Angelo Filomeno and Helidon Gjergji Dual Exhibitions at Museo Pino Pascali

The Fondazione Museo Pino Pascali in Polignano a Mare presents two solo shows running until September 2, 2016: Angelo Filomeno's 'Omaggio a Pino Pascali africano' and Helidon Gjergji's 'Screenings'. Filomeno, born in Ostuni in 1963 and based in New York, employs embroidery techniques learned from his mother, using cotton, silk, shantung, gold threads, and Swarovski crystals on raw jute. His works feature tribal skulls, shamans, and African masks, with standout pieces like the bronze and smoky quartz sculpture 'Come here, you are beautiful' and fabric works such as 'Shaman necklace' and 'Tribal waring shot'. Gjergji, born in Tirana in 1970 and also based in New York, addresses forced Balkan immigration and sea tragedies in the site-specific installation 'Seta di Damasco'. His most striking work is 'e-mages', a video projection of images from Stalin's mother showing a young Stalin before his dictatorship, contrasted with a broken mirror symbolizing shattered purity and history. The exhibitions are curated by Antonio Frugis (Filomeno) and Santa Nastro (Gjergji), with artistic direction by Rosalba Branà.