Artan Shalsi Wins Arteam Cup 2024 with Conceptual Work on Erasure

Artan Shalsi, an artist originally from Albania and currently based in Parma, has been named the overall champion of the Arteam Cup 2024, an esteemed Italian art competition. His victory comes with a solo exhibition, a monograph, and a creative-educational residency. Shalsi's winning piece, titled P_M_PV_GR_PVC_DB_FE_24_333 (which spun and paused before shattering into countless sparkling fragments), is part of a series that delves into 'portraits' and 'texts' through the concepts of subtraction and near-invisibility. The jury commended the work for its ability to articulate silence in a visually noisy world. The finalist exhibition took place for the third year in a row at Palazzo del Commissario in Savona, the competition's venue since 2022. Shalsi, who relocated to Italy in 2003 and collaborates with a mechanical workshop in Parma, draws from Byzantine iconography, challenging its additive nature by erasing details. His materials of choice include stainless steel, aluminum, and plastic. Other awardees included Silvia Vendramel and Ivano Troisi. The interview was conducted by Valentina Muzi for Artribune.