Andrea PALASTI

Albania, a new Mediterranean love ,photographs, 50 x 50 cm (4pcs), 20 x 20 cm (1pc), 2008

Albania, a new Mediterranean love¹

OFrom 1945 to 1990, Albania had one of the most repressive authorities in Europe. Communist dictator Enver Hoxha forbade religion, ruined lots of churches and mosques, closed the country's borders, forbade the freedom of speech, and the youth at the age of fifteen were trained in defense strategy. He built thousands of bunkers in case of enemy attacks which never occurred. These bunkers were made of reinforced concrete and iron, and were mostly just big enough to hold two people and their rifles. The model bunkers were tested on dogs. Most of them were built between 1974 and 1984. There are approximately 700.000 military bunkers throughout the country, and they are everywhere: on the beaches and mountains, in vineyards and pastures, in villages and towns, even on the manicured lawns of Albania's best hotels. Today, some of them have become the meeting points for lovers.

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Andrea PALASTI was born in 1984 in Novi Sad. She graduated from the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad at the department of Photography. She had two solo exhibitions and took part in a number of group exhibitions both in the country and abroad. She is an active researcher, trying to learn more about different topics and different people through photography.

Contact: struron(at)gmail.com