“Everything is nature, even pollution”
Eltjon Valle, born in 1984 in Kuçova, Berat, Albania, currently lives and works in Milan, Italy. He studied at the Brera Academy of Fine Arts from 2002 to 2007, and later graduated as a Specialist of Visual Art in 2009.
Through his art, Valle highlights the pressing need to combat the exploitation of land and the pollution that it causes, inspired by the political and ecological turmoil he witnessed in his hometown of Kurcova, specifically the Patos-Marinza Oil Field. Valle has used his art to document and depict this specific area of oilfields in Albania, while also reflecting the limitations and challenges imposed by the geological and geographical context. Through a variety of artistic visions and techniques, Valle expresses and explores the significance of land in his work.
Valle has created three series that further showcase his vision and mission:
The Land Pieces series is a poignant commentary on the impact of the petroleum industry on our environment. By collecting polluted earth from his hometown of Kucova and molding it into striking shapes through a heating process, Valle creates a visually striking and thought-provoking installation. The triangular shape of the works in this series represents the wealth pyramid, drawing attention to the inequality in wealth and quality of life within our society.
In the Missing Earth series, Valle employs earth collected from his travels around the world, mixed with oil and painted with natural colors. This series is inspired by the spatial concept of Lucio Fontana and is meant to recall the stars and planets in the universe, symbolizing our search for new planets as we leave our polluted earth behind.
The Teddies series is a poignant reflection on the uncertain future facing future generations due to our failure to protect them from pollution. Valle's own experiences as a child, playing in the backyard of contaminated fields in Kucova, inspired this series and serve as a reminder of the lasting impact of our actions on the world around us. Overall, Valle's art is a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of the themes of environmental degradation and inequality.