Cross-border Sculpture Symposium

This project aimed to facilitate an exchange of practice between artists from Albania and Montenegro and the creation of new art in the new context of nowadays, leading to a change in mentality about the correlation of art and history. The project organised two cross-border sculpture symposiums: the first in Shkodra (AL) and the second in Ulcinj/Ulqin (ME). In the first one, eight Montenegrin and two Albanian sculptors were accommodated in Shkodra and worked at the sculpting site during twenty days. Thus, ten sculptures were produced, each carved out of 1 cubic metre of marble. In the second one, ten Albanian sculptors were accommodated in Ulcinj and worked at the sculpting site, where, as in the first symposium, ten large sculptures were produced. Before the start of each sculpting period, a lot of promotional items – banners, posters, leaflets, and t-shirts – were printed. During the sculpting period, the visiting sculptors were able to meet with members of the local arts' communities. During the second symposium, the visiting artists had the opportunity to visit the well-known Sculpture Colony in Danilovgrad and to admire works of the noted sculptor Ivan Meštrović.

The creation of a substantial number of sculptures that adorn public spaces are tangible outcomes that bring sustainable benefits to the cross-border area. Due to the quality of the sculptures, their instalment in visible and easily accessible public spaces, the location of the working site and the inter-relations sculptors-artists’ community and sculptors-public during the carving process, there has been a highly appreciation of the work done. The sculpture symposium generated positive discussions among artists and there are serious attempts to replicate this action in other Albanian and Montenegrin cities. This action had an even broader aspirations, namely, the creation of new art in the new context of nowadays, focusing on the shared values of the past and looking to further these values, as well as changing mentalities about art. As such, the sculpture symposiums represented a step forward to changing the approach people have towards the correlation between art and history. The direct results of the project were as follows: • artists from both countries created 20 large sculptures; • upon completion, the sculptures were installed on both sides of the border and now adorn public spaces in Shkodra and Ulcinj/Ulqin. This action clearly facilitated the exchange of practice between artists from Albania and Montenegro during the implementation period. The symposiums provided a starting point for this exchange and resulted in an increased communication between the artists’ communities.