Exhibition in honor of the painter Tushi/ His daughter recounts her experiences: We show our family fund

2024-07-05 13:02:00, Kulturë CNA

Yesterday evening in the city of Korça, an exhibition was opened for the first time in honor of the Korça painter Vangjush Tushi, a figure of great value in this field of art, with a rather difficult life as a political prisoner, but who never did not give up his passion for painting. Tushi comes as a descendant of a bourgeois family, which, like a genuine corcar family, took care to develop this talent in the best possible way.

The history of our country has shown that there are not few cases that behind great deeds, a life full of misfortunes and turmoil is hidden.

This is what happened to Vangjush Tushin, who was arrested and sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment for agitation and propaganda, even though he was sick with Parkinson's. After 6 years in the notorious prison of Ballshi, he passed away on July 30, 1982, but left as a family legacy, hundreds of paintings that keep his image alive to this day.

In an interview for CNA, Vangjush's daughter, Etleva Tushi, tells of the great happiness that has permeated her on this marked day for her family but also for the city of Korça.

"Of course I feel very happy today, it is a marked day for me and my family. Also, a marked day for the city of Korça because after so many years, our family's fund is being displayed to be seen and appreciated by the residents of the city of Korcca. Korëna, whom my father adored, worked for him and gave him all these great values", she said.

All this fund of paintings, so carefully preserved by the family, is their whole life. Etleva Tushi says that they managed to protect her father's works even in difficult times.

"It cannot be compared, these are our lives and we have dedicated our lives to taking care of them, we have protected them and that is why they are here today. Even when we have had difficulties during our turbulent life, be it economic, political, even when we were suffering for 'bread,' we guarded them fanatically," she said.

She has very fond memories with her father, although she was almost 14 years old when Vangjushin was arrested and sentenced. She tells some of the memories that still make her sad when she remembers them and tears up.

"Unfortunately, I was at a young age when my father was arrested and sentenced. I was about 14 years old, however, I have many indelible memories. I will remember the moments when he was painting at home, when he was studying, when he was translating. His desk his work was full of books. He took us together on the excursions he made and when he painted in nature, I watched and marveled when the painting came to life. I was always by his side, even in his studio in the Agimi palace time, I was proud and took my friends with me. Foreign delegations came there, his colleagues, and I was happy that I had a painter father", she says.

For the director of the Culture and Innovation Center, Blerta Belliu, this is the opening of a cycle of exhibitions focusing on the honored figures of the city of Korça who have given a lot to our art and history.

"In fact, today we have taken an initiative for a cycle of events for the month of July, it will be Vangjush Tushi, it will be Dembo and next all the painters who are a national asset. Because the 'Guri Madhi' Gallery, you know that there is an extraordinary fund, but we have thought to take it out of the shelves and give it the right light. Not that they do not have it, they have it undisputed, but they should definitely be brought to the attention of the civic memory. We started with Tushi, an extraordinary painter in his works but also a very silent painter. With a very difficult life he managed to create his name and I believe that starting from Tushi, he will we also move on to other figures who have an extraordinary contribution to figurative art", she said.

The greatest importance of this cycle of exhibitions is for the new generation, for those young people who do not have knowledge about these figures of Korcar artists.

"These are important not only for the historical part but also for the younger generation to recognize them, because every asset that we have as a city must be recognized by the younger generations. This exhibition will not only be a memorial to Tushi but we will keep it open for a few days, to invite painting students as well as young people from the city who will get to know our extraordinary heritage", said Belliu.

The exhibition in honor of the painter Vangjush Tushi will be open for 3 consecutive days in the gallery 'Guri Madhi' in Korça, which can be visited by all art lovers. Vangjush Tushi was awarded posthumously with the title of 'Painter of the People' by the president of the Republic, as well as with the titles of 'Honorary Citizen', 'Golden Emblem of the City' and 'Knight of the Order of the Flag'. A street in the city of Korça bears the name of Vangjush Tushi in honor of his figure./ CNA