Pleurad Xhafa (born in 1984 in Lushnjë) is an artist, documentary filmmaker, and activist currently based in Tirana.[1] Xhafa develops projects that examine the effects produced by neoliberal political experiments.[2] His research and critical work result from a post-conceptual practice that operates on a documentary basis to subsequently report—visually and politically—on the culture of our time. Xhafa is one of the founders of DebatikCenter of Contemporary Art and is a member of art collective Manifesto.
Life and Work
editIn 1997, Xhafa, like many others of his generation, witnessed the collapse of the pyramid schemes, which led to violent civil unrest, which started in Lushnjë. In 1998, during the country's early stage of shock therapy, he moved to Tirana to study at Jordan Misja Artistic Lyceum. Subsequently, in 2002, he left to study in Italy at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Bologna, where he graduated with an MFA.
In 2009, while returning from Italy to Albania, Xhafa, together with his colleague Sokol Peçi, created the work Dejavu & Paranoia, a clay the head of the Nobel Prize economist Milton Friedman during a train journey from Bologna to Bari and then on a ship from Bari to Durrës.[3][4]
Çeta
editXhafa was part of the art collective Çeta (2016– 2017).[5] During its existence, Çeta produced several politically motivated works addressing public-private partnerships in Albania,[6] social injustice, and the still unsolved death of child labour victim Ardit Gjoklaj.[7]
Activism
editXhafa was one of the artists who openly protested against the Albanian government's decision to demolish the National Theatre of Albania, occupying the theater for two consecutive years. On May 17, 2020, the last night of the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine, Xhafa was arrested inside the theater. During the confrontation with the police, Xhafa received a severe injury to his right leg.[8][9] Xhafa was accused of resisting the police, illegal gathering, and breaking the quarantine. After the forensic examination, the police dropped two charges, enforcing only one fine for breaking quarantine.[10]
Awards
edit- Ardhje Award, 2014[11]
References
edit- ^ Isto, Raino (6 January 2020). "Contemporary Art in/and Public Space: An Interview with Pleurad Xhafa". afterart. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ "Ardhje Award 2014". Zeta. 1 October 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ "Pleurad Xhafa / Sokol Peçi". Berlin Biennale. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ "The Raw and the Cooked". Frieze. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ Isto, Raino Eeto (4 October 2016). "The Politics of Street Art in Albania: An Interview with Çeta". ArtMargins. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ "Çeta Protests against Public-Private Partnerships". Exit. 30 November 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ "Ardit Gjoklaj's Death Continues to Haunt Veliaj". Exit. 2 November 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ Redaksia. "VIDEO-Momenti kur shoqërohet në komisariat Monika Kryemadhi: Rama hapi varrin e tij". Shqiptarja.com. No. 17 May 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ Dedaj, Anila (12 June 2020). "Teatri, nga Rama te Veliaj të denoncuar, pedagogu Ervin Goci flet për rolin e drejtësisë". Panorama. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ Isto, Raino (13 July 2020). "One on One: Pleurad Xhafa, 200 Million Euro (2020)". ArtMargins. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ "Ardhje Award 2014". Zeta. 1 October 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2024.