Otherness | Misc. Projects of the Week

Otherness this week features two projects that create/reproduce installation environments that rely on the element of 'social participation'. The first one does so in the process of making the art piece and the second one in programming a performance. One is very hands on and the other technological programmed. Take a look!!

AERIAL MOSAIC OF JOHANNESBURG

by Gerhard Marx & Spier Architectural Arts

this large scale aerial image looks like a blown up photograph from a distance, but it is in fact a 56-panel sculptural mosaic weighing 3-tons, made from natural stone, red brick, ceramic

You can watch the process of making these pieces below:

Spier Architectural Arts at the 2013 FNB Joburg Art Fair from Spier Architectural Arts on Vimeo.

via

2212-2555

by Korakrit Arunanondchai

performance, two-channel video, flat screens, metal, wood, plastic, 

digital print on canvas, digital print on vinyl, fluorescent lights, plastic flowers.

You can watch the installation video below:

"2012-2555" by Korakrit Arunanondchai from Korakrit Arunanondchai on Vimeo.

via

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Burrneshat | The Sworn Virgins of Albania

Photographer Jill Peters traveled to Northern Albania to meet the “Sworn virgins” (Burrneshat) and capture a glimpse of their chosen life. 

‘‘ These women have decided to ignore their female identity and live as men in the Balkans. The decision to live as men is more related to gender roles in the Albanian culture rather than a statement of sexuality; these women live their lives appearing as men.

Sworn virgins have existed for centuries. According to tradition dating back to the 15th century developed out of the Kanun, a tribal code of law, tribal clans from the Balkans considered families without a male presence as pariahs. When blood feuds decimated all the men in a family, the only way to salvage their honor was for a woman to become the patriarch of the clan and start acting like a man.’’ via slate

Photo credit Jill Peters

tags: Kanun - Blood and Honour, The Forgiveness of Blood

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Featured Artist | Elizabeth Claffey @ZETA

Elizabeth M. Claffey's ‘‘Blessed Are Your Hands’’ 

is opening at Zeta Gallery on July 10, 2013 @7:30pm.

If you're in Tirana, don't miss it!!

The Art of Space Photography | Capturing The Beauty of Outer Space

**Creative Sunday Series

Edhe pse bukuria e hapësirës nuk është motivi kryesor për ta fotografuar atë​​, ajo është një prej derivateve më intrigues. Imazhet kozmike komunikojnë madhështinë e universit dhe nxisin kuriozitete thelbësore mbi çka mund të jetë atje. 

‘‘ Space presents a fantastic mystery to human life. Unfathomably large, with characteristics that defy our experience and understanding, the stars have perplexed and amazed humanity for our entire recorded history, and likely before. In the present, astrophysicists and astronomers are aggressively studying the universe in an attempt to solve critical scientific and philosophical questions. One of the primary tools for measurement and observation is imaging using cameras connected to powerful telescopes on Earth and in space. And although it's not the primary motivation for photographing space, beauty is one of the most intriguing byproducts. Images of space communicate the grandeur of the universe, and spark essential curiosities about what may be out there waiting for us once we make our way into the stars.’’

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Open Invitation | DokuPhoto Documentary Photography Workshop with Pep Bonet

via :DOKUFEST

DOKUPHOTO CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

DokuFest has launched the call for application for DokuPhoto Documentary Photography Workshop with Pep Bonet, to be held during this edition of the festival in Prizren from 17th until 25th of August.

DokuPhoto workshop will bring together regional documentary photographers who will be led by the co-founder of Noor Images Agency and award winning Spanish photographer Pep Bonet to create a visual story on Kosovo. The workshop will also include a one-day master class with renowned English photographer Andrew Testa. The selected photographers will be invited to Prizren for six intensive days of photographing and editing. The work produced will be shown in DokuFest and in exhibitions around the Balkans and beyond.

Who can apply?

The program is aimed at 10 professional documentary photographers from Kosovo, Albania, Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia.

What is covered?

DokuFest will cover the expense of travel to Prizren, the costs of accommodation and an allowance for daily expenses.

TO APPLY:

1: You should send a bio (maximum 300 words) explaining why would you like to attend this documentary photography workshop.

