If you are travelling to the Albanian riviera this summer, there is one place you must be sure to stop off at. The Hotel Picasso in Radhime, Vlore is not just a normal hotel because within its perimeter lies an art space called Galeria e Bregdetit that brings visitors a unique opportunity to explore the Albanian art scene.
The Gallery operates independently of the hotel, offering its space to local artists and those that want to peruse it. Until the 10th of July, it is featuring the work of a wide variety of Albanian artists in an exhibition called “A little rain, a little sun”.
The idea behind the current exhibit is to explore the idyllic and ever changeable Albanian landscape. Whilst the landscape itself takes something of a background role in each piece that is displayed, you can explore the ways that each artist has investigated the ephemeral nature of the weather and the way it impacts us, and the world around us.
The promotional materials for the exhibit read:
“Experiencing weather is a common denominator of the human condition. From getting stormed in and sharing stories near the fireplace, or treating sunburn with yoghurt after playing football all day, to using “how about that weather” as the fallback conversation when we have nothing to talk about; the weather creates the backdrop and sets the tone of almost every scene.”
Year on year, the weather around us and what we expect of it changes. Reports of climatic disasters, freak weather events, and forecasts of apocalyptic disaster all suggest that the way the climate is changing will impact the way we live in as little as 10 years. Climate change is a hotly contested topic the world over and young activists are locking horns with ageing oligarchs to try and make a difference.
But more than all of this, we can feel the subtle and not so subtle changes around us every single day.
“We can feel it in the surprisingly hot February day when just a t-shirt is enough, to the gigantic pieces of hail damaging the car’s windshield on a random summer day.”
This exhibition is an exploration of all of the above themes and includes a long list of local, Albanian artists including Isa Alimusaj, Mustafa Arapi, Luan Borici, Kujtim Cene and Adrian Devolli. For the full list of artists, check here.
But don’t worry if you are not heading down Vlore way before 10th of June because they already have another exhibit in the pipeline.
Opening on 10 August, “No Man’s Land” will explore the nearby island of Sazan through photography, archival maps, and other mediums and forms of documentation. A research based art project, it aims to combine facts with aesthetically pleasing imagery to create an exhibition that is both informative and artistic.
The Hotel Picasso is a family-run art hotel that has been open since 2016. Located on the seafront in Radhime it offers stunning views of the Vlore coast, as well as comfort and style throughout its complex. It is open to tourists, guests, and those just passing through looking for somewhere to get a refreshing drink, soak up the stunning surroundings, and of course, check out some art.
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