Taking the first article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as its point of departure, Art. 1 (Article 1) wants to take a small step in the long struggle to secure equal rights for all mankind
TIRANA, May 15 – “Art. 1,” a touring exhibition from some of Sweden’s most prominent museums with accounts and reflections of the history and contemporary life of the LGBT persons has arrived in Albania, considered one of Europe’s most homophobic countries. The exhibition which opened this week at the National Museum of History in Tirana ahead of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) on May 17 will remain on display for two weeks until May 26 in an effort to break taboos about homophobia among Albanians by highlighting the LGBT history.
Taking the first article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as its point of departure, Art. 1 (Article 1) wants to take a small step in the long struggle to secure equal rights for all mankind.
“Museums have in general not been fantastic in depicting the history of LGBT persons as many LGBT persons have not been visible or counted, their voices not heard, their needs not been taken into account. However, throughout history, LGBT persons have been there. And “Unstraight history”, that is the history of LGBT persons, are part of, and should be part of, any country’s national history and cultural heritage. This should be obvious, but it needs and deserves to be emphasized. Art. 1 is a great exhibition with several parts, all highlighting LGBT history. I salute them all,” said Charg顤’Affaires Patrik Svensson at the exhibition’s inauguration ceremony.
Albania is considered one of the most homophobic countries in Europe but this year has been making progress, including bringing in new legislation. A recent study by the FES Foundation found that more than 50% of Albanian youth are homophobic, according to LGBT websites.
“We choose to name the exhibition “Art.1″ not only because of first article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but also because of the artistic language which we have chosen to speak with the world, it is not a rude language, but it is expressive, reflective and meaningful,” says Vincent van Gerven Oei, one of the exhibition’s organizers
Art. 1 exhibition is divided in two parts. The first part includes collections from six Swedish museums, focused on the theme of homosexuality in the museum context. It is an initiative of the Alliance Against LGBT Discrimination which has teamed up with The Unstraight Museum from Sweden, thanks to the support of the Swedish Institute, to organize two weeks of events around the exhibition entitled Art. 1 (Article 1), showing at the National Historical Museum in Tirana. The participating museums are The Swedish Police Museum, The Royal Armoury, The Nobel Museum, The National Museum of Science and Technology, The National Sports Museum, and The Swedish History Museum. These contributions are complemented with works from the Albanian exhibition Hide and Seek and objects and stories of the Albanian LGBT community.
“The exhibition contains very normal items which are connected with personal situations of their owners. It might be a plane ticket, a pen, a gift taken in a difficult moment, etc. Our purpose is to change the perception about these objects by knowing them in a different way through their stories,” says Vincent van Gerven Oei.
Convincing the National Museum Management to open the exhibition in the National Historical Museum, appeared to be a difficult challenge to the organizers, as the director of the National Museum insisted that the museum can only be used to exhibit objects of national heritage, says Elvis Hoxhaj, another organizer.
“We insisted that the life of LGBT community is not treated with dignity as part of Albanian heritage, but is left behind. The National Museum of History is an institution that belongs to Albanians, and LGBT persons as part of Albania, deserve to have their own space in it,” adds Hoxhaj.
The idea of opening the exhibition in the National Historical Museum came as an initiative to make the public institutions more sensitive to the LGBT community. Despite the fact that museum’s managers allowed the opening of the exhibition in the museum, they refused to put the museum’s logo in the exhibition posters.
Each year, May 17 is celebrated as the International Day against Homophobia, in commemoration of the removal of homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases of the World Health Organization on May 17, 1990. Around the world this day is celebrated with exhibitions, manifestations, and other events.
LGBT NGOs says they have organized a weeklong celebration which includes the countries second Festival of Diversity, LGBT exhibitions and lectures.