2: Personal documentary photography project with no more than 15 images and text explaining the project.

Applications should be sent to dokuphoto@dokufest.com

Deadline for application is 30 June 2013

Requirements:

- The workshop will be conducted in English, so the participants must have good command of English Language.

-Photographers should have their own photography and editing equipment.

About the tutors:

PEP BONET

Pep Bonet (Mallorca, 1974) is an award-winning photographer who has traveled extensively capturing profound moments that represent the unbalanced world in which we live. His long-term projects focus on African issues, with his most well known project being “Faith in Chaos”, a photo essay on the aftermath of the war in Sierra Leone. His ongoing work around the globe on HIV/Aids has led to several photography books and many exhibitions worldwide. His more recent work includes a long-term reportage on the rock 'n roll band Motörhead.

Pep’s work has been recognized with many industry awards. Among international prizes and grants include the World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass with his work “Faith in Chaos” in 2002; the Kodak Young Photographer of the Year in 2003 at the festival Visa pour l`image; the Luchetta Foundation in Trieste nomination for the best press photographer of the year in 2004; W. Eugene Smith Humanistic Grant in Photography in 2005; second prize in the World Press Photo contest in the Sports category; second World Press Photo Award for his work “Forced Identity’’ in 2009 and first prize on the 2013 World Press Photo – Online Short with his work ‘‘Into the Shadows’’.

Bonet is a founding member of the photo agency Noor. He frequently lectures on photography and conducts workshops.

For more information visit Pep Bonet and his work at Noor. 

ANDREW TESTA

Born in London, UK, Andrew Testa began his photographic career in 1992, working as a freelance for The Guardian and The Observer. Throughout the decade, he documented the growing Environmental Protest Movement in Britain and in 1999, Testa shifted his attention to international current affairs covering the war in Kosovo. Later that same year, he moved to the Balkans to cover events throughout Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East.

Testa's photographs and stories have been published in various prestigious publications such as Newsweek, Stern, Geo, Paris Match, Time, Der Spiegel, The Sunday Times Magazine, Mother Jones among many others. Today, he is a regular contributor to The New York Times, The Guardian and The Observer.

His work has won many awards including three World Press Photo Awards. In 1997, he was named News Photographer of the Year from the One World Media Awards. He has twice been named photojournalist of the year by Amnesty International, in 1999 for his coverage of the war in Kosovo and in 2007 for his work on acid attacks in Bangladesh. In 2006 he was awarded a Getty Grant for Editorial photography for his work in Kosovo. He has also won awards from Pictures of the Year (2001, 2004 & 2005), the NPPA Best of Photojournalism (2006 & 2008). He is represented by Panos Pictures.

For more information visit Andrew Testa:

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HAPET KONKURSI PËR DOKUPHOTO 

DokuFest ka hapur konkursin e Punëtorisë së Fotografisë Dokumentare DokuPhoto me fotografin Pep Bonet, i cili do të mbahet këtë edicion të festivalit në Prizren nga data 17 – 25 gusht. 

Punëtoria DokuPhoto do të mbledh fotografët dokumentar nga regjioni të cilët do të udhëzohen nga bashkëthemeluesi i agjencisë Noor Images dhe fituesi i shumë çmimeve për fotografi Pep Bonet, për të krijuar një storie vizuele për Kosovën. Poashtu, punëtoria do të përfshijë një master klasë një ditore me fotografin e njohur anglez Andrew Testa. Fotografët e përzgjedhur do të ftohen në Prizren për gjashtë ditë intenzive të fotografimit dhe editimit. Puna e prodhuar në punëtori do të tregohet në DokuFest dhe në ekspozita në Ballkan dhe më gjerë.

Kush mund të aplikoj?

Programi është i hapur për 10 fotografë dokumentar profesional nga Kosova, Shqipëria, Maqedonia, Serbia, Mali i Zi, Kroacia, Bosnje dhe Hercegovina dhe Sllovenia.

Çfarë është e mbuluar?

DokuFest do të mbulojë shpenzimet e udhëtimit në Prizren, akomodimin dhe një shumë për shpenzimet ditore.

