MINISTRIA E KULTURES, RINISE DHE SPORTEVE TE SHQIPERISE

MINISTRY OF CULTURE, YOUTH AND SPORTS OF ALBANIA

GALERIA KOMBETARE E ARTEVE / NATIONAL GALLERY OF ARTS

KONCEPT  - by Ilir Butka, Marubi 2003 Curator

FOTOGRAFIA e “ndotur” me ART apo ART i “ndotur” me FOTOGRAFI ?
Keshtu do ta percaktoja konceptin qe Marubi 2003 do te sugjeroje.

Perdor figurativisht termin “ndotur” per te ilustruar ate çka ka ofruar historia e evoluimit te fotografise e cila ju nenshtrua si pa e kuptuar tendeces qe cdo art i eshte nenshtruar.

Ne qofte se fotografia do te ishte vetem gershetim i sukseshem i dy shkencave, optikes dhe kimise, ne te cilin e para ofron instrumentet per formimin e imazhit nepermjet objektivit, e dyta na lejon regjistrimin e ketij imazhi mbi nje materjal sensibel ndaj veprimit te drites, atehere do te ishte e veshtire te gjeje ne te gjurme sado te vogla te ekspresionit artistik.

Fillimet e fotografise aspironin per nje pasqyrim sa me besnik dhe te njehesuar me realitetin duke kaluar nepermjet rruges se persosjes teknike, per te kaluar me pas ne aplikimin e alternativave formale dhe personalizimit deri ne ate shkalle sa qe te mos merren aspak ne konsiderate kerkesat e ngurta profesjonale, te cilat u identifikuan me tabu qe mbanin peng shpirtin krijues dhe individualitetin shprehes.

Per shembull metamorfoza e konceptit per “fokusin” si nje element mjaft i rendesishem i fotografise, ka pesuar nje evolucion te pa imagjinushem duke krijuar hapesira te reja alternative te interpretimit artistik. Ajo fotografi qe per mjeshtrit e medhenj quhej e pa pranueshme per shkak te “mungeses” se fokusit mund te jete sot e ekspozuar paradoksalisht ne galerite me te mira te artit si konfirmim i asaj qe, rruga e perftimit te emocionit jo domosdoshmerisht duhet te kaloje nepermjet ekzekutimit korrekt te parametrave teknik.

Nga ana tjeter gjithmone dhe me shpesh fotografia behet e pranishme ne realizimet e veprave te artit viziv, si element teper i vlefshem ne sherbim te krijimit te nje impakti sa me te madh emocional.

Pikerisht ky koncept qe ndot ne nje fare menyre optiken e nje fotografie tradicionale me art dhe arti i ndotur me elemente fotografike eshte objekti i kesaj ekspozite.

NITRAT AR-GJENDI apo NITRAT AR-TI

Pelikula nuk eshte veçse nje suport banal celuloidi i sperkatur nga grimca nitrati argjendi te cilat artisti me insistimin e nje alkimisti, deshperimisht tenton ti personalizoje me elementin e artit te tij.

Per sa i takon formes se ekspozimimit, principi do te ishte krijimi i nje atmosfere te erret ne te cilen shikuesi te ndihet ne nje Camera Obscura ku burimi i vetem i drites te perfaqesohet nga ndriçimi i vete fotografive te ekspozuara.

Personalisht preferenca eshte e prirur drejt nje seleksinimi te bazuar mbi realizimet fotografike ne bardh e zi per kete arsye do ti beja thirrje autoreve te seleksiononin me kete optike punimet e tyre.
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The PHOTOGRAPHY “polluted” by ART or ART “polluted” by PHOTOGRAPHY?

