The exhibition “Blue ribbon” coordinated by Melisa Paci showed for the first time in Albania the
works of the Italian artist Maria Lai (1919-2013) who draws upon the rich histories, folktales, and
craft traditions of Sardinia — as well as poetry and literature — of her hometown Ulassai in
Sardinia.
The exhibition included handicrafts (sewn book, sewings, collages etc.), photography and
performance, as a metaphor of Maria Lai’s existence who saw art as an instrument and a
language capable of changing our reading of the world.
The first to notice a new tendency in art was her art professor and art critic Filiberto Menna who
considered her performance “To tie oneself to the mountain” as the first episode of Relational
Art. They became lifetime friends and Maria sew fo him a jacket which was shown for the first
time ever at Art House.
Her works have been shown in important art spaces and international exhibitions such as
Venice Biennale and documenta. They are part of museum collections: MoMA New York,
George Pompidou Paris, Mart Trento and Rovereto.
The project was supported by The Embassy of Italy in Tirana, The Italian Institute of Culture,
The Municipality of Shkoder.
Special thanks to Fondazione Maria Lai, Archivio Maria Lai, Fondazione Filiberto e Bianca
Menna, Antonello Tolve Edizioni.