PËR TË APLIKUAR:

1: Dërgoni një letër (jo më të gjatë se 300 fjalë), ku spjegoni arsyen pse doni të merrni pjesë në këtë punëtori të fotografisë dokumentare.

2: Një projekt personal të fotografisë dokumentare me jo më shumë se 15 imazhe dhe tekst i cili spjegon projektin.

Aplikimet i dërgoni në adresën dokuphoto@dokufest.com

Afati i fundit për aplikim është 30 qershor 2013

Kërkesat:

-Punëtoria do të mbahet në gjuhën angleze, kështu që pjesëmarrësit duhet të kenë zotërim të mirë të kësaj gjuhe.

-Pjesëmarësit duhet të kenë paisjet e tyre për fotografim dhe edititim.

Rreth tutorëve:

PEP BONET

Pep Bonet (Mallorca, 1974) është një fotograf fitues i shumë çmimeve i cili ka udhëtuar për të kapur momente të cilat tregojnë botën e çekuilibruar në të cilën jetojmë. Projektet e tija afatgjate fokusohen në çështjet e Afrikës dhe projekti i tij më i njohur është “Faith in Chaos” (Besimi në kaos), një foto ese mbi pasojat e luftës në Sierra Leone. Me punën e tij rreth botës për HIV/Aids ai ka publikuar disa libra të fotografisë dhe ka marrë pjesë në shumë ekspozita. Puna e tij e fundit përfshin një reportazh afatgjatë mbi grupin rok n’roll Motörhead.

Puna e Bonet është shpërblyer me shumë çmime. Mes tyre bëjnë pjesë World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass me punën e tij “Faith in Chaos” në vitin 2002; Fotografi i vitit në Kodak Young Photographer në vitin 2003 në festivalin Visa pour l`image; nominimi për Luchetta Foundation in Trieste për fotoreporterin më të mirë në vitin 2004; Grantin e W. Eugene Smith Humanistic në fotografi në vitin 2005; vendin e dytë në World Press Photo në kategorinë e sportit në vitin 2007; vendin e dytë në World Press Photo me punën e tij “Forced Identity” në vitin 2009; dhe vendin e parë në çmimin World Press Photo – Online Short me punën e tij “Into the Shadows” në vitin 2013.

Bonet është një nga themeluesit e agjencisë së fotografisë Noor. Ai shpesh ligjeron në punëtori të ndryshme për fotografi.

Për më shumë informata vizitoni Pep Bonet dhe punën e tij tek Noor.

ANDREW TESTA

I lindur në Londër, Andrew Testa filloi karrierën e tij fotografike në vitin 1992, duke punuar si fotograf i pavarur për The Guardian dhe The Observer. Gjatë gjithë dekadës, ai dokumentoi levizjën në rritje për protestën për ambientin në Angli ndërsa në vitin 1999, Testa drejtoi vëmendjen e tij në çështjet aktuale ndërkombëtare duke e mbuluar luftën në Kosovë. Në të njejtin vit, ai u zhvendos në Ballkan për të mbuluar ngjarje në të gjithë Evropën Lindore, Azinë Qendrore dhe Lindjen e Mesme.

Storiet e fotografisë së Testës janë publikuar në botime të ndryshme prestigjioze si Newsweek, Stern, Geo, Paris Match, Time, Der Spiegel, The Sunday Times Magazine, Mother Jones, në mesin e shumë të tjerave. Sot, ai është një kontribues i rregullt për The New York Times, The Guardian dhe The Observer.

Me punën e tij, test aka fituar shumë çmime përfshirë tre çmime World Press Photo. Në vitin 1997, ai është emëruar si fotoreporteri i vitit nga One World Media Awards. Ai ka qenë dy herë i emëruar si fotoreporteri i vitit nga by Amnesty International, në vitin 1999 për mbulimin e luftës në Kosovë dhe në vitin 2007 për punën e tij mbi sulmet e acidit në Banglladesh. Në vitin 2006 ai ka fituar çmimin Getty Grant për punën e tij në Kosovë. Ai poashtu ka fituar çmime nga Pictures of the Year (2001, 2004 & 2005), NPPA Best of Photojournalism (2006 & 2008). Ai është i përfaqësuar nga Panos Pictures.

