The doors have opened to the latest exhibition, Unidentified False Objects (U.F.O), at Tirana’s largest contemporary art gallery, GOCAT, by Mane Foundation. This unique exhibition, bearing the signature of the artist Ardian Isufi, is intentionally hosted at GOCAT and will remain open until February 2025.

Located in the Pyramid of Tirana, one of the capital’s most iconic spaces, the gallery adds weight to the images, objects, and artifacts that emerge from the past, addressing the ideology of the communist system, propaganda, manipulations, and distortions of that era, as well as the socio-absurd situations that accompanied Albania’s transitional period— all centered around the human experience.

At the inauguration, amidst art enthusiasts, public figures, and numerous artists, Ardian Isufi introduced his work as a personal effort to “bring and represent a radical and political art that stimulates reflective thinking on social and urban issues, between utopias and dystopias.”

The Artistic Director of GOCAT, Ena Bulku, praised the exhibition as a multidimensional showcase where the public can interact with each piece. “It’s a turning point where the past meets the present, leaving questions for the future,” she emphasized.

The exhibition’s curator, Elton Koritari, shared an interesting detail about U.F.O. “This is a site-specific exhibition, created for GOCAT gallery. Even those works that had a prior journey have been modified and transformed to adapt to this gallery,” Koritari explained.

The exhibition promises a journey that begins with a bunker from the village of Lin in Pogradec. Unlike the thousands of bunkers from the communist period, this one has been transformed into a miniature Orthodox church. As visitors progress, they see an aircraft fuel tank repurposed into drinking water reservoirs. The journey includes other intriguing stops, such as videos, installations, and more, addressing critical issues such as the preservation of historical heritage, changes in the urban landscape, and geo-cultural spaces. The adventure is free of charge for all.

GOCAT stands as an open space for all those interested in art and for artists seeking to promote their work.