“TEMPO” is the title of Jakup Ferri’s first solo exhibition, opened at the Center for Openness and Dialogue (COD). It presents a cohesive collection of works that span painting, textiles, and mosaic, weaving together fragments of everyday life and surrealism. The exhibition will be on view from September 10 to October 10, 2025.
Ferri’s creative world is inhabited by curious figures: musicians, athletes, children, animals, and hybrid creatures caught in dreamlike scenes. These compositions blur the line between reality and the artist’s imagination. Through drawings that appear simple, Ferri constructs psychologically and culturally complex landscapes, where the everyday naturally intertwines with the extraordinary. His visual language, both humorous and poetic, resembles the structure of a fable, where meaning lies not only in what is shown but also in how it is built and perceived.
Particularly striking are the paper mosaics, a series created from recycled packaging of various products, displayed along the corridors of COD. Ferri transforms industrial waste into small, vibrant pieces, breathing new life into discarded materials. These fragments, carefully cut and arranged, mimic stone mosaics while retaining the fragility of paper. This transformation, often hidden behind narrative images, invites the audience to come closer and observe more attentively.
Deeply rooted in the traditions of his homeland, Ferri often incorporates traditional embroidery and tapestry into his practice. In “TEMPO”, these elements are not merely decorative; they serve as visual and conceptual bridges between the past and the present. Abstract patterns intertwine with figurative representations and are displayed throughout the COD hall.
In the end, “TEMPO” is more than just a showcase of Ferri’s technical skills or imagination, it is both timely and timeless.
Jakup Ferri is a contemporary visual artist from Kosovo, born in 1981 in Pristina. He is known for his unique style that blends naïve art, folk traditions, and contemporary themes, often using mediums like drawings, embroidery, and installations. His work frequently explores identity, everyday life, and social issues, often with a playful or ironic tone. Ferri studied at the Academy of Arts in Pristina and later at the Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten in Amsterdam. He has exhibited internationally, including appearances at major art events like the Venice Biennale (notably in 2007 and again in 2022, where he represented Kosovo). His practice is marked by collaborations with local artisans and an interest in preserving traditional techniques while embedding them in modern narratives.