The optic of a traditional photography somehow polluted by art and the art polluted by photographic elements is exactly the concept of this exposition. “NITRATO d` AR-GENTO or NITRATO d’AR-TE”The film is just a banal support of celluloid, sprinkled by tiny pieces of silver nitrate that the artist, with obsession of an alchemist, tries desperately to personalize with the “element” of his art.With regard to the form of the exhibition, the principle would be the creation of a dark atmosphere in which the spectator would feel himself as inside a Camera

My preference is directed towards a selection based in black and white photography and for this reason I would appeal the authors to make the selection of their works in this optics.

MARUBI-International Exhibition of Photography 2003
National Art Gallery“ Marubi 2003” mbledh 60 artistë

Problemet sociale janë fokusuar nga shkrepjet e aparateve fotografikë. Të premten do të shpallen dhe fituesit e “Marubi 2003” nga Admirina Peçi

“Marubi 2003” ka mbledhur rreth vetes fotografët e këtij viti. Ata vijnë nga vende të ndryshme të botës, dhe kanë sjellë koncepte dhe vizione të ndryshme mbi artin e fotografisë. Tashmë kanë mbetur edhe tre ditë deri në ceremoninë e çeljes së kësaj ekspozite, e cila do t’i hapë dyert ditën e premte më 4 prill. Janë mbi 60 pjesëmarrës nga rreth 14 vende të ndryshme të botës, të cilët janë bërë protagonistë të kësaj ekspozite. Ata vijnë nga Shqipëria, Kosova, Mali i Zi, Serbia, Italia, Austria, Kanadaja, Gjermania, Anglia, etj. Siç është bërë traditë, ditën e ceremonisë së këtij aktiviteti do të shpallen edhe fituesit e këtij viti, në garën e fotografisë. Ekspozita tashmë është në prag të ngritjes së saj dhe juria e këtij aktiviteti e përbërë nga fotografi i njohur Albes Fusha, i cili vitin e kaluar ishte kuratos i “Marubi-t 2002”, artisti Ziso Kamberi dhe artistja e njohur prishtinase që jeton dhe punon në Norvegji, Violeta Xhaferri. Gjykimi mbi punët e paraqitura në këtë edicion të Marubit ka nisur që nga data e mbylljes së pranive të punëve, për në konkurs. Ndërsa çmimet e këtij Konkursi do të jenë po të njëjta me ato të viteve të kaluara. Pra do të jepet çmimi i parë, i dytë dhe i tretë, për fotografinë më të mirë, si dhe një çmim special. Megjithatë nëse do të jetë e nëvojshme, mund të aplikohet edhe ndarja e çmimeve.

Pjesëmarrësit e “Marubi 2003”

Në listën e pjesëmarrësve të këtij viti, e cila është bërë e njohur këto ditë në faqen e internetit, hapur enkas për këtë aktivitet, renditen mbi 60 fotografë pjesëmarrës në këtë aktivitet. Kështu nga Shqipëria marrin pjesë Agim Faja, Anisa Bahmi, Agron Hasanaj, Anesti Matka, Agron Mesi, Anisa Allmuca, Ardi Fejzullari, Burim Myftiu, Bashkim Asllani, Bertrand Shijaku, Bevis Fusha, Denis Vogli, Dorina Arapi, Elsa Martini, Eliano Kalemi, Eqerem Luraku, Elvis Çala, Enisa Canaliaj, Fatmir Dardha, Fatjon Ymeraj. Fahredin Spahia, Flutura Laçi, Flamur Seferi, Ilir Kaso, Gent Faja, Gezim Panariti, Gezim Bonjaku, Hilmi Halilaj. Jonida Zaharia, Klodeta Buzi, Leonard Voci, Leon Qafzezi, Lori Polena, Lumturi Blloshmi, Liman Cana, Llazi Serbo, Martin Qafzezi, Marketin Pici, Magdalena Cenolli, Silvana Nini, Vangjush Valla, Vigjilenca Sollaku, Menduh Nushi, Mirela Korriku, Naim Shala, Namik Selmani, Nikolin Baba, Pranvera Shala, Qazim Strazimiri dhe Qerim Vrioni. Nga Kosova vijnë artistet Adriana Nimani, Arbana Hajredinaj dhe Valon Begolli. Po ashtu një numër i madh fotografësh pjesëmarrës vijnë nga vende të ndryshme të botës, si Chris Pool Great, nag Britania e Madhe, Eugen Harasim nga Rumania, Gerhard Gross nga Austria, Gerard Links nga Franca, Legs Boelen nga Hollanda, Luca Turi nga Itala, Marija Jankovic nga Serbia, Rudiger Carl Bergmann nga Gjermania, Alain Lefort nga Kanadaja, Jeton Karahoda dhe Yancy Wright nga USA dhe Maja Djuric Djordjevic, Anka Gardasevic, Brunilda Lekunda nga Mali i Zi.

