Seaside Sand Art – Durrës Becomes an Open-Air Gallery
Seaside Sand Art – An International Festival of Sand Sculptures
For three days, the beach of Durrës turned into a unique gallery of ephemeral art.
For three days, the coast of Durrës was transformed into an open-air gallery, where artists from around the world shaped the sand into extraordinary works of art.
Seaside Sand Art brought together 16 artists from Albania, Kosovo, Croatia, Armenia, Italy, and China. Their works were arranged in a circle of 12 sculptures, symbolizing the passing of time and the fleeting beauty of experience.
Organizer Indrit Hamiti emphasized the meaning of the installation:
“The sculptures form a circle, like the hands of a clock, reminding us of the temporality of life and art. People stop, take photos, and interact with the artists — turning the beach into a space of culture and dialogue.”
Artists who visited Albania for the first time shared their experiences:
• Angelo Gabriele Fierro (Italy): “I have worked worldwide, but this is my first time in Albania. I am impressed by the organization and the atmosphere.”
• Chinese sculptors: “We presented two works: a panda and a yin–yang sculpture. They reflect our traditions, which we wanted to share with the Albanian public.”
Local artists appealed for the activity to continue as a cultural tradition:
Alep Toska: “It would be wonderful for this to turn into an annual event, both for us as artists and for the city.”
Arton Behrami: “Why not turn this into an annual tradition that enriches Durrës as an art center?”
Awards & Recognition
At the end of the festival, a jury of distinguished Albanian artists evaluated the works. The jury was composed of : Artan Shabani, Qazim Kërtusha, Kejdi Sejdiu, Alfred Mirashi, Alket Meslami.
The First Prize went to Selam Kastrati (Kosovo), for a sculpture inspired by his girlfriend. His work represented an intimate embrace, where two figures’ bodies merged into limbs resembling an octopus — a metaphor for love’s force that fuses two beings into one.
Seaside Sand Art proved to be more than an artistic display ,it became a cultural attraction that united citizens, tourists, and artists.
With its success and public interest, hopes are high that this festival will continue to grow and become a yearly tradition on the Albanian Riviera.
Year: 2024
Category: Art
Country/ City: Albania, Durrës
Gallery
