Darling squeeze the button and remove my memory
Curated by Vesa Sahatçiu
Galeria e Arteve e Kosovës, Prishtina
20 May – 30 June 2014

“Darling squeeze the button and remove my memory” is the first solo show of Petrit Halilaj at the National Gallery of Kosovo and his first presentation to the Kosovar public, after he was commissioned to represent the Republic of Kosovo at the Venice Biennale in 2013.
The title of the exhibition, like his previous titles, is taken from his writings: these diary-like pieces are intimate and playful ruminations on various topics that are partly personal, partly comments on various social phenomena, partly ideas of imagined worlds and partly a play in words.

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Performance for the Opening night, Canary costume.
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Performance for the Opening night, Canary costume.
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Performance for the Opening night, Canary costume.
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Installation view: ´Because it is for you my Dear, and the Sky doesn´t see you and we can fall. Yes I am doing it for you, to see if you are free too´, 2011. 12 painted panels, each circa 300 x 200 cm. ´Can we do something together, just this and then free forever´, sculptures. Wood, iron, glass, color pigments.
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Installation view: ´Because it is for you my Dear, and the Sky doesn´t see you and we can fall. Yes I am doing it for you, to see if you are free too´, 2011. 12 painted panels, each circa 300 x 200 cm. ´Can we do something together, just this and then free forever´, sculptures. Wood, iron, glass, color pigments.
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Installation view: ´Because it is for you my Dear, and the Sky doesn´t see you and we can fall. Yes I am doing it for you, to see if you are free too´, 2011. 12 painted panels, each circa 300 x 200 cm. ´Can we do something together, just this and then free forever´, sculptures. Wood, iron, glass, color pigments.
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Installation view: ´Because it is for you my Dear, and the Sky doesn´t see you and we can fall. Yes I am doing it for you, to see if you are free too´, 2011. 12 painted panels, each circa 300 x 200 cm. ´Can we do something together, just this and then free forever´, sculptures. Wood, iron, glass, color pigments.
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Installation view: ´Because it is for you my Dear, and the Sky doesn´t see you and we can fall. Yes I am doing it for you, to see if you are free too´, 2011. 12 painted panels, each circa 300 x 200 cm. ´Can we do something together, just this and then free forever´, sculptures. Wood, iron, glass, color pigments.
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Installation view: ´Because it is for you my Dear, and the Sky doesn´t see you and we can fall. Yes I am doing it for you, to see if you are free too´, 2011. 12 painted panels, each circa 300 x 200 cm. ´Can we do something together, just this and then free forever´, sculptures. Wood, iron, glass, color pigments.
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Installation view: ´Because it is for you my Dear, and the Sky doesn´t see you and we can fall. Yes I am doing it for you, to see if you are free too´, 2011. 12 painted panels, each circa 300 x 200 cm. ´Can we do something together, just this and then free forever´, sculptures. Wood, iron, glass, color pigments.
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Installation view: ´Because it is for you my Dear, and the Sky doesn´t see you and we can fall. Yes I am doing it for you, to see if you are free too´, 2011. 12 painted panels, each circa 300 x 200 cm. ´Can we do something together, just this and then free forever´, sculptures. Wood, iron, glass, color pigments.
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Installation view: ´Because it is for you my Dear, and the Sky doesn´t see you and we can fall. Yes I am doing it for you, to see if you are free too´, 2011. 12 painted panels, each circa 300 x 200 cm. ´Can we do something together, just this and then free forever´, sculptures. Wood, iron, glass, color pigments.
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Installation view: ´Because it is for you my Dear, and the Sky doesn´t see you and we can fall. Yes I am doing it for you, to see if you are free too´, 2011. 12 painted panels, each circa 300 x 200 cm. ´Can we do something together, just this and then free forever´, sculptures. Wood, iron, glass, color pigments.
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Installation view: ´Because it is for you my Dear, and the Sky doesn´t see you and we can fall. Yes I am doing it for you, to see if you are free too´, 2011. 12 painted panels, each circa 300 x 200 cm. ´Can we do something together, just this and then free forever´, sculptures. Wood, iron, glass, color pigments.
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Installation view: ´Because it is for you my Dear, and the Sky doesn´t see you and we can fall. Yes I am doing it for you, to see if you are free too´, 2011. 12 painted panels, each circa 300 x 200 cm. ´Can we do something together, just this and then free forever´, sculptures. Wood, iron, glass, color pigments.
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´It is the first time dear that you have a human shape´, 2012. metal, ruins. Each earring: ø 350 cm
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´It is the first time dear that you have a human shape´, 2012. metal, ruins. Each earring: ø 350 cm
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´It is the first time dear that you have a human shape´, 2012. metal, ruins. Each earring: ø 350 cm
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´Who does the earth belong to while painting the wind?!´, 2012. HD video: 13′ circa. Various drawings, 1997-1998, Petrit Halilaj.
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´Who does the earth belong to while painting the wind?!´, 2012. HD video: 13′ circa. Various drawings, 1997-1998, Petrit Halilaj.
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´Cleopatra (lamp)´, 2011-2013. Electric motor, iron arm, light bulb, electric wire
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´Cleopatra (lamp)´, 2011-2013. Electric motor, iron arm, light bulb, electric wire
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´Bourgeois Hens (series)´, 2013. One drawing repeated on nine pages with carbon paper, until disappearing
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´Bourgeois Hens (series)´, 2013. One drawing repeated on nine pages with carbon paper, until disappearing
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´Bourgeois Hen´, drawing on paper, wood frame
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´Bourgeois Hen´, drawing on paper, wood frame
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´They are Lucky to be Bourgeois Hens´, 2008. Aquarium, iron, elecricity, motors, feather