The NATIONAL GALLERY OF ARTS – the main institution for conservation, exposition and studying of the visual art in Albania- started its life in 1952 in the form of a pinakoteque. Its first fund included paintings collected from the state institutions before the Second World War. The woks mainly belonged to foreign authors and only a small number was from Albanian authors such as Zef Kolombi, Kolë Idromeno, Simon Rrota etc. Its first residence was a building at Rruga Kavajes, which does not exist anymore.

On 11 January 1954 the Gallery of Arts was officially inaugurated with a fund of 100 works and 40 authors. In 1956 its fund was carried in a building at "Fortuzi" street. The new building of the Gallery of Arts which was established at "Dëshmorët e Kombit" Boulevard was inaugurated in 1974. In 1993 pursuant to a decision of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania the Gallery of Arts was renamed National Gallery of Arts.

On 11 January 1954 the Gallery of Arts was officially inaugurated with a fund of 100 works and 40 authors. In 1956 its fund was carried in a building at "Fortuzi" street. The new building of the Gallery of Arts which was established at "Dëshmorët e Kombit" Boulevard was inaugurated in 1974. In 1993 pursuant to a decision of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania the Gallery of Arts was renamed National Gallery of Arts.

This gallery preserves the national collection of the visual arts of Albania from the XXth century up to date. In addition to a big collection of paintings and sculptures from the socialist realism, it is preserved as well a collection of paintings from the independence period, icons from the XIII-XIX century and by foreign authors. There is as well a small national and international collection of the contemporary art.

Th National Gallery of Arts is divided in two parts:

The first floor is used for the organisation of temporary exhibitions mainly of contemporary art. Some of the yearly exhibitions included here are the international contest of photography “Marubi”, the international contest of visual arts “Onufri” as well as the promotion of artists or specific artistic groups both from the country and from abroad.

At the second floor the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Arts is exhibited. It is divided according to historical periods, in the following pavilions:

a.      The art of Renaissance and the Independence in Albania (1860-1944)

b.      The Byzantine and post-Byzantine Art (XIII-XIX century)

c.      The Social Realism period

d.      The area of the Contemporary Art (after 1990)

At the garden of the National Gallery of Arts it is established a collection of bronx Sculptures from the period of the Social Realism.

The fund


Nowadays the National Gallery of Arts in Tirana owns 4500 works of arts from Albanian and international artists and the biggest part of this fund belongs to the Socialist Realism period.

Exhibition : Camera Obscura

Pinhole conception is a first time experiment in Albania and your involvement in this event is considered very important. Pinhole section is considered the special feature of Marubi 2003. 

Pinhole section

The camera is just a box with a hole on it. I described it as such, to all my friends whom were interested to know more about the magic box, what we usually call photographic camera. The elementary instrument able to reproduce the image was in fact known even in ancient times and it was called “stenos opaios”, EQUIPED WITH A SMALL HOLE, translated from Greek. An empty dark box, with a millimetric hole on it in one side and a paper treated with a material sensitive to the light in the other side. Nothing more. The principle of the image creation projected on a surface using a hole is known thousand of years before.

