TIRANA, April 13 – In a collection tracing the artistic journey from socialist realism in Albania under communism to modern art in the United States, an exhibition has been dedicated to late Albanian-American artist Ali Miruku in his hometown of Shkodra, northern Albania.
Miruku, who prematurely passed away last year in Florida, U.S. where he had migrated in the mid-1990s is being featured in the exhibition with 27 artworks created in the late 20th century featuring his evolution from socialist realism period in Albania also known as the “Creation of the models of the New Man,” a genre serving the communist regime propaganda cultivated between 1960 and 1986, to modern art he cultivated after migrating to the U.S.
Adrian Draçini, the director of the public gallery in Shkodra, describes Miruku’s work as a symbol of his life divided into two stages part of a whole but with different stances and approaches during his career in Albania and abroad.
Art historian Suzana Varvarica said Miruku remains one of the master of symbolism in Albania despite his ‘ordered artworks’ both under communism where he had to abide by the regime restrictions and in the U.S where his works were ordered by customers.
Arjola Miruku, the painter’s daughter who travelled from the U.S. to take part in the exhibition’s opening in Shkodra, said her father was always busy in his studio painting until he prematurely passed away at 59 in Florida.
An internationally known artist, Miruku’s works include oil on canvas paintings, large scale murals and sculptures.
His exhibition at the public gallery in Shkodra will remain open until April 16.