Për më shumë vizitoni Andrew Testa:

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World's Largest Participatory Art Project | Inside Out by JR

French artist JR returns with another large format city streets "photography" (pasting) project. This time he has created the largest participatory art project with the potential to change the world.

INSIDE OUT is giving everyone the opportunity to share their portrait and make a statement for what they stand for. It is a global platform for people to share their untold stories and transform messages of personal identity into works of public art. Over 130,000 posters have been sent to more than 108 countries since March 2011.

Check out The Movie | INSIDE OUT PROJECT trailer.

photo credit

Want to Participate?

Gather 5 or more people around a same statement, submit the portraits, the organizers will print them as posters and send them to you so you can create and coordinate an exhibit together by pasting them in your community! 

For more info on organizing a Group Action read here.

Check out the Gallery of the best ones so far here.

JR is currently in NYC pasting large portraits in Time Square:

photo credit NYT

“ Before he arrived in New York, where, in addition to Times Square, he has taken his mobile photo booths to the Bronx, Brooklyn and Staten Island, he visited cities on nearly every continent.” (via NYT)

*****

Artisti francez JR kthehet me një tjetër "projekt fotografik" portretesh të mëdha të ngjitura nëpër qytet.  Këtë herë ai ka krijuar veprën artistike me pjesëmarrjen më të madhe në botë dhe potencial për ndryshim.

INSIDE OUT i jep të gjithëve mundësinë e publikimit të portretit të tyre si një deklaratë për atë çka besojnë dhe qëndrojnë. Kjo është një platformë globale ku njerëzit mund të ndajnë historitë e tyre të pathëna dhe të transformojnë mesazhe të identitetit personal në vepra të artit publik. Mbi 130,000 postera janë dërguar në më shumë se 108 vende që nga Marsi 2011.

Hidhini një sy trailer-it The Movie | INSIDE OUT PROJECT.

photo credit

Dëshironi të merrni pjesë?

Mblidhni 5 ose më shumë persona rreth një deklarate të përpashkët dhe dërgoni portretet e secilit. Organizatorët do ti printojnë ato si postera dhe do tua dërgojnë mbrapsht që të keni mundësinë të krijoni dhe të koordinoni një ekspozitë së bashku duke i ngjitur ato në komunitetin tuaj!

Për më shumë informacion mbi organizimin e Grupit të Veprimit lexoni këtu.

Hidhini një sy Galerisë së projekteve më të mira këtu.

JR tani është në NYC duke ngjitur portrete në Time Square:

“ Para se të mbërrinte në New York, ku, përveç Times Square, ai e ka ndalur furgonin e tij (të pajisur me kabinë fotografike/printer) edhe në Bronx, Brooklyn e Staten Island, JR ka vizituar qytete në pothuajse çdo kontinent.” (via NYT)

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Featured Project | Photographing the City as a 2D Game

**Creative Sunday Series 

photo by Christian Åslund

Stockholm-based photographer Christian Åslund has shot a series of photos as a tribute to old school 2D video games with the streets of Hong Kong in the background. The work is part of an ad campaign for shoe brand Jim Rickey. Shot from serious heights with a tele-lens and positioning people flat on streets, sidewalks or roofs of the city, the artist creates new ways of viewing and exploring the spatiality of city elements and its environment. (via)

photo by Christian Åslund

photo by Christian Åslund

For more photos check out his website.

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The Invisible Artist | Disappearing Act

Wanna disappear? See how Liu Bolin, the invisible artist, does it by camouflaging and blending in with the surroundings. It is an interesting project that shifts the spatial hierarchy of the body and the city. It starts to negotiate the spatial intimacy occupied by the human body and public visibility. We become what we see. Only if we stay still.

Projecting Into Snow | Digital Shrapnel

**Creative Sunday Series

Winter weather can produce some amazing digital effects. 

via

Photographer Brian Maffitt has captured snowstorm Nemo on a completely different specter. 

"Producing magnificent images that look like something out of a science fiction movie or a DNA lab. 

