“Behind the Wall, There Are Other Walls”, the exhibition by the artist from Kosovo Naim Spahiu, opened its doors at GOCAT Gallery as an invitation to confront the weight of past events and the need to look toward the future. Spahiu brings his art to Albania for the first time. The exhibition, which opened on November 7, will remain open until November 30, offering a wide artistic community the opportunity to engage. The timing of this opening, close to the anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall, is deliberate designed to provoke thought and address the metaphorical concept of the wall, not as a barrier, but as a challenge that must be overcome.
The cycle of works is quite unique and is presented in an immersive installation format after two years of research by Spahiu. He has imbued the materials, specifically truck body covers found in various locations, which have withstood the force of time, by transforming them into canvases. Each piece in the exhibition conveys a different emotion, yet all together they explore humanity’s relationship with time—how time leaves scars marked by events such as the Kosovo War, and how sometimes it binds us, making us forget that there is a present to live and a future to consider. Another distinguishing feature of the works is that each piece has something to reveal from every angle.
Spahiu states that this approach is intentional: “The traces of time are hidden both where there is light and where there is none. It is my choice to speak about them through the medium of art.” Reflecting on his life experience, the artist adds: “We, as beings, are swimmers. To succeed in any profession or sphere, one must be a good swimmer, regardless of life’s challenges. I see every individual as a swimmer in time, each moving in their own direction.”
Present at the exhibition opening, the artist from Kosovo Driton Hajredini did not hold back his positive comments about Naim’s exhibition. He particularly praised the success of the show and the role of GOCAT Gallery.
“There is an extraordinary harmony between the gallery space and Naim’s work, which I must say has impressed me greatly. The work itself is important, no doubt, but the space and the way it is displayed also matter. Here at GOCAT, the main idea and message Naim wanted to convey have been preserved in the best possible way,” said Driton Hajredini.
GOCAT Gallery is a gift from Mane Foundation to residents, tourists, art lovers, and artists alike. It is free for visitors who wish to experience quality moments immersed in contemporary art, as well as for artists who want to promote their work.
“Behind the Wall, There Are Other Walls” is the third exhibition to come to the capital for free, following “Visual Poetry on Social Photography”, which highlighted social injustices through the lenses of renowned international photographers like Paul Lowe, Fabrizio Bellomo, Seamus Murphy & P.J. Harvey, as well as Albanian photographers such as Burim Myftiu and Bevis Fusha.
