Flutura Preka & Besnik Haxhillari
(The Two Gullivers)
THE TWO GULLIVERS, Flutura Preka and Besnik Haxhillari, have been working together as an artistic duo since 1998 under the name The Two Gullivers devoted to performance art. The concept of GULLIVER, inspired by Jonathan Swift’s fable, involves the idea of travel, emigration, displacement as an integral part of the work. They are the first artist couple and the first performance artists in Albanian art. Their performative and interdisciplinary approach touches on identity research and rapport with the other. Their works are developed in a dialogical way and arise from a composite multiple, identity, resulting from a constant negotiation. They realize exhibitions / events where installation works are animated by the presence, by their performance and by the interaction of the public. Their art is a platform of exchange and multiple dialogue.
Born in Albania, the couple has studied fine arts in Tirana, Lausanne, Berlin and in Montreal where they have recently completed their PhDs in studies and practices of arts at UQAM. They exhibited their performative work at the Venice Biennale (1999); After The Wall at Kunstmuseum Bonn, Hamburger Bahnhof Berlin, Ludwig Stiftug Vienna, (1999-2000); National Art Gallery, Tirana (1998, 2003); at the Beijing Biennale (2005); VIVA Art Action (2006, 2010) in Montreal; Leonard & Bina Ellen Gallery, Montreal (2013) ; 32nd International Symposium on Contemporary Art in Baie-Saint-Paul (QC); the Musée national des Beaux arts du Québec (MNBAQ) in 2016; They were part of Installation art in the new Millennium (2003), East Art Map (2006), Marina Abramovic: the Artist is Present (2010). Besnik Haxhillari is professor in the Department of Philosophy and Arts at Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR). He is interested in the process of creation and the genetics of the art of performance through preparatory drawings. Flutura Preka has taught at Fine Arts Faculty of University of Arts Tirana, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, (UQTR). She is member of the groupe of research in art URAV (UQTR). Her research focuses on re-enactment issues in performance and contemporary art. The Two Gullivers have coined the new word CONFÉRMANCE for their conferences accompanied with performances and have lectured/performed at Sorbonne Nouvelle-Paris 3 ; McGill University in Montréal ; I.U.A.V. Venice University ; SUNY College at Old Westbury, New York ; Aix-Marseille Université ; [MAC] Musée d’Art Contemporain, Marseille ; Université du Québec à Montréal ; Tanzquartier, Vienna ; Neuer Berliner Kunstverein, Berlin ; Fine Arts Faculty of University of Arts, Tirana.
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