“It became a process that felt very much like painting, where I tried to match the length of the depressed shutter with the speed and density of the snow." 

“Too much snow and too long an exposure would blow out the scene.”

“This is the only time I’ve captured a ‘digital’ result using purely analog means,” says Maffitt."

Check out the video below.
Read the full article on wired.

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Animated GIFs | Graphic Images Brought To Life

**Creative Sunday Series

GIFs janë një nga formatet më të vjetra imazhesh të përdorura në internet. Gjatë gjithë historisë së tyre, ato kanë shërbyer një larmi të madhe qëllimesh, nga funksionalja tek argëtuesja. Ky episod i Off Book tregon historinë e tyre, eksploron vatrën e krijimtarisë GIF në Tumblr  dhe paraqet dy ekipe artistësh që po zhvillojnë formularin GIF për përvoja të reja e mjaft të fuqishme vizuale.

GIFs are one of the oldest image formats used on the web. Throughout their history, they have served a huge variety of purposes, from functional to entertainment. In this episode of Off Book, we chart their history, explore the hotbed of GIF creativity on Tumblr, and talk to two teams of GIF artists who are evolving the form into powerful new visual experiences. (via PBS)

Watch Animated GIFs on PBS. See more from Off Book.

Tags: Graphic Design, Color, Glitch Art 

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Architizer's Top 10 Architecture GIFs of 2012

Animated Tower

Tunnel Vision

Asobi

Jewelry in Motion 

"Franked" by Emily Fischer

Per listen e plote vizitoni faqen e Architizer.

For the complete list visit Architizer.

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Featured Artist | Eni Turkeshi

ENI TURKESHI

Visual Artist 

[shqip]

Imagjinata eshte dicka qe na mundeson largimin (sado te perkohshem) nga jeta e perditshme dhe krijimin e boteve fiktive, te cilat jo vetem qe i ndezim por edhe mund ti zbehim vete per t'iu rikthyer realitetit mondan. Disa prej nesh e perdorin kete eksperience per te lekundur, levizur apo dhe prishur kufizimet qe hasim cdo dite. Por jane artistet ata qe e shnderrojne kete fantazi ne nje pasion te vertete kreativ, sensivitet kulturor dhe produktivitet fizik nepermjet punes se tyre. 

Eni Turkeshi eshte nje prej tyre. Me poshte mund te lexoni me shume per te dhe punen e saj artistike.

alternative photography © All images belong to Eni Turkeshi

Kur dhe si u shfaq ky pasion tek ju?

Ka egzistuar gjithnje tek une sado qe jo tere kohes isha koshiente per te. Sidoqofte koha qe nisa ta ndjej se doja te merresha me te ka qene nga fundi i vitit 2006.

Si e shihni veten? 

Me pare si fotografe, tashme si visual artist. E gjej me te plote kete term pasi me duket se perfshin shume mediume te cilat une perdor momentalisht ose qe dua te provoj se shpejti per te paraqitur punen time.

Puna juaj ka nje ndjeshmeri, nje sensitivitet gati ‘psychedelic’. Nje kombinim mjaft i suksesshem fantazie, personaliteti shpirteror dhe realiteti. Mund te na thoni dicka me shume mbi te?

Eshte e vertete me terheqin elementet psikedelike. I perdor njefaresoj sipas menyres sime ato dhe shume elemente te tjere qe ndjej se rrisin ekspresivitetin e puneve te mia. Ne pergjithesi une i mas punet ndonese jo gjithnje ne menyre koshiente duke munduar te perceptoj graden e ndjesise qe me percon secila. Sado qe keto grade variohen ne menyre te vetedijshme nga une per ti dhene nuanca alternative ne momentin e krijimit te imazhit , pergjithesisht menyra e kombinimit te elementeve te ndryshem ne punet e mia, eshte kryesisht spontane dhe refleksive e bazuar mbi ndjenjat dhe menyren sesi i shoh une gjerat.

Cili imazh apo projekt eshte me i vecante per ju? Pse?

