Moritz Geremus – Freedom – Joy in Labor – Political Transparency – Honor
Nika Volkova – Equally abandoned
Pim van der Heiden – Retrogeography of Enver Hoxha’s Statue’s Life

AND a new work by Ronald Schelfhout – Albania, things that were created in the eagle country

Unfortunately only the latter two made it into the documentation.

Visible in the background - the Albanian Flag next to Ronald's video on a deconstructed TV inside a wooden structure.

Retrogeography of Enver Hoxha’s Statue’s Life

Urban cleaning ladies improvise a place to sit and chat

Focusing on the current activity inside of the pyramid, an imaginary line dividing the front part from the back part of the building can be drawn. The back part of the building emits constant activity; being a big transmitter of popular television programs. In contrast, the front entrance of the building – introduced by a symmetrically organized park with stairs and dead fountains – is slatternly barricaded with random pieces of wood and metal plates; being totally closed for the outside world. Since the front part of the Pyramid has been abandoned, the condition of the structure started to run back in big steps. In only little time the white marble on the banks disappeared; immature graffiti is being employed all over; many windows are smashed and holes are closed in a poor looking manner. Asking Tirana’s inhabitants about the building, everybody agrees that the pyramid should be restored in its original form, open to the public in a way to not forget about the past. Top Channel journalist Alisa Mysliu to an American journalist about the pyramid: ”It’s part of us. Even communism, even the good things. It’s a part of our country. It’s part of our history. Have you destroyed everything in your country that brings you bad memories?” Sadly enough the authorities gave up on the pyramid last year, allowing the consummation of a passive destruction if not actively breaking it down.

The Pyramid: Inside

Who isn’t curious to know what’s the deal with that shadowy section under the wings of this dramatic piece of architecture? In an attempt to make my way inside I start to investigate the building from different angles. As I peek inside I notice the presence of a huge skeleton, most probably of a whale (perhaps a prehistoric specimen?). Where does this bone installation come from and how did it end up in an abandoned part of the pyramid? As far as I know neither the Adriatic Sea nor the Ionian Sea inhabits whales, but I do know that the Museum of Natural Sciences in Tirana have a collection of various dead sea creatures, including the biggest sea turtle ever found in Albania. Perchance they’re dealing with insufficient storage space and remembered an abandoned building in town with a potential to be used as a depot? Days later I discover life in the front part of the pyramid: a small dog is running around. A great sign I think, him probably being a stray dog who found a way in! Days later I encounter the same dog behind the west gate of the pyramid (padlocked from the outside). As I approach him to ask for a way in, he starts calling the guard, laying in the small red cabin at the gate. A door opens as I’m blown away by his hysterical yelling. He, however, stays flat on his bed. Returning several times learned me that they are there most of the time. If somebody would ask me what’s going on in the dark side of the pyramid, I’d answer that a hopeless duo is locked in there, waiting for the day when the pyramid will be subjected to radical change. Because that day will come.

West Gate with cabin for the guard

Big Beak

Entrance hall

Staircase down on the East side

Top floor of the pyramid as seen from closed off dome-window

May the rising double-headed eagle greet our presence soon again!

Kanuni është libri tradicional i ligjit në Shqipëri, besohet se vjen nga kohët më të hershme të ligjeve fisnore ilire të Epokës së Bronzit. Megjithatë, gjatë periudhës komuniste, ndikimi i Kanunit u ndrydh; po flinte, dhe urrejtja e vjetër mori hak pas rënies së komunizmit. Në Shqipërinë bashkëkohore ekziston një konflikt i vazhdueshëm ndërmjet Kanunit tradicional dhe ligjeve aktuale të shtetit…

The Kanun is the traditional law book of Albania, supposedly dating back to Illyrian tribal laws of the Bronze Age. However, during the communist period, the influence of the Kanun was suppressed; it slumbered, and old hatred was revenged after the fall of communism. In contemporary Albania there is a continuing conflict between the traditional Kanun and the current state laws… 

“Ditën kur ne do t’i besojmë plotësisht njëri-tjetrit, do të ketë paqe në tokë.” – L. Ron Hubbard(TM)

“On the day when we can fully trust each other, there will be peace on earth.” – L. Ron Hubbard(TM) 

Për shumë vjet ora në Shkodër nuk punonte, unë e shikoja çdo ditë dhe gjithmonë ishte e njejta orë. Një ditë vendosa të ngjitem atje lart dhe të ndryshoj atë. Ndoshta sepse ky gjest simbolik do të ndryshojë kohën përreth njerëzve.

For many years the clocktower in Shkodër didn’t work. I saw it every day and it always showed the same time. One day, I decided to go up and to change it. Maybe because this symbolic gesture will change the time around people. 

Instalimi që dokumenton dhe reflekton një performancë 5-ditore, ku artisti “shiste” mundësinë e të kënduarit të një kënge gjermane/austriake nga kultura e tij. Çdo këngë përfaqëson një “fenomen” për të përmirësuar kulturën shqiptare. A është ky një akt i shkëmbimit mes dy kulturave, apo është në lidhje me një kulturë të “shtypur” vlerat e saj mbi tjetrën?

Installation documenting and reflecting a 5-day perfor- mance, where the artist “sold” the possibility of singing a German/Austrian song from his own culture. Each song represents a new “phenomenon” to improve the Albanian culture. Is it an act of exchange between two cultures, or is it about one culture “pressing” its values onto the other?