Mediterranea 18 Biennale in Tirana Explores Micro-Utopias Between Art and Education

The collective ALA Group curated the Literary Creation section of Mediterranea 18, the Young Mediterranean Biennial, held in Tirana, Albania in 2017. The section was subtitled "The House of Commons – Micro Utopias Between Art and Education." The curators describe their experience as one of serendipity, discovering unexpected connections while engaging with the local context. They were struck by Albania's recent history, marked by a totalitarian past and the contradictions of turbo-capitalism. The young Albanian volunteers of the Biennale, who barely remember dictator Enver Hoxha, aspire to a central role in Europe while navigating tensions between openness to novelty and patriotic tradition. The opening week featured music, dance, performances, and readings, creating an atmosphere of authentic creativity. However, a group of Egyptian artists and musicians were unable to attend due to travel restrictions imposed by their government. The curators salute all artists, volunteers, and staff who made Tirana a home for collective research.