E kam te veshtire te zgjedh, apo te preferoj nje projekt te vecante timin. Secili prej tyre eshte krijuar ne faza te vecanta te jetes dhe krijmtarise sime, si te tilla secila ka nje vlere guri kilometrik ne gjithe kete ecuri e nuk mund te terheq njerin prej tyre . Ne pergjithesi jam e prirur te pelqej cdo projekt qe ka lidhje me shpjegimin e botes, psikologjise humane dhe asaj te enderrave.

hand coloring of b&w gelatin silver print
© All images belong to Eni Turkeshi

Mund ta krahasoni menyren si e shihni boten ne jeten e perditshme dhe si e shihni ate ne punen tuaj? Cfare frymezon ju dhe punen tuaj?

Mund te them se jam me idealiste, enderrimtare po aq sa dhe me moskokecarese ne punet e mia sesa ne realitet. Gjerat qe me frymezojne jane te ndryshme dhe pothuajse perhere te ndryshueshme.

Ku e gjeni kete inspirim? 

Inspirimin e gjej kryesisht tek emocionet, kujtimet, njerez, vendet ku shkoj, kujtimet si dhe gjera te tjera per te cilat krijoj nje afeksion momental. Emocionet negative gjithashtu shpesh here me shume se pozitivet megjithese jo detyrimisht, me ndikojne dhe me shtyjne te krijoj.

Online nuk futem asnjehere me qellim inspirimi. Me pelqen te endem online dhe te 'perplasem' ne dicka qe do te me shtange e impresionoje por ama jo te kerkoj enkas per te.

Cfare eshte gjeja me e preferuar qe beni online? Po aty ku jetoni?

Online me pelqen te shikoj apo lexoj faqe kreative frymezuese . Ne jeten reale me pelqen te eci ne natyre sidomos kur ajri ka nje arome shpuese nga shiu i sapo rene, te kercej, te shikoj filma pa fund, te lexoj, te takohem e te kaloj kohe me njerez qe i kam per zemer, te zbavis njerez kur jam edhe vete ne forme, dhe e fundit por jo me pak e rendesishmja; te krijoj e te ndjej nervin pickues te se parit te se bukures ose te krijimit te saj nepermjet menyres sime.

Cfare do ti rekomandoni nje personi qe viziton vendin apo qytetin tuaj per here te pare?

Te vizitoje vendet jo shume popullore, te mundohet te bredhe neper te gjitha lagjet e tij. Te mos behet pre e trendeve turistike. Te kete shpirt kerkues dhe te hapur ndaj surprizave.

Po ju, kur vizitoni nje qytet te ri?

Kam nje dobesi per rrugicat e ngushta dhe te fshehura ne pergjithesi. Kur jam ne qytete qe i shoh per here te pare ose jo, i preferoj ti zbuloj keto rrugica pak e nga pak. Me pelqen gjithashtu te eci neper qytet pa e patur gjithnje idene se ku po shkoj, thjesht e shtyre nga intuita apo preferenca ime e momentit per cdo gje qe zbuloj. Po ashtu te zbuloj me mijera ateliere e workshop arti pak te ditur eshte shume me intriguese dhe e pelqyeshme per mua se sa te vizitoj muzeumet klasike.

mixed media 
© All images belong to Eni Turkeshi

Sipas mendimit tuaj, si eshte entuziazmi, vleresimi dhe tregu artistik ne Shqiperi? 

Mendoj se ne Shqiperi entuziazmi eshte gjeja me e cilter qe arti shqiptar zoteron per momentin. Ka shume artiste jo shume te njohur apo te vleresuar; perkushtimi, krijmtaria, eksperimentet e te cileve te japin shprese e te falin kenaqesi vizuale. Por kjo ciltersi e entuziazmit ndrydhet mjaft per shkak te vetive monopoliste te vleresimit te artit, gje qe sjell ne shumicen e rasteve nje mungese llojshmerie ne artin shqiptar. Nese do te kapercehen keto monopolizime te artit mendoj se do te kemi me shume krijmtari te mirefillte qe do te dale ne pah.

Keni pasur bashkepunime me artiste shqiptare deri tani?

Bashkepunime te mirefillta jo, per te mos lene pa permendur bashkepunimet me miq te mij artiste shqiptare me te cilet kemi ndare disa sesione fotografike spontane.

