“Albanian Pavillion came first in a survey conducted by Italian magazine, “Exibart,” 33.96 per cent, leaving France in its wake at 22.01 per cent.
The Golden Lion of the Venice Biennale could travel towards Albania this year. A survey conducted by the Italian magazine “Exibart,” the Albanian pavilion ranks as the highest voted for, leaving the French exhibition behind too. With 33.96 per cent, Albania heads the classification, followed by France with 22.01 per cent of the votes, followed further back by Korea and Mexico. “Exibart” recognized as a well known magazine for art, is famous for its survey findings. With the question on its Website, “Who will win the Golden Lion?”, immediately after the official opening of the fifty second edition of the Venice Biennale, Albania emerges as the leader. Naturally this is merely a survey carried in a well known Italian Arts Magazine, whilst the real judgment on the exhibition is passed by the Jury set up at the Biennale. However, if we look back at similar surveys conducted within this activity, you can see that there is coherence between these surveys and the prizes awarded within the activity.
In fact, according to Italian media, but also the Albanian artists who have witnessed at first hand this important event of visual arts, the interest in the Albanian pavilion has been at its maximum. Critics and big names in visual arts on the market today have spent hours in the Albania Pavilion.
It appears that curiosity for the smaller countries, or in those who exhibit for the first time at the Venice Biennale has somewhat faded interest in well known pavilions and their exhibits. Albania also opens the official catalogue of the Festival because it comes first alphabetically-A for Albania. The magazine says that Albania is the surprise of the 52nd Venice Biennale.
