Activities - RLIOF Festival, Official Website

RLIOF EXHIBITION 2024:

“Athua ëndërr ishe ti”

It should be noted that this is the first time the private collection of an enthusiastic
collector is being exhibited without being mixed with other collections. The story we are attempting to tell here is that of several Kosovar artists, along with some of their works, including some masterpieces, first filtered through the taste and keen eye for art of Rasim Mrlaku (the collector) and then re-filtered and re-contextualized to find a new narrative.
Deeply believing that free interpretation is everything, through the curation and
arrangement of the exhibition, we tried to find stories beyond the reflective visual tales that we see with our eyes. If we want to see the emotions, we will see them. If we want to hear the wedding song of Adem Kastrati, we will hear it too. One of the key words that we should keep in mind to fully experience the exhibition is “beyond”; because this is a fantastic “trip”; within the dream and imagination of our great artists, beyond color and canvas.
This exhibition also has an additional dimension, time, as it records a time that no
longer exists, particularly captured by each chosen painter here; then it is the time when they were selected to be part of the Mrlaku collection and finally the selection of some representative works to be part of the exhibition; all of this is a flow of causality spiced with intuition.
Naturally, we become curious about the circumstances under which these specific
paintings were chosen and ended up being part of a collection that will continue its life as a narrator of the times that pass by. Collections, indeed, are very interesting entities because they exist both as a whole and as a single body that carries with it a triple history: that of the artists, the artworks, and ultimately that of the collector.

RLIOF EXHIBITION 2023:

Live Long Like a Mountain!

What we cultivate today defines the future. Our culture abhors the world, writes Michel Serres addressing Western civilization in his classic ‘Natural Contract’ (1991). Indeed for centuries, nature has been treated as a limitless resource to be extracted for profit or as property to be invaded and traded again for profit. The outcomes shape our life with water resources drying out, lands contaminated, plants and species going extinct. Plants and animals almost have no breathing in the Kosovar urban spaces. In the wild, beautiful landscapes are mostly contaminated with plastic and remains. Alongside, there are a number of plants endemic to Kosovo, such as the native star flower (solenanthus krasniqii) or mountain tea (sideritis scardica), going extinct because of human misuse and fires before enough data is collected on them for world databases.

What can artistic practices propose to change this grim perspective? The imaginary created by landscape paintings as a genre may encourage us to relate with the more-than-human lives surrounding us differently, not to take their existence for granted in the first place. From antiquity on, landscape painting has been a powerful tool for humans to observe, connect to, claim, and imagine the land. The different approaches to the Kosovar landscape presented as part of ‘Live Long Like a Mountain’ reveal to us sometimes dire, sometimes colorful visions triggered by the lands in sight. Many mountains of Kosovo continue to captivate artists of different generations. Yet most importantly, these artistic visions highlight what needs to be cultivated for the future, a culture that appreciates the companionship of the world with all of its earthly delights. Therefore, our special exhibition for the RLIOF Festival, themed “Opera for Freedom” – advocating for environmental justice alongside the resolution of many human-generated conflicts – comes with a well-known prosperity wish in Albanian, Live Long Like a Mountain!

RLIOF Exhibiton 2022

The Rame Lahaj International Opera Festival was transformed by the powerful and colorful messages of contemporary and classical art at the hands of Professor Hajrush Fazliu. Pouring his soul onto the canvas, Fazliu breathed new life into the festival, becoming one with the voices of RLIOF artists over four unforgettable evenings. Born in Gjilan in 1949, Fazliu has exhibited his work extensively throughout the region and is currently a lecturer at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Pristina. His contribution to RLIOF 2022 was a testament to his lifelong dedication to the arts.

WOMAN LIFE FREEDOM:

Cameron Shahbazi for RLIOF 2023

The ‘Ensemble Evening’ transcended music, presenting touching narratives, a powerful message, and heartfelt reflections.

The stage was graced by the enchanting voice of countertenor Cameron Shahbazi, whose melodious and unique timbre, accompanied by the talented pianist Sophia Munoz and cellist Eno Nushi, performed a premiere repertoire that deeply touched the audience’s hearts.

Throughout the night, the importance of protecting women’s rights was emphasized, a cause supported by the entire opera music community. RLIOF also joined this cause, aligning with the theme of this edition ‘Opera for Freedom,’ promoting the idea of using operatic art as a medium to defend women’s freedom and rights.

The evening culminated in a stunning performance by Cameron Shahbazi and tenor Rame Lahaj, singing the Albanian song ‘Hapi syte e zeza,’ accompanied by the thunderous applause of the audience.

The second night of RLIOF was an unforgettable experience, weaving together music, poetry, and deep reflection with a profound impact.

Let’s rise in support of the resilient people in Iran and use our voices for this essential humanitarian cause.

Pasión y Tango

Through the evening of “Pasión y Tango,” the Rame Lahaj Foundation brought an unforgettable experience filled with magic and passion to the audience in Prishtina.

Amid the golden colors of autumn and the warm November atmosphere at Stepia d’Arra, attendees had the opportunity to experience a fascinating combination of passionate melodies and the powerful sounds of tango through the extraordinary performances of Pierre Sabaté and M’hamed El Menjra.

The devoted and masterful performances of the two artists, in singing and guitar, stirred deep emotions and created a unique atmosphere, taking the audience on a spiritual journey into the world of tango and the streets of Buenos Aires, Paris, and Argentina. This elegant evening will remain a special memory for all participants, demonstrating the power of music to create magical moments and special connections with the audience.

The evening of “Pasión y Tango” was enriched by the young Kosovar artist Andra Rexhepi, whose passionate performance added to the magic of the night. The Rame Lahaj Foundation remains committed to supporting talents by offering them opportunities for international artistic exchanges.

Partnerships

RLIOF is on an exciting growth trajectory, and we are thrilled to share our latest milestones. We are delighted to announce our membership in the Fedora platform and Opera Europa, two prestigious organizations in the field. Join us on our journey as we continue to expand and make meaningful contributions to our industry.