TIRANA, Sept. 22 – Albanian contemporary artist Helidon Xhixha has claimed the public medal at the first London Design Biennale with his “Bliss” site-specific sculpture installation, beating artists from 36 other countries
Referencing utopian city planning, Helidon Xhixha’s Bliss is a concentric arrangement of stainless steel columns and benches that are designed to encourage both self-reflection and solidarity.
“Yes we made it!! Albania wins the public medal for best installation! I want to thank everyone who voted for us including our team, our families and friends and everyone else who enjoyed my installation and took time to vote for us!” the 46-year-old Albania-born Italy-based artist wrote.
“I have been working on ‘Bliss’ for the past twelve months. These have been tumultuous times and working on a piece such as Bliss, which addresses the issues of migration currently facing the world, feels very timely. Many of my pieces have reflection at their heart, but with ‘Bliss’, it feels more pertinent than ever,” Xhixha told reporters.
John Sorrell, the President of the London Design Biennale, said “we are delighted that Albania are the recipients of the 2016 Public Medal. It has been wonderful to see so many members of the public enjoy their courtyard installation.”
Dino Korca, the Director of the U.S.-based Albanian Institute New York representing Albania at the Bienalle, thanked everyone who voted for the Albanian entry.
“We are truly thrilled to receive the Public Medal, and for our country to be recognised amongst such international talent from around the world. We are honoured to take part in the first ever London Design Biennale, held in one of the world’s greatest design capitals, and would like to thank the team behind the Biennale for producing such an incredible event, and of course all of the visitors who have enjoyed and voted for our national entry,” said Korca, the curator of Albania’s pavillion.
The Biennale, a response to the 2016 theme ‘Utopia by Design’, which runs until 27 September 2016, brings together installations, artworks, designs and prototypes from around the world in an entertaining and inspiring exploration of the role of design in the collective future.
Xhixha, whose works span from his hometown of Durres, to Florida, Switzerland, France and Italy is one of Albania’s best internationally renowned artists having graduated from London’s Kingston University and Italy’s Brera Academy.
Stainless steel is the base of all of Xhixha’s sculptures. Using steel as a tool to manipulate light, rather than the sole medium of the work, Xhixha famously described his practice with the words: “I do not sculpt materials; I use materials to sculpt light.”
The mirrored surfaces of the taller columns in Xhixha’s installation create reflections, creating myriad opportunities for interaction. The circular layout of the benches aims to facilitate democratic discussion and exchange, demonstrating the need for community and unification in any ideal city. With reference to the current migration crisis, the core of the installation bears the engraved outline of Europe’s borders, considered by many refugees as a modern-day utopia, Biennale organizers write about Xhixha’s installation.
