Xhevdet Xhafa Retrospective Opens at National Gallery of Kosovo in Prishtina
In Prishtina, the National Gallery of Kosovo is hosting a retrospective dedicated to Xhevdet Xhafa, who was born in Pejë in 1934 and is recognized as a modernism trailblazer in Kosovo. Curated by his family, the exhibition delves into the paradox of "still" versus "running." It features a video from Xhafa's final performance in Prishtina in 2002, alongside a self-portrait, and wraps up with an emotional video recorded at his residence in Peja. Xhafa's studies at the Academy of Ljubljana significantly shaped his artistic perspective. His creations merge popular culture, tradition, and modernism, embodying the cultural essence of Kosovo and Albania. The exhibition is available for viewing until 20 November 2026 at Kompleksi Qafa, 15, Prishtina.
Key facts
- The National Gallery of Kosovo in Prishtina is hosting a major retrospective of Xhevdet Xhafa, curated by the artist's family.
- Xhevdet Xhafa was born in Pejë in 1934 and is considered a pioneer of modernism in Kosovo and a key figure of Albanian art.
- The exhibition title and layout hinge on an oxymoron: "still" (fixity, permanence) and "running" (movement, running as identity).
- The show opens with a 2002 video of Xhafa's last Prishtina performance, when at 68 he undressed, burned ornaments and ran barefoot through the city.
- Xhafa studied at the Academy of Ljubljana with Gabrijel Stupica and Riko Debenjak.
- The display includes a small self-portrait and closes with a video of a song filmed at his house in Peja.
- Övül Ö. Durmuşoğlu wrote the catalogue text; Hans Ulrich Obrist conducted a long interview with the artist.
- The exhibition runs until 20 November 2026 at the National Gallery of Kosovo, Kompleksi Qafa, 15, Prishtina.
Entities
Artists
- Xhevdet Xhafa
- Gabrijel Stupica
- Riko Debenjak
- Övül Ö. Durmuşoğlu
- Hans Ulrich Obrist
- Cristiana Colli
- Albin Kurti
Institutions
- National Gallery of Kosovo
- Academy of Ljubljana
- Artribune
Locations
- Prishtina
- Kosovo
- Pejë
- Peja
- Ljubljana
- Slovenia
- Albania