Iva Lulashi on Painting, Video Frames, and Eroticism

In a recent chat with Davide Dal Sasso for Artribune, Iva Lulashi, an artist born in Albania in 1988 and now based in Milan, shared insights about her painting technique. She starts by picking video frames from online sources, using keywords that touch on history, politics, and eroticism while paying attention to contrast and color. Lulashi appreciates how frames bring a lively feel that still images miss, allowing her to add her touch. Working with oil, she creates what she calls 'macchie' or stains, emphasizing that her pieces develop organically rather than from a set idea. Recently, she transitioned from painting male figures reflecting Albania's communist era to female figures, exploring body, sexuality, and nudity—subjects she feels need more dialogue. Her goal is to balance reality with abstraction, steering clear of pure surrealism. Currently, she's experimenting with frame combinations in works like 'Le disavventure della virtù.' Lulashi is involved with the Fondazione Malutta collective and has shown her work at various notable exhibitions, including the Biennale Mediterranea and her latest solo show at Prometeogallery di Ida Pisani in Milan.