Si do ti krahasoni bashkepunimet me artistet shqiptare dhe ata te huaj?

Nuk besoj se do te perbenin ndonje ndryshim te madh. Ndryshimin e bejne individet, jo kombesite. Pra dua te them se cdo artist ka menyra te ndryshme perceptimi dhe eshte kenaqesi apo sfide e ndryshme te bashkepunosh me secilin prej tyre.

Puna juaj eshte shfaqur dhe publikuar edhe jashte vendit. Si krahasohet pritja e kesaj pune jashte me ate ne vend?

Jashte vendit per momentin mund te them se me jane dhene me shume mundesi publikimi dhe interesi ka qene me i larte. Mendoj se eshte ceshtje mundesish te perhapjes se ideve ashtu sic eshte dhe ceshtje preferencash. Ne Shqiperi ende nuk mund te them se te gjitha llojet e arteve vizuale jane njesoj te vleresuara dhe perkrahura nga shume. Jashte ka me shume llojshmeri stilesh, largpamesi idesh dhe guxim per te perqafuar mendime te reja. Po ashtu dhe numri shume me i madh i revistave, blogjeve, platformave online te artit ku puna ime eshte publikuar eshte shume me i madh jashte.

digital mixed media © All images belong to Eni Turkeshi

Puna juaj eshte me shume dixhitale apo jo? Jeni marre apo keni eksperimentuar me menyra te ndryshme printimi?

Puna ime nuk eshte vetem dixhitale. Une punoj si me analogen edhe me dixhitalen. Kam eksperimentuar me menyra te ndryshme printimi si ato te vjetrat nga shekulli i 19te dhe kohet e fundit duke perfituar dhe nga frymezimi qe mixed media me jep, kam bere disa printime ku kam perzier mediume te ndryshme artistike.

Pervec prezences vizuale, fotove i shtohet dhe elementi fizik. Mendoni se puna humbet dicka apo fuqizohet me shume?

Sipas meje fuqizohet. Por kjo varet sesa doni ju ta vini ne pah ate ne iks projekt.

Me cfare po merreni tani?

Kam ne plan dhe nder duar disa projekte dixhitale, analoge dhe mixed media. Nuk dua te shfaq me shume per momentin per te mos e lene macen te vdese nga kurioziteti. ☻

Kur do ti jepet mundesia publikut ti shohi?

Disa prej tyre do te publikohen se shpejti online, te tjerat do te marrin me shume kohe dhe nuk do te jene vetem online.

Ku mund ta shohim punen tuaj online?

Ne linqet e meposhtme:

Website 

Facebook 

Behance

Blog 

Flickr 

Vanitas © All images belong to Eni Turkeshi

ENI TURKESHI

Visual Artist 

[english] 

Imagination is something that allows us to escape daily life (however temporary) and create fictional worlds, which not only we can bring into light but also fade them away to return to our mundane reality. Some of us use this experience to challenge, move or even break the limitations we face every day. The artists are the ones who actually turn this fantasy into a genuine creative passion, cultural sensitivity and physical productivity through their work. 

Eni Turkeshi is one of them. Here’s a little bit about her and the stunning work she produces.

analogue multiple exposure © All images belong to Eni Turkeshi

When and how did you realize this passion in you?

It has always been in me, even though I wasn’t always aware of it. However, I began to feel I wanted to further pursue it towards the end of 2006.

How do you see yourself?

At the beginning I saw myself as a photographer, now as a visual artist. I find the latter to be a more comprehensive term, because it includes various mediums I use or will soon try out in order to display my work.

Your work has an awereness, a sensitivity almost 'psychedelic'. A very successful combination of fantasy, spiritual personality and reality. Can you tell us something more about it?

It is true that I am drawn to psychedelic elements. I use them my own way to enhance the expressiveness of the artwork. In general, I assess my work somewhat unknowingly, by attempting to distinguish the degree of feeling each piece conveys. Although I consciously change the degrees so I can get alternative nuances when the image is created, the way I combine different elements in my work is largely spontaneous and instinctive, based on how I see and feel things.

What image or project is special to you? Why?

