TIRANA, April 10 /ATA – The Center for Openness and Dialogue (COD) on Friday opened an exhibition dedicated to Spanish artist Salvador Dalí, showcasing a collection of original works to the local public.

In attendance of the opening ceremony of the exhibition was also Prime Minister Edi Rama,  who described the event as a special moment for art and culture in the country.

The exhibition features works from the Argillet Collection of French collector Christine Argillet, comprising rare engravings and drawings by Dalí dating from 1930 to the late 1970s. The pieces, previously shown in several countries, are now on display in Tirana.

Christine Argillet, one of the few people able to share personal insights into Dalí’s life and working process, has lent the collection to Tirana. The exhibition, the result of efforts by several dedicated individuals, marks the first time these rare works have been shown in Albania.

Prime Minister Edi Rama said the exhibition marked a milestone for the Center for Openness and Dialogue, praising the persistence of its director in bringing the Dalí collection to Albania. He described the works as extraordinary and said the exhibition would go down in the history of the institution.”

The collection includes works that highlight Dalí’s unique methodology, such as illustrations and experiments with acid on selected surfaces to create intricate figurative details. The pieces reflect the recurring theme of life and death in the artist’s surrealist work.

Argillet said the collection was part of a family tradition, including works by her father from 1930 to 1972 selected to highlight French influences and elements of Dalí’s illustrations.

The exhibition, which runs until May 23, aims to provide a comprehensive visual and cultural experience for Albanian art lovers and international visitors.

/sm/