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Virtual tour of IMPRINT by Helidon Xhixha
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ABOUT IMPRINT
IMPRINT brings forth two stainless steel sculptures titled ICEBERG and EARTH, created in support of raising awareness of global warming and the melting of polar glaciers.
The floating installation ICEBERG by Helidon Xhixha was first exhibited in the middle of the Venetian lagoon in occasion of the 56th Venice Biennale in 2015. The four-meter-high stainless steel sculpture captivated audiences, garnering much attention from industry professionals and the media alike as it floated through the Canal Grande and the Venetian lagoon. The work served as a statement for global warming and the potential impact it could have on a place such as Venice in the near future.
ICEBERG in the Gulf represents a small iceberg that has detached itself from an icecap, and whilst floating astray has arrived in the Persian Gulf. Not only is the view of this massive, irregular block of stainless-steel measuring 400 x 200 cm striking and aesthetically fascinating, but also represents a stern ecological warning.
Parallel to the environmental message, EARTH provokes thoughts on the impact of climate change, a global problem that will affect every individual on each of the seven continents of the world. The installation works in conjunction with ICEBERG, acting as its terrestrial counterpoint and memorializes the continued damage we inflict upon the planet.
Xhixha has accomplished his role in creating art that uses its beauty to incite positive dialogues on issues that need to be addressed. It is now up to you to make sure the message reaches and inspires as many people as possible; art needs its audience to invigorate change.
“As Icebergs calve from melting ice caps, we are drifting away into an uncertain future. Global Warming isn’t a prediction, it’s happening”
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Biography of Helidon Xhixha
Helidon Xhixha (b. 1970) has, in recent decades, affirmed his position as a leading figure in today’s contemporary art scene, with his work going on to receive much critical success on an international platform. Upon discussing Xhixha’s iconic stainless steel sculptures, the prominent Italian art critic Luca Beatrice is quoted as calling the artist “one of the most interesting sculptors on the contemporary scene”. Currently based in Milan and Dubai, Xhixha holds a prestigious role in the international art scene sharing his innovative vision and technique through monumental examples of public art and redefining the relationship between a sculpture and its environment.
Having inherited a passion for the arts from his father, Helidon Xhixha took the decision to study in Italy, where he was able to develop his technique whilst at Milan’s prestigious Brera Art Academy. In 1998 the artist was awarded a scholarship to attended London’s Kingston University where he was given the opportunity to work with new materials, including stainless steel, that would go on to become the signature medium through which he would lay down his artistic legacy over a 15 year period. Throughout his artistic trajectory, Xhixha’s three-dimensional stainless steel sculptures have shed light upon the inherent relationship between the artwork and its surrounding environment. As famously stated by Xhixha, “I don’t sculpt materials; rather I use materials to sculpt light.”
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IMPRINT by Helidon Xhixha
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