A string of cultural and promotional events marked the Israel culture week as part of “Albania welcomes the world”, an initiative designed to promote and celebrate diversity of culture and heritage of various countries throughout the world. “Jerusalem is not just a city” is the title of the rare photo exhibition launched under the Israel Culture Week, displaying more than 100 portraits, genre photos and photojournalism by Dmitry Brickman, depicting the rich and wide range of religious and cultural heritage of the holy city of Jerusalem.
Prime Minister Edi Rama visited the exhibition accompanied by the Minister of Culture Elva Margariti, who said that the exhibition has been displayed in many countries throughout the world, conveying the message of peace and coexistence. “All the characters depicted in the photos are connected to the ancient city. The exhibition also conveys a typical Albanian message of coexistence and it has toured many other countries across the world. We thank the artist for promptly responding to our invitation and joining us with his exhibition as we celebrate the culture week of Israel. The exhibition will travel to many more countries all over the world and the artist has been working for more than 10 years and has a long experience and I would really wish he explains the message of his images,” Culture Minister Margariti said.
The exhibition’s author said that the show represents a symbolic prayer. “This exhibition is a symbolic prayer in Jerusalem. After having worked for many years in Jerusalem with photography, one day I realized that all the people coming to Jerusalem, no matter what language they speak and which country they come from, they actually come to pray, but say the same prayer in different languages, no matter which one is. Taking notice and watching people pray in Jerusalem, I have received about 25 different prayers and I have combined them from different religions, both Christianity and Islam, but at the end of the day, their prayers and their wish are: I want love, I want good health, I want to live long. After I mixed all the photos we created a movie that will be screened here. I am very pleased with the end result and I believe it is one of the most beautiful exhibitions of this tour I am doing,” Dmitry Brickman said.
Prime Minister Edi Rama evaluated the displayed pictures, underlining that more tangible works and actions will further strengthen the traditional close ties between the two countries, including Jewish Museum in Vlora and the Jewish Centre in Tirana. “I would like to thank you for showing readiness since day one we embarked on developing this new programme and I am very happy for the fact that Israel is now present as part of the international culture weeks in Albania, showcasing many things to the local public here. This is the first time it is taking place in Tirana, but we are seeking to turn it into a tradition in the coming years. Next year we will take advantage of the experience we are building up now so that a much bigger and much better event takes place, so that this initiative becomes really popular and more bridges that bring us together are built soon. We will together inaugurate the new Jewish Museum in Vlora soon, while work is also underway to build the Jewish Centre in Tirana and we will be very pleased and honoured to invite you and attend these events,” PM Rama said.
