Meriton Maloku
More than Balance and Friction
Curated by Vala Osmani and Donjetë Murati
24/01/2019 – 23/02/2019
Opening: 24/01/2019 at 20:00
Artist Talk: 25/01/2019 at 19:00
Opening Hours
Tuesday - Friday, 16:00 - 17:00
Address: Boxing Club, Mark Isaku st. 8, 10000 Prishtinë, Republic of Kosovo
Stacion – Center for Contemporary Art Prishtina is pleased to present “More than Balance and Friction”, a solo exhibition with Meriton Maloku.
“More than Balance and Friction” begins with the unfolding of an action. This particular play time runs through a space-time continuum, going beyond a pastime, for a dialogue to take place between two particular dimensions within and through two agents. The torque is constant throughout, as is the conclusion of the action as an end game. The gestures, dialogue reside along this parameter; a role switch occurs, and the reality of a change in time and space could become prevalent. What seems but a subtle change to the eye withholds stability, alongside the possibilities to consider the multiplicities of configurations that operate differently in any given time.
Seeking to understand this particularity, one must zoom out, and zoom in as where the game takes place and if the switch presents a subversion of ‘an’ order. Along an axis of power that does not lend itself easily to structure, through this endeavor “More than Balance and Friction” attempts to localize and make visible a relapse between the personal, social and political. At this juncture, relations unfold subtly as they do in day to day interactions, questioning where power resides, and the way in which it operates to socialize as “power is strong, this is because […] it produces effects on the level of desire – and also the level of knowledge.” (Foucault, 1972: 59). What becomes apparent is that these relations profoundly bring forth the space to re-negotiate meaning making process, the internalization of perhaps multiple and competing narratives.
Meriton Maloku (Kosovo) lives and works between Antwerp and Prishtina. He studied fine arts in the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp and has a master degree in printmaking. His research is mainly focused in politics, philosophy and art history itself. Usually he works with repetitiveness, play and a glimpse of humor from time to time.
He works within different disciplines, his main concern always being the space between the viewer and the work. Recent exhibitions include Guanlan Print Biennal Frist selection/ publication, Bezoeker Bezocht - Forbidden City/ venue, Antwerp, 2018; Ercola 50 - MhKA, Museum of Contemporary Arts, Antwerp, 2018; Big See - Big See Illustration, Ljubliana, Slovenia, 2018; A4 - Ravnikar Gallery, Ljubliana, Slovenia, 2018; M and M - Residency Unlimited, New York, 2018; “Dry Paint” - New York's subway stations/ urban intervention, New York, 2018; Masters Salon - De Lange Zaal, Antwerp, 2018; Artists of Tomorrow Award - Stacion - Center for Contemporary Art Prishtina 2017; Silk road - Xi an, China, 2017; Closure - Installation at Masters 2017, Antwerp, 2017; RAFA - Belgrade, 2017; Every day eggs - Performance, KASKA, Antwerp, 2017; Boogie Woggie Wonderland, De Lange Zaal, Antwerp, 2017
Annihilation Event, Lethaby Gallery, London, 2017; Fridays Death Announcer as a contribution to “Friday on your mind” by DDV - Annie Gentils Gallery, Antwerp, 2016; Fridays Death Announcer - One year project for “Friday on your mind” by DDV, Antwerp, 2016; Onderbrokenstad - Intervetntion, City Hall, Antwerp, 2016; De Sokkel Van Teniers - Performance, KASKA, Antwerp, 2016; KOMASK Bachelor Price - KASKA, Antwerp, 2015; Split Graphics - Split, Croatia, 2015; Gjon Mili International Price - National Gallery of Kosovo, 2015; Guanlan Print Biennal - Guanlan, China, 2015
Startertprijs - KASKA, Antwerp, 2015.
“More than Balance and Friction” with Meriton Maloku is part of annual program of exhibitions of Stacion – Center for Contemporary Art Prishtina and a module of Artists of Tomorrow Award.
Meriton Maloku is the winner of the Artists of Tomorrow Award 2017.
The Artists of Tomorrow Award is a unique project which provides young visual artists under the age of 35 the opportunity to produce new work, be part of a tailored education process, have meetings and presentation for an international jury, have a joint exhibition with finalists at Stacion – Center for Contemporary Art Prishtina, but also to travel to the United States and experience New York’s dynamic art scene for a two month residency at Residency Unlimited.
The winners of Artists of Tomorrow Award are also awarded with a solo exhibition at Stacion – Center for Contemporary Art Prishtina, following their return from US.
The Artists of Tomorrow Award is part of the Young Visual Artists Awards program - a network of ten similar awards organized throughout Central and Eastern Europe founded in 1989 in Czechoslovakia by President Vaclav Havel, Wendy Luers and dissident artists with the intention of supporting the emergence and development of contemporary art and civil society.
Stacion – Center for Contemporary Art Prishtina aims to enhance the potential and influence of The Artists of Tomorrow Award in the general developments in contemporary art in the whole territory of Kosovo.
More than Balance and Friction with Meriton Maloku is supported by the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports of the Republic of Kosovo, Municipality of Prishtina, x-Print and DZG.
Curators: Vala Osmani and Donjetë Murati
Exhibition Architecture: Vala Osmani
Text: Donjetë Murati
Photo: Arben Llapashtica
Graphic Design Assistant: Qëndresa Zeka
Exhibition installation: Skender Xhukolli
Translation: Milan Denćić
Design: DZG
Print: x-Print