Armando Lulaj and Marco Mazzi's 'Broken Narrative' Critiques Albania's Post-Communist Art and Politics
In 2022, Armando Lulaj and Marco Mazzi released 'Broken Narrative: The Politics of Contemporary Art in Albania,' a critical examination of Albania's transition after communism. The book includes five untitled tracks and an interview set in 'contemporary penitentiaries.' Lulaj, who was born in 1980 and represented Albania at the 2015 Venice Biennale, co-founded the DebatikCenter of Contemporary Art in 2003. It addresses the consequences of the Washington Consensus, such as economic shock therapy and the state collapse in 1997, critiques Prime Minister Edi Rama's 'Renaissance' initiative, and notes the demolition of Tirana's National Theater in 2020. Published by Punctum Books, this 364-page volume champions narrative diversity while also discussing Lulaj's art and Italy's cultural influence, as well as the 2018 student protests.
Key facts
- The book 'Broken Narrative: The Politics of Contemporary Art in Albania' was published in 2022 by Punctum Books.
- Authors are Albanian artist Armando Lulaj and Italian photographer Marco Mazzi.
- Lulaj represented Albania at the Venice Biennale in 2015 and co-founded the DebatikCenter of Contemporary Art in 2003.
- The book analyzes Albania's post-communist transition, including the state collapse in 1997 and economic shock therapy.
- It critiques Prime Minister Edi Rama's 'Renaissance' campaign and the 2020 destruction of Tirana's National Theater.
- Lulaj's artwork 'Bullet in Envelope' (2018) was denounced as criminal and mailed to the former director of Albania's National Gallery of Art.
- The book is structured as five untitled tracks, translated into English and Japanese.
- It discusses Italy's role in Albanian culture and history, including a 2015 installation with a sperm whale skeleton at the Venice Biennale.
Entities
Artists
- Armando Lulaj
- Marco Mazzi
- Edi Rama
- Kristaq Rama
- Marcel Duchamp
- Jordan Misja
- Svetlana Boym
- George Soros
- Sasha Lleshaj
Institutions
- Punctum Books
- Venice Biennale
- DebatikCenter of Contemporary Art
- National Gallery of Art (Albania)
- Open Society Foundation
- Communist Party of Albania
- ARTMargins Online
Locations
- Albania
- Tirana
- Italy
- Adriatic Sea
- Venice
- Hungary
- Poland
- Russia
- Eastern Europe
- Soviet Union
- Earth
- Milky Way
Sources
- ARTMargins —
- ARTMargins —