paintings in the “Open Archive” Exhibit. Photo from the National Gallery of Arts.

The exhibit  

Approximately 660 works from the archive of the National Gallery of Arts are included in this exhibition which comprises a variety of genres, including painting, sculpture, caricature, and more. Numerous artists who have left their indelible mark on Albanian art are part of this exhibit, among them: Anastas Ballamaci, Spiro Xega, Vangjush Mio, Simon Rrota, Andrea Kushi, Nexhmedin Zajmi, Abdurrahim Buza, Zef Kolombi, Sofia Zengo Papadhimitri, Zef Shoshi, Dhimitër Theodhori, Danish Jukniu, Sadik Kaceli, Edi Hila and many others.

“Open Archive” Exhibit. Photo from the National Gallery of Arts.

Already in the gallery’s entrance, the guest will have the opportunity to see an impressive number of caricatures addressing the various issues of social life in Albania. Further in, the focus of the exhibit shifts to painting, more specifically portraits, landscapes, renowned people as well as sketches and a considerable number of sculptures made of plaster, bronze, wood, and ceramic.

“Open Archive” Exhibit. Photo from the National Gallery of Arts.

The dates

The exhibit covers a time period of nearly 100 years in the history of Albanian art. The chronology of the exhibit begins with the beginnings of depictions of Albanian cities in the period 1883-1930, paintings in realist style from the School of Drawing in 1930-1950, academic painting and history-themed tableaus of 1950-1986, Socialist Realism and the creation of the new man figure (the socialist realist hero) in 1960-1986, as well as the formalist painting of the Socialist Realism movement during 1964-1974.

“Open Archive” Exhibit. Photo from the National Gallery of Arts.

The oldest painting of this exhibition, dating back to 1889, is the portrait of Skanderbeg, the Albanian National Hero. The masterful and vivid work of by Anastas Ballamaçi truly brings the figure the national hero to life. Guests can also get acquainted with a special collection of paintings and videos first presented at the “Tirana Patience” exhibit, which finely gathered renowned names of both Albanian and international painting. Another wonderful exhibit, entitled “Best Wishes,” has already been open for a year now and is located on the 3^rd floor of the gallery.

“Open Archive” Exhibit. Photo from the National Gallery of Arts.

The entire collection

The National Gallery of Arts’ collection includes a total of more than 6 thousand works, mostly dating from the second half of the 19^th century to the present day. Among the most fascinating are those from the period of the National Renaissance and Independence (1883 – 1944), a collection of icons belonging to the long period of 13^th-19^th centuries and, of course, the largest collection of paintings and sculptures of the Socialist Realism period. For more on the gallery’s entire collection, click here.