Aristotle speaks of the stenopheich hole, while the Arab sages used it in astronomy to observe the solar eclipses . ...

Marubi 2003 was accompanied for the first time in the history of this activity by a pavillion of Pinhole Photography “Camera Obscura”

Pinhole Photography has also its winner. The Special Prize Pinhole Photography is awarded to Gregg Kemp from USA. The prize is sponsored by Zero Image (Hong Kong)

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Aparati fotografik është një kuti me vrimë. Kështu do ta përshkruaja kohë më parë për miqtë e mi që interesoheshin të dinin diçka më shumë për atë kuti magjike që quhet rëndom aparati fotografik Instrumenti më elementar i aftë për riprodhimin e imazhit në fakt është njohur që në kohët e hershme dhe quhej “stenos opaios” I PAJISUR ME NJE VRIME TE VOGEL i përkthyer nga greqishtja.

Një kuti bosh e errët, me një vrimë milimetrike në njërën anë të saj dhe një fletë e trajtuar me një material sensibilizues ndaj dritës e vendosur në anën tjetër. Asgjë më tepër.

Principi i formimit të imazhit të projektuar mbi një siperfaqe, duke shfrytëzuar një vrimë, është i njohur prej mijëra vjetësh. Aristoteli flet për vrimën stenopeike dhe dijetarët arabë e kanë përdorur në astronomi për vrojtimin e eklipseve diellore. ...

“Marubi 2003” u shoqërua për herë të parë në historinë e këtij aktiviteti nga një pavion i fotografive Pinhole në “Camera Obscura”

Fotografia “Pinhole” pati gjithashtu fituesin e saj. Çmimi special i fotografisë “Pinhole” ju dha Gregg Kemp nga SHBA. Ky çmim u sponsorizua nga Zero Image (Hong Kong)

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 Exhibition : Retrospective Ymer Bali - Albania

PHOTO BALI – THE SIGNATURE OF LOVE FOR HUMAN BEINGS

Ymer (Mer) Bali will forever remain in the Pantheon of the best Albanian photographers. The Albanian art of photography incorporates a rich collection of this master’s work who lived and worked during the XIX century and the mid XX century.

For its historic, artistic and professional values his work is ranked long aside with the other Albanian masters of photography such as Marubi, Idromeno, Sotiri, Pici, Burda, Kallfa and other co-living artists.

The work of Balit, a rich and diverse collection belongs to the white and black photography. You can notice in Bali’s photography lyric emotions, as regards to his paysages or when he focused human behaviour or the life of animals and the dead nature of objects. He was one of the masters of portraits, individual or family ones, distinguished for the clear play with effects and light and shadow interferences, including the compositional concept as well.

Approximately 500 photos of Ymer Balit are preserved in the private collection of the well-known collector, Thimi Nika. From this collection the Curator Ilir Butka selected 38 works, which are exposed for the first time in “Marubi” 2003 for the Albanian and the International public.

Ymer Bali. He completed his studies in Austria in 1930. Born in Tiranë, he had a great activity. He excels in portraits and collective pictures. He did not marry and left no heir to deal with his rich archives. After his death, a niece of his handed over (gifted) his archives to the State Central Archives in Tirana.

Ekspozitë : Retrospektive Ymer Bali - Albania

FOTO BALI - NENSHKRIMI I DASHURISE PER NJEREZIT

Ymer ( Mer) Bali do të mbetet përherë në Panteonin e fotografëve më të mirë të Shqipërisë. Arti i fotografisë shqiptare mban një koleksion tejet të pasur të krijimtarisë së këtij mjeshtri, i cili jetoi e punoi në fund të shekullit XIX dhe deri në mes të shekullit XX. Për nga vlerat historike, artistike e profesionale, ai rradhitet me dinjitet perkrah Marubeve, Idromenos, Sotirit, Picit, Burdës, Kallfës dhe fotografëve të tjerë bashkëkohës.

