# Driton Selmani

Driton Selmani (born 8 February 1987) is a Kosovar contemporary visual artist whose practice spans across various media including installation, photography, text, and public art. His works often explore complex themes such as identity, politics, history, and social change, engaging viewers with a blend of humor, irony, and critical reflection.
Selmani's art has garnered international recognition, positioning him as a significant figure in the contemporary art scene, particularly within the Balkan region. He is known for his participation at the Manifesta 14, Beaufort Triennale, Maxxi Museum, Ludwig Museum, Virtualni muzej Dotrščina, MSU Skopje, Kunsthaus Graz, 019-Ghent, Kahan Art Space Vienna, and many others.

## Early life and education

Driton Selmani was born in Doganaj, Kaçanik, during a period marked by political unrest and conflict in the Balkans. Growing up in a post-socialist environment, his early life was influenced by the cultural and socio-political changes that took place during the dissolution of Yugoslavia and the subsequent Kosovo War. These experiences have profoundly shaped his artistic vision, inspiring him to delve into topics of collective memory, identity, and the socio-political landscape.
Selmani pursued his education in visual arts in Bournemouth, United Kingdom, at the Arts University Bournemouth where he began to develop his unique conceptual approach to art-making. His early works already exhibited his characteristic blend of personal narrative and critical engagement with broader social issues.

## Artistic practice

Selmani's artistic practice is characterized by its conceptual depth and versatility across different media. His work often blurs the boundaries between art and everyday life, challenging conventional perceptions of public and private spaces. A recurring theme in his work is the exploration of how history, memory, and identity are constructed and perceived, particularly within the context of Kosovo's complex political landscape.

### Site-specific projects and public art

Selmani is particularly known for his site-specific projects and public art commissions. These works are designed to engage directly with the spaces they inhabit, creating a dialogue between the artwork, its environment, and the public.
His works often provoke reflection on the role of art in society and its potential to influence social change.
One of his most prominent public artworks is "Eye to Eye" (2018), created for the Amsterdam Light Festival. This installation, part of the Light Art Collection in Amsterdam, utilizes light as a medium to explore themes of perception and perspective, encouraging viewers to reflect on their relationship with their surroundings and with others. The work has been praised for its ability to transform public space and engage audiences in a meaningful way.

## Key exhibitions

Selmani's work has been exhibited in various international exhibitions, contributing to his growing reputation as an influential contemporary artist. Some of his notable exhibitions include:
* Everything We Do Is Really, Really Brilliant (2023): This solo exhibition at Kahan Art in Vienna showcased Selmani's exploration of the intersection between public and private spaces. The exhibition was a critical success, highlighting Selmani's ability to create thought-provoking works that challenge conventional artistic boundaries.
* The Other Re-Imagine the Future (2023): Held at Kunsthaus Graz in Austria, this exhibition featured Selmani's work alongside other contemporary artists, exploring the theme of speculative futures. Selmani's contribution to the exhibition was noted for its incisive commentary on the potential for art to envision alternative realities and societal structures.
* Manifesta 14 Prishtina (2022): a significant edition of the Manifesta Biennial, which took place in his home city of Pristina. His work in the biennial engaged with local narratives and the broader geopolitical context of the Balkans, further establishing his relevance in both regional and international art discourses.
* Triennale Beaufort Lost Words (2024): As part of this triennial exhibition in Belgium, he continued his exploration of language, memory, and communication through his art. His works in this exhibition were noted for their poetic and poignant examination of the impermanence of words and the fragility of memory.

### The Barking of The Clouds Does Not Hurt The Dogs

Held at MSU Skopje from 4 April 2022 to 25 February 2023, this exhibition takes its title from Selmani's site-specific work The Barking of the Clouds Does Not Hurt the Dogs, 2022, a riff on both Charles Baudelaire and a Berber proverb. Installed on the roof of the museum's atrium, the typographic sculpture is set against the sky above a pile of broken glass. The ever-shifting cloudscape provides a context and animates the text, but the real thrust of the piece is semiotic. By attributing the qualities of a dog to the clouds, the artist inhabits a poetic terrain resignifying both and wittily affecting the representational relation between word and image.

### Bigger than Myself, Heroic Voices from ex-Yugoslavia

Held at MAXXI Museum, Rome from 5 May 2021 to 12 September 2021, Selmani participated in his monumental work and in the limits of impossibility and destruction of public space with the title Red Tape, A brave intervention in a very sensitive place and time.
The exhibition marked a new chapter in the research dedicated to the Middle East and the Mediterranean area. Illustrating the artistic buzz in former Yugoslavian countries with a specific interpretation key. Over 50 artists read the history of the area through the gestures of contemporary heroes, who contributed to the crisis of nationalism, favoring important reflections on the themes of hospitality and coexistence.

## Love Letters on plastic bags

Since 2018, Driton Selmani has been developing a distinctive, ongoing project in which he writes love letters on plastic bags. This work touches on themes such as politics, ecology, art, and philosophy. By choosing plastic - an ordinary, disposable material - Selmani critiques the environmental consequences of consumerism, while transforming the mundane into a medium for intimate, thoughtful communication. His project has garnered attention for its inventive method of engaging with contemporary issues through a deeply personal lens, merging the every day with profound artistic expression.

## Artistic style and themes

Selmani's work is marked by its conceptual rigor and the use of humor and irony to critique societal norms. He often employs text and language as central elements in his work, creating pieces that engage viewers on both a visual and intellectual level. His art is deeply rooted in the context of Kosovo, but its themes resonate universally, addressing broader questions of identity, memory, and the role of art in society.

## Impact and legacy

Driton Selmani's work has had a significant impact on the contemporary art scene, particularly in the Balkans. His ability to engage with complex themes in an accessible and thought-provoking manner has earned him recognition from both critics and the public. As he continues to develop his practice and engage with new projects, Selmani's influence is likely to grow, contributing to the ongoing dialogue about the role of art in addressing social and political issues.

## Books and publications

Hidden in Plain Sight (2023) is the first comprehensive monograph on Driton Selmani, a multivalent Kosovar artist whose work spans various mediums, including sketching, photography, site-specific installations, sculpture, video art, and performance. The publication, as reflected in its title, draws attention to both Selmani and Kosovar artists who have often been "hidden in plain sight" within the broader art world. This richly illustrated and meticulously researched book traces Selmani's artistic career, offering detailed documentation of his exhibitions, making it an essential archive, handbook, and reference for understanding his work and the contemporary art scene in Pristina, Kosovo, within its broader geopolitical context.
Edited by art historian and curator Lora Sariaslan, Hidden in Plain Sight features the most extensive and interdisciplinary text on Selmani to date, positioning his work within the broader framework of art history. Additionally, contributions from notable figures such as Nita Luci, an anthropologist and professor at the University of Pristina, and Linda Gusia, a sociologist and activist, explore the Kosovar dimensions of Selmani's art. Hana Ostan Ožbolt, curator and director of the ULAY Foundation, writes about her experience curating Selmani's exhibition in Ljubljana, highlighting the role of international cultural cooperation in his work.
The book, designed by Nita Salihu Hoxha from Studio Permanent, showcases Selmani's artistic journey through visual elements like sketches and drawings, further enriched by comprehensive documentation of his exhibitions. This English-language publication is not only a deep dive into Selmani's practice but also a valuable reference on contemporary art in Kosovo and the broader Balkan region.