The Gallery of Contemporary Art in Tirana (GOCAT) has opened its latest exhibition, “Abito Mari”, by the well-known Italian artist Fabrizio Bellomo. This solo exhibition by the multidisciplinary artist was curated by Elton Koritari and Ardian Isufi and will be open at the GOCAT Gallery from June 4th to July 12th.
“Abito Mari” invites visitors to discover the history and culture of the Mediterranean. The exhibition focuses on the elements that Italy and Albania share, especially the connections between the regions of Puglia, Calabria, and Albania. Through videos, installations, and photographs created over the past twenty years, Bellomo presents a reflection of these ties. According to him, inspiration stems from his Calabrian roots, where in the rhythm of everyday life, social structure, urban design, and architecture, he feels a deep connection between the two countries that experience parallel histories and experiences.
Some of the works exhibited are: “Nziembru”, a carpet created through a collective creative process, initially started from a design made by the artist’s mother. The work includes the element “The Unfinished”, which is always present. The tapestry is made using a traditional Calabrian embroidery technique and represents the unfinished buildings often seen in Calabria. This element, according to the artist, is “the last attempt at resistance against another culture, that of possibility.”
“Villaggio Cavaturlli”, another work based on a decade-long research into abandoned quarries in the Italian city of Puglia. The work invites a rethinking of existing stone extraction practices. Through a collage of photographs taken over the years, unfinished spaces are viewed from a new perspective, not as places to be reused, but as complete architectural structures. This project is still ongoing.
“Vegla bën ustain” a video related to the dynamics of the city of Tirana and the culture of manual laborers. The video is displayed on a wall made of blocks installed inside the gallery; on one side the video is shown, while on the other side a jackhammer remains suspended. In this video, the artist himself is not present; instead, a worker is invited to be the performer. He carves the popular phrase “Vegla bën ustain” into one of the walls of the Customs Office in Tirana in 2015. This phrase, by being engraved, becomes symbolic of the tangible reality of workers waiting for an opportunity to materialize their labor.
“Study on Rural Architectures of Puglia, Part 1”, a study on rural architecture in a specific area of Puglia, which the artist considers less affected by the modernity of our time. Many of these areas are currently undergoing renovation to be turned into tourist accommodation spaces.
Other works exhibited include: “Ksamil”, a mural from Saranda depicting buildings that, even after being demolished for being illegal constructions, are still inhabited by some citizens, and “Concrete Games”, a site-specific installation, which in 2015 the artist placed at the roundabout of Sheshi Shqiponja where workers, while waiting for an opportunity, spend time playing mill games. In the installation of this work at the GOCAT Gallery, the artist gives a different meaning to this game, but still remains within the concept of capitalism.
The exhibition “Abito Mari” is not only an individual artistic project, but also a collaboration with artisans and the local community. The language used in Bellomo’s works is a reflection of the relationship between the individual and the surrounding environment. Precisely this interaction questions official and mass narratives, bringing to light the everyday dynamics of marginalized groups.