Krijimtaria e Balit, një fond tejet i pasur dhe i larmishem, i përket kohës së fotografisë bardh e zi. Ajo të përball me emocione të shumta lirike, si kur shikon peisazhet e fokusuara mjeshtërisht në aparatin e tij, ashtu dhe kur ndjek dokumentimin tradicional, korrekt e realist te botes së njerëzve dhe sendeve, ngjarjeve e situatave të përditshme e nga më të ndryshmet e kohës. Po kështu, nëpërmjet objektivit te tij, Bali ka modeluar dhe fiksuar bukur portrete të shumta e të pakrahasueshme familjare apo individësh, që shquhen për një botë të pasur dhe këndvështrime artistike origjinale, për vlera të spikaturadhe të përcaktuara qartë si në lojën e efekteve dhe të inteferencave dritë-hije ashtu dhe për anën kompozicionale.

Rreth 500 foto të Balit ndodhen në koleksionin privat të koleksionistit të njohur Thimi Nika. Kuratori Ilir Butka përzgjodhi 38 prej tyre dhe i paraqiti për herë të parë në ekspoziten “Marubi” 2003.

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Special Guest / Të ftuar special

Exhibition : Special Guest Joachim Ladefoged / Ekspozitë : I ftuar Special Joachim Ladefoged

PREVIOUS EDITIONS

1998-2002

The National Contest of the Artistic Photography “Marubi” was organized for the first time on 10 October 1998 with the initiative of the Director of the National Arts’ Gallery,  Gezim Qendro and with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS).

During this activity, in the honor of the Albanian tradition of photography, 32 photos were exhibited by Kel Kodheli, Gege Marubi, Pjeter Marubi, Kristaq Sotiri, Vani Burda, Papa-Jani Zengo, Mehmet Kallfa, Shan Pici, Mati Kodheli and Kole Kuqali.

Furthermore, 89 photos by 51 artists, professional photographers and amateurs were exhibited; the curator of the first exhibition of artistic photo was Albes Fusha. The jury composed by Faruk Basha – producer, Gazmend Leka – painter, Leon Cika – photo artist, Nikolin Pici – photographer, gave the first prize to Artur Gorishti, the second prize to Albes Fusha, the third prize to Roland Tasho. The prize of the “Fotografia Art” magazine given by Besim Fusha was awarded to Armand Abazi. Every year, this prize would accompany the “Marubi” edition with an amazing correctness. A special contribution to this activity is given by Pirro Nace. “I appreciate this initiative of the National Gallery of Arts which encourages the artistic photography and I hope that year by year the level of this kind of photography will be raised and someday it will turn into a tradition” (Albes Fusha).

“Marubi 99” was organized on 27 March 1999 and for the thirst time it was announced “International”. The curator of the activity was Edi Muka. The participant exhibitors were 20 foreign authors with 33 works and 46 Albanian authors with 74 works. Since it was planned as an exhibition, not as a contest, there were only two prizes given by an international jury, composed by Mathias Harder (Germany), Albes Fusha – photo artist, Leon Cika – artistic photographer, Viktor Gjika – producer. The prize of “Fotografia Art” magazine was given to Zamir Marika with his work titled “Tregu prane Parlamentit – The market close to the Parliament”, while “Foto Kumi” awarded the encouraging prize to Altin Gagani ( photo camera).

“Marubi 99” is a new experience in the history of the perception of photography as art in Albania, which similar to other cultural-social events could not avoid the consequence of geopolitics and the creation of one of the saddest and hardest experiences of the Albanian people, the Kosovo case; however this is a courageous step and leaves space to its continuity”. Edi Muka.

Despite the threat of failure which the festival could not avoid due to insufficient time and financing problems, with the support of MCYS it was managed to publish the catalogue of works.

