The National Gallery of Art in Tirana will host the first exhibition of this kind in Albania: the Masterpieces of the 20th century Italian art. With more than 100 extraordinary works of the Gallery of Modern Art in Rome, this exhibition represents an essential contribution in the history of the 20th century Italian art. Prime Minister Edi Rama, who attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition, said that this is a remarkable event for art and culture in Albania.
“This is the first time that Albania has hosted a collection of original works of art from the world. Art lovers, or even pupils and students can enjoy them in our National Gallery”, Prime Minister Rama said. Defining art and culture as “food” and part of a nation’s identity, he added that when it comes to culture, our identity is not only Albanian, but it’s also European. “A very wise saying goes: “The roots of the country are not in the land; they’re in the food.” And food is not only what we eat, but it’s also culture and our identity. And if, when it comes to culture, the quantity of food we need and for which we have to go even beyond our borders is immense, when it comes to our identity, it is not only Albanian but it’s also European. Our identity is incomplete without the European art and culture. All these are nothing but complementary. They don’t exclude each-other. On the contrary. The more culture, the more art, the more such events, the more are the opportunities to create positive energy in the people, in the community, in the youngest, and definitely the more are the opportunities to receive the food mentioned in that wise saying, which is on the one hand food for the stomach and the body, and on the other hand food for the eyes, ears, mind and heart.”
The prime Minister told also about the long and strenuous journey that the organizers of this exhibition had to take in order to bring the masterpieces of the Italian art to the Albanian public.
“It’s a never-ending story of guaranties, insurances, starting with the psychological guarantee for all those who work in museum offices and sit decision-making tables in Rome, who were told: “We want to take the masterpieces to Albania”, a country from where it’s hard to believe that such masterpieces can come back intact. Not to mention the fact that any collection of original art works has never been brought before in Albania. It has been more than a year that we have tried to achieve this moment”, the Prime Minister said.
Prime Minister Rama concluded his address saying that, after this exhibition in Tirana, talks are being made with the Picasso Museum to bring in Albania the masterpieces of the Spanish artist. “We’ve had some preliminary talks with the Picasso Museum. Since they have Picasso, and in their job description it’s said that they have to be a little crazy, they said OK although they did not believe that this would happen. If it happens, then we can take in serious consideration to bring in Albania an original collection of works by Picasso”, the Prime Minister said.
Among the paintings, sculptures, watercolours and drawings, the journey of the exhibition by Arianna Angelelli, Maria Catalano and Federica Pirani, explores the artistic culture which has its roots in Rome and in Italy of the first half of the twentieth century. Wonderful female figures, portraits of famous characters, still lives, views of the Eternal City and the Roman fields: these are the themes and subjects that have contributed to the affirmation of the major Italian artists of 1900. The exhibition will be open in the National Gallery of Arts in Tirana from January 16 until April 2, 2017.