Sislej Xhafa's 'Bleta' public artwork in Tirana's landfill-turned-park
Harabel, a new contemporary art platform in Tirana, has commissioned Sislej Xhafa to create a public artwork titled 'Bleta' (Albanian for 'bee'). The piece is installed on a landfill hill that is being transformed into an urban park, featuring a bronze window that appears wooden, framing a vent pipe from the dump. Xhafa's intervention follows commissions by Adrian Paci, Alban Muja, and Sadik Spahija. Harabel was founded by Ajola Xoxa and Driant Zeneli, operating from the Sky Tower in the Blloku district. The platform combines an archive/lab of Albanian contemporary art, a talk program, a blog, and public art commissions, all bilingual in English and Albanian. The work explores memory, transformation, and the coexistence of pleasure and pain in a complex urban landscape.
Key facts
- Sislej Xhafa created 'Bleta' (bee) for Harabel Contemporary in Tirana.
- The artwork is a bronze window installed on a landfill hill being converted into a park.
- The window frames a vent pipe from the landfill, creating a disorienting perspective.
- Harabel was founded by Ajola Xoxa and Driant Zeneli.
- The platform operates from Sky Tower in the Blloku district.
- Previous commissions include Adrian Paci, Alban Muja, and Sadik Spahija.
- Harabel includes an archive/lab, talk program, blog, and public art commissions.
- All content is bilingual in English and Albanian.
Entities
Artists
- Sislej Xhafa
- Adrian Paci
- Alban Muja
- Sadik Spahija
- Anri Sala
Institutions
- Harabel Contemporary
- 51N4E
- Sky Tower
- Artribune
Locations
- Tirana
- Albania
- Skanderbeg Square
- Blloku