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Petrit Halilaj
Si Okarina e Runikut, 2023

Photo: Marjorie Brunet Plaza | Courtesy the Artist

Collection

Petrit Halilaj

Brass, ocarina in clay, stone
200 x 155 x 36 cm
TBA21 Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary Collection

Born in Kosovo, Halilaj’s family migrated to Albania and later to Italy during the Yugoslav Wars. In the sculpture Si Okarina e Runikut Halilaj chooses materials—particularly the clay ocarinas crafted under the guidance of Shaqir Hoti, one of the last artisans of these instruments in Kosovo—that serve as poignant connections to his homeland and childhood memories.

Si Okarina e Runikut is part of a series of sculptures inspired by a Neolithic wind instrument discovered in Halilaj's hometown of Runik, Kosovo. This village holds historical significance as one of the earliest Neolithic settlements in the region, with crucial artifacts, including the Runik Ocarina, found there during archaeological excavations in 1968 and 1983. The Kosovo War in the 1990s scattered these artifacts across borders and institutions, with the most valuable pieces now held at the Natural History Museum in Belgrade, while others remain at the Kosovo Museum in Pristina. These objects carry profound symbolic weight for a nation grappling with the loss of segments of its shared historical context, highlighting the complexities of conflicting claims between two nations sharing a common material heritage.

Si Okarina e Runikut is a vessel flute that invites active participation from visitors. Poised gracefully on brass stands, the sculpture comes to life in the present, especially when the instrument is played. This artwork transcends its physical form to become a metaphorical journey, symbolizing the exploration of private, personal experiences that, when shared, transform into tools for communication, self-discovery, and contemplation of the world around us.

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