“Marubi 2000” was organized on 5 April 2000 and it was again an exhibition not a contest; Curator of the activity was Mr. Gezim Qendro. The jury made by Luan Mulliqi, Director of Arts’ Gallery in Prishtina, Gezim Qendro, Leon Cika and Albes Fusha. The prize of “Fotogrgafia Art” magazine this time was awarded to the photographer Alqi Golloshi with the work “Eklips 99”. “Italkumi” prize was awarded to Beti Kumi by the well known photographer Petrit Kumi. This activity had the participation of 53 Albanian authors and 9 foreigners with 72 photos. We emphasize that MCYS which was also co-author of this project, did not contribute to its financing.

“Marubi 2001” was organized on 10 March 2001 with the status of “Contest”, however still no financed by the MCYS. The National Gallery of Arts covered the honoraries for the prizes and the Jury with its own funds. The activity had no nominated Curator. The number of works that were introduced in this activity was 84 made by 43 Albanian authors and 10 by 6 foreign ones.

The jury, made by Gezim Erebara – producer, Mathias Harder and Artur Gorishti – actor/photographer, awards the first prize to Albes Fusha, the second prize to Jutta Benzenberg, third prize to Violeta Carku. The prize of “Fotografia Art” magazine was given to Admir Gjoka. “Italkumi” leaves the activity. “Marubi” started in memory of the big masters of the Albanian photography; however efforts always went on in order to put this most contemporary media of the century on its honored place along with other visual arts.

“Marubi 2002” started on 25 April 2002 and had complete commitment and right awareness regarding the previous experiences “exhibition or competition”, “selection or participation”. Despite the change of officials of the institution, thanks to a very good organization it was considered as the most successful edition of “Marubi” in years. It was noticed a big participation of students recently graduated from the Arts Academy, whose competition gave new breath to the activity, together with the yearly amateurs of this manifestation of the artistic photography. The jury composed by Alqi Golloshi, photographer, Emine Gorani, architect, Ilir Butka, producer, artist, announced as winner Zamir Marika, the second prize went to Fatmir Dardha, third prize Cvetan Gavrovski (Macedonia) and special prize to Philip Gostilov (Australia), the prize of “Fotografia Art” magazine was awarded to Eliano Kalemi. The Organizational Council of “Marubi 2002” made by Abaz Hado-chairman, Albes Fusha-curator, Gezim Panariti-coordinator, in addition to the participants of “Marubi 2002”, exhibited as well a selection of 100 works by the famous photographer of Korca, Kristaq Sotiri, and this was later on turned into a tradition of this contest. The number of works exhibited was 102 by artists, photographers and amateurs out of these 56 were Albanian authors and 8 foreigners, thus creating a bigger overview which would enable to make proper assessment of the art of photography in our country.

Considering the enrichment of the art of photography as a necessary contribution we do believe in the values that were experimented and which will be created by this art of the époque, otherwise called “Époque of photography” (Abaz Hado). The activity of the art of photography stands somewhere between professional and amateur photography, thus creating possibility for wide participation (Albes Fusha). “The exhibition of Sotiri`s photos in addition to the contest, made possible that the activity has a bigger margin of tastes, therefore also a more interested public. Kristaq Sotiri (1883-1970) comes to this activity as a master of the civilian photography in studio bringing as well a clear message for Albania, as part of the European civilization.

“This time “Marubi 2002” fixed the Albanian transition, but also the ambition that the photos are not only evidence of a selected reality, but evidence of an artistic reality as well” (Gezim Panariti)

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports gave full support to this activity and enabled the publishing of the catalogue.

“Fotokozmos” as representative of Kodak in Albania, supported this activity for the first time.

Last Edition Winners

First Prize: Zamir Marika, Albania

Second Prize: Fatmir Dardha, Albania

Third Prize: Cvetan Gavroski, FYROM

Art Photography: Eliano Kalemi, Albania

Special Prize:Philip Gostelow, Australia

https://web.archive.org/web/20100516175108/http://www.albaniaartinstitute.org/marubi2003/home.htm