The paintings seem to pulsate with rhythm. Albanian folk music resonates silently through colour alone. These artworks evoke a sense of musicality, harmonised by the precise interplay of hues. Depictions of tambourines, guitars, drums, and accordions accompany men, women, and children in traditional attire. They revel, eat, and drink, celebrating the moment in spirit-filled paintings that invite viewers to join the festivities. Artist Buron Kaceli masterfully captures the vibrancy of Albanian life in precise forms that evoke nostalgia and a desire to step into the paintings, if only for a moment. His brush enchants with accuracy, even when subjects are tightly clustered. In warm colours, they exude individuality even within the community. This atmosphere was mirrored by attendees at the “Qahili” gallery, creating a celebration in itself to mark a new beginning with a rich artistic world. The carefully curated paintings suit the gallery perfectly, avoiding monotony and repetition while transitioning from collective to personal themes. The “Kallnor Art ” exhibition by master artist Buron Kaceli at the “Qahili” gallery sparked joy, both, inside and out. “I came with great pleasure,” Kaceli stated in a brief interview during the exhibition. “I responded eagerly to Eshref and Nita’s invitation because we greatly need cultural exchanges and opportunities to meet friends. I’m very moved by this large turnout of friends from various cities in Kosovo.”

One can quickly transition from these scenes to a typical image of dignified Rugova men. The steps and swords of Rugova’s men convey a message of mobilisation, infusing the festive spirit with a warrior’s rhythm. A child with a drum in another painting reinforces this theme.

All the paintings offer a journey through Albanian traditions, showcasing the artist’s dedicated study of these customs. “I deeply love and value our tradition,” Kaceli explained. “I’ve studied it extensively and try to reflect it in my paintings in various forms and situations. Wherever I go, I depict not only traditional costumes but also portraits of interesting people who represent something unique. My paintings take you on a journey through all Albanian regions.”
Buron Kaceli, the Great Master, was born on 25 January 1948 in Tirana. His artistic journey began in 1960 with studies at the Jordan Misja Art Lyceum, followed by painting studies at the Academy of Arts from 1964 to 1970. Over the years, he has contributed to various educational, artistic, and cultural institutions, holding important positions in each. He has participated in several exhibitions organised by the National Gallery of Arts abroad and has opened numerous personal exhibitions since 1975.

From the collective to the personal, one can walk through the gallery exploring the artist’s journey. You encounter those who shaped him, including portraits of his loved ones – father, mother, and wife. Masterfully presented is his father, Sadik Kaceli (1914-2000), from whom Buron inherited both profession and talent. The father is depicted in a state of tranquillity, having set his palette aside. His figure also reveals the background of a realist painter who favoured portraits and landscapes. Muse Prelvukaj highlighted this painting: “In this exhibition, the portrait of the father stands out. With free brush strokes, it captures both the artist’s grandeur and parental warmth. The painting ‘Seated Girl’ is also impressive, with the figure beautifully positioned in the composition and even better rendered in warm colours, achieving a brilliant light-shadow effect through subtle nuances.”

The painting at the gallery entrance, showcasing Tirana in its many dimensions, demands considerable study. It speaks through colours, figures, and words, powerfully conveying messages about education reform with whistles and banners. It demonstrates the author’s artistic prowess in simultaneously conveying multiple messages and diverse realities. It features dancing, reading, book browsing, students, children, and lovers – all vividly capturing Tirana’s dynamism in one space.

“My Tirana, as I see it, with its dynamism, somewhat chaotic like Prishtina, growing amidst the noise, construction, prosperity, and social issues. I’ve tried to express Tirana as I know it in this composition. I love movement; I love people and movement in art. The movement of figures expresses so much, which might be why they appear somewhat dramatic – there are no static paintings, they all express something,” the artist explained in an interview.

His paintings span from 1974-75 in the Tirana Highlands to his most recent works. In one, a woman in traditional dress clutches a bundle of national flags, seemingly gathering all regions in one place and holding them tightly. The exhibition organisers also greatly value movement. After Nita Qahili and Eshref Qahili visited the author’s studio, they selected works with significant movement, highlighting Kaceli’s distinctive style. “It’s a unique work because when you combine shadows, elements of figure movement, the characters on canvas, and colours simultaneously, it creates a harmony that reveals a very specific composition.”

According to Prelvukaj, the paintings contain contemporary content, realistic realisation, and impressive, expressive figurative expressions. This demonstrates the author’s mastery of figuration, with compositional figuration dominating most of his works and requiring more complex study.

“The space between forms is well-considered, fully respecting linear perspective rules. Forms are presented with balanced distance, blending colours to create various harmonious nuances and contrasts when needed. The author has no dilemma in creating in the spirit of the time without detaching from previous creations, transitioning with measured sensitivity to give the works contemporary value,” Prelvukaj stated in an interview.

This exhibition is open to visitors until 10 February. It’s the best opportunity to start the year with art that sets you in motion!