 |
| Petrit Halilaj lined up in Kukës |
11-year-old Petrit Halilaj, wearing a green jacket and crowded among other refugees fleeing Kosovo in 1999, in line for food in Kukës, Albania. Today, Petrit is a world-class contemporary artist exhibiting internationally.
 |
| Petrit Halilaj today |
The work of Petrit Halilaj (Kostërrc, Skenderaj, Republic of Kosovo, 1986) is strongly related to his biography, the recent history of his country and the consequences of political and cultural tensions in the region. Childhood memories shattered in war drama and refugee life are repeated throughout his art, which embraces themes such as home, nation, and cultural identity through a variety of media, ranging from drawing and sculpture to videos, installations, and even writing.
Halilaj was the artist who represented Kosovo in its first pavilion for the 55th Venice Biennale (2013) and also participated in the 6th Berlin Biennale (2010) and the 15th Lyon Biennial (2019). He has presented his work in solo exhibitions at important museums and art centers such as Hangar Bicocca (Milan, 2015), Bundeskunsthalle (Bonn, 2015) or the New Museum (New York, 2017), among others..