I find it difficult to choose or favor a special project of mine. Each of them is created in specific stages of my life and creativity; and as such, each is a precious milestone of my journey and I cannot draw attention to only one. In general, I am inclined to like projects that relate to understanding the world, human psychology and dreams.

experimental © All images belong to Eni Turkeshi

Can you describe the way you see the world in your daily life and your work? What inspires you and your work?

I can say that I am more idealistic, dreamy and carefree in my work than in real life. I am inspired by many things and they’re almost always changing.

Where do you find this inpiration? 

I find inspiration mainly from emotions, memories, people, places I visit, souvenirs and other things, for which I hold a momentous affection. Negative emotions also stimulate and push me to create, often more so than the positive ones, though not necessarily.

I never go online to find inspiration. I like to roam online and ‘bump’ into something that will impress and fascinate me, but not to purposely look for it.

What is your favorite thing to do online? What about where you live?

Online I like to browse and read inspiring creative sites.

In real life I like nature walks, especially when the air has a piercing scent from the newly fallen rain. I like to dance, watch endless movies, read, meet up and spend time with people I care about, entertain when I feel like it. Last but not least, I like to create and feel that penetrating grit of envisioning beauty or its conception my own way.

What would you reccommend someone who visits your city for the first time?

To visit not-so popular places and wander around all its neighborhoods. Not to become prey to tourism trends. To have a curious mind and be open to surprises.

What about you when visiting a new city?

I have a weakness for narrow and hidden alleyways in general. Whenever I am in a city for the first time or not, I prefer to discover these alleyways little by little. I also like to wander around without having any idea where I am going, guided just by my intuition or the preference of the moment for everything that I discover. Also, stumbling upon thousands of little known art studios and shops is much more intriguing and enjoyable for me than visiting classical museums.

stage portraiture © All images belong to Eni Turkeshi

In your opinion, how is the enthusiasm, the appreciation and the artistic market in Albania?

I think that enthusiasm in Albania is the most candid asset of Albanian art at the moment. There are too many not so well-known or appreciated artists; whose commitments, creativity and experiments give hope and provide visual pleasure. But this honesty of enthusiasm is strained enough times by monopolistic art assessments, which in many cases has lead to a lack of variety in Albanian art. If we were to overcome these art monopolies, then I think a more genuine creativity will emerge.

Have you had collaborations with Albanian artists thus far?

Not original collaborations per se, but I’d like to mention partnerships I’ve had with my Albanian artist friends with whom I have shared several spontaneous photo sessions.

How would you compare working with the Albanian and foreign artists?

I don’t believe it would be that different. It is the individuals that make a difference, not nationalities. I’d like to say that each artist has its own way of perceiving things, and it is a distinctive kind of fun or challenge to collaborate with each one of them.

Your work has been exhibited and published abroad. How does international reception compare to the Albanian one?  

At this moment, I can say that I’ve had more chances to showcase my work abroad where the interest has been greater. I think it’s a matter of opportunity in spreading ideas as well as an issue of preference. In Albania, I cannot say that all genres of visual art are equally valued and supported by many. Abroad there is more diversity of styles, foresight and courage to embrace new ideas. Also, the number of magazines, blogs, online art platforms that exist and have published my work is much larger.

inspired by movies © All images belong to Eni Turkeshi

Your work is mostly digital, right? Have used or experimented with printing at all?

My work is not just digital. I do both analog and digital projects. I have experimented with different printing techniques such as the old ones from the 19^th century. Also recently, I have been taking advantage of my inspiration from mixed media, to make some prints using various mediums.

Do you think a physical component, such as printing, removes something from the work or strengthens it more?

In my opinion it strengthens the work. But it depends on how you want to identify it on a certain project.

What are you working on at the moment?

I am currently working on a few digital, analogue and mixed media projects. I don’t want to reveal more at this moment and let the cat out of the bag. ☻

When will the public be able to see it?

A few of them will be published online soon, others will take a bit longer but they won’t be just online.

nuvoloso © All images belong to Eni Turkeshi

Where can we see your work online? 

In the links below:

Website 

Facebook 

Behance

Blog 

Flickr 

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