The “Visual Poetry on Social Photography” exhibition, hosted at Tirana’s newest artistic space—GOCAT Gallery—invites thoughtful engagement and dialogue between art enthusiasts and the public. This exhibition explores ongoing human struggles and social movements both in Albania and beyond.
The opening ceremony, held yesterday with many guests in attendance, allows visitors to enjoy this contemporary exhibition until October 10.
The Mane Foundation’s initiative to provide artists with an innovative gallery space in the heart of the capital at no cost, and to offer both tourists and locals a free cultural meeting point, brings together highly esteemed international photographers such as Paul Lowe, Fabrizio Bellomo, Seamus Murphy & P.J. Harvey. The exhibition also features renowned Albanian photographers like Burim Myftiu and Bevis Fusha.
These distinguished names demonstrate that their genuine desire to contribute to a profound artistic approach is matched by a commitment to bringing social issues to the forefront—a dedication evident in every initiative supported by the Mane Foundation.
British photographer Paul Lowe, who presents a series of black-and-white photographs from the Siege of Sarajevo (1992-1996), views the exhibition as a valuable opportunity for reflection and learning from the past. He does not hesitate to share his own past, recounting the ordeal he endured to capture the photographs that today anyone interested can view and analyze.
“Like everyone else, when I walked the streets of the city (Sarajevo), I didn’t know if I would return alive or not. There was constant sniping, but despite this, the resilience, courage, and creativity of the people were truly inspiring. These were among the things that made me come back,” Lowe recounts.
He describes his work as a personal journey, boldly guided by intuition, which, although it comes to the wider public after 30 years, offers a personal experience and addresses not only the generation of that time but also younger audiences.
“Youth played an important role in defending the city. Being young means having a future. I believe it is very important to pay attention to this. So, when we look at photographs taken 30 years ago, we should not think of them as the past—they are part of the present,” the photographer expresses.
The belief that “Visual Poetry on Social Photography” speaks effectively to young people is shared by all the participating artists in the exhibition. For the Mane Foundation, this is another achievement that aligns with its driving goal of opening GOCAT.
Its initial milestone was the successful launch of artist Driant Zeneli’s exhibition. He showcased “Those Who Tried to Put the Rainbow Back in the Sky,” an exhibit that uniquely blends contemporary dominant mediums.
