Petrit Halilaj
RU, 2017/2022
RU, 2017/2022
Collection
Wood, soil, glue, brass, resin, earth, seven objects
110 x 135 x 58 cm
TBA21 Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary Collection
Petrit Halilaj’s RU is part of a series first developed for the artist’s 2017 exhibition at the New Museum, New York. The eponymous installation featured 505 Neolithic objects discovered in Halilaj’s hometown of Runik in Kosovo, meticulously recreated in clay and presented in a woodland setting. Elevated on brass legs, these replicas were envisioned as migratory birds, symbolizing the resilience of cultural heritage and the possibility of return despite displacement.
The scaled-down version of the original installation continues Halilaj’s engagement with Runik’s history as one of the earliest Neolithic settlements in this part of Europe. Archaeological digs in 1968 and 1983 uncovered significant artifacts, including the Runik Ocarina, a prehistoric musical wind instrument. However, due to the Kosovo War in the 1990s, these objects were scattered across different institutions and some remain in storage at the Natural History Museum in Belgrade, while others are housed in the Kosovo Museum in Pristina.
In RU, Halilaj bridges past and present, recreating these artifacts as a gesture toward reclaiming cultural memory. The brass legs evoke migratory birds, emphasizing their ability to transcend borders and return home. This work encapsulates themes of displacement, belonging, and the enduring connection between people and their histories.
110 x 135 x 58 cm
TBA21 Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary Collection
Petrit Halilaj’s RU is part of a series first developed for the artist’s 2017 exhibition at the New Museum, New York. The eponymous installation featured 505 Neolithic objects discovered in Halilaj’s hometown of Runik in Kosovo, meticulously recreated in clay and presented in a woodland setting. Elevated on brass legs, these replicas were envisioned as migratory birds, symbolizing the resilience of cultural heritage and the possibility of return despite displacement.
The scaled-down version of the original installation continues Halilaj’s engagement with Runik’s history as one of the earliest Neolithic settlements in this part of Europe. Archaeological digs in 1968 and 1983 uncovered significant artifacts, including the Runik Ocarina, a prehistoric musical wind instrument. However, due to the Kosovo War in the 1990s, these objects were scattered across different institutions and some remain in storage at the Natural History Museum in Belgrade, while others are housed in the Kosovo Museum in Pristina.
In RU, Halilaj bridges past and present, recreating these artifacts as a gesture toward reclaiming cultural memory. The brass legs evoke migratory birds, emphasizing their ability to transcend borders and return home. This work encapsulates themes of displacement, belonging, and the enduring connection between people and their histories.