Independence monument inaugurated in Tirana

TIRANA, Nov. 29 – Even Tirana now has its own independence monument. The monument placed in the Rinia park next to the capital’s central boulevard was inaugurated on November 28 on Albania’s 100th anniversary of independence. Several other monument and statues to independence leaders and historic figures were inaugurated in Tirana this week.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Culture Minister Aldo Bumci said the monument now represents a free country after a harsh dictatorship and isolation.
Austria’s Valenta erected the Albanian independence monument based on a design project selected last summer. The monument’s construction cost is estimated at Euro 355,000 excluding the Euro 35,000 reward for the two winning artists.
The independence monument was designed by two Munich-based architects, Kosovo’s Visar Obrija and Germany’s Kai Roman Kiklas, who were inspired by the Albanian traditional house. To express the idea of independence, the authors bring an open building composed of two parts of a cube with one half holding the roof and the remaining one the platform. This structure has been perceived with length, width and height that allows people to freely walk through. In the inner sides of the monument, there are laser drawn elements such as the “Declaration of Independence’ the national symbol of the double headed eagle and human portraits. The open building symbolizes the independence of the Albanian nation, the jump from isolation to freedom and the look into the future.
Some 81 design projects to erect a monument dedicated to Albania centenary independence were submitted in early 2012 by dozens of Albanian and international artists.
Tirana is also featuring statues dedicated to some of the most Albanian prominent figures such as independence leader Ismail Qemali, and patriot Hasan Prishtina, U.S President Woodrow Wilson. The inauguration of King Zog’s statue has been postponed.