Agim Zajmi (28 November 1936 – 3 November 2013) was an

Albania Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea and shares ...

painter Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called the "matrix" or "support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush, but other implements, such as knives, sponges, and ai ...

. For his contribution to painting, he received the

People's Artist of Albania The People's Artist () was an honorary title for outstanding art performers of the People's Socialist Republic of Albania, whose merits were exceptional in the sphere of development of the performing arts (theatre, music, cinema and art). It was c ...

medal. * The most valued

scenographer A scenographer or production designer, develops the appearance of a stage design, a TV or movie set, a gaming environment, a trade fair exhibition design or a museum experience exhibition design. The term originated in theater. A scenographer work ...

of the Albanian Theater (with over 300 scenographies) * Distinguished

n painter (with about 800 artworks) * Professor at the Academy of Arts in Tirana Albanian Academy of Belle Arts for 40 years * President of the Nationwide Figurative Artists’ Association * Recognitions and awards:

, Artist Emeritus, Professor

Studies and teaching career

Zajmi was born on 28 November 1936, in

Tirana Tirana ( , ; aln, Tirona) is the capital and largest city of Albania. It is located in the centre of the country, enclosed by mountains and hills with Dajti rising to the east and a slight valley to the northwest overlooking the Adriatic Sea ...

, Albania. He completed his studies in

painting Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called the "matrix" or "support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush, but other implements, such as knives, sponges, and ...

, scenography- costumography at The Imperial Arts Academy of Saint Petersburg and graduated in 1961. In the same year he commenced working as a scenographer at the Opera and Ballet Theater of Tirana and later on worked mainly at the Tirana National Theater. He also worked very frequently with the national theaters of

Prishtina Pristina, ; sr, / (, ) is the capital and largest city of Kosovo. The city's municipal boundaries in Pristina District form the largest urban center in Kosovo. After Tirana, Pristina has the second largest population of ethnic Albanians and ...

in Kosova, of Shkup in Macedonia and of

Montenegro ) , image_map = Europe-Montenegro.svg , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Podgorica , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , official_languages = M ...

. Zajmi participated in several international festivals of theater as a stage designer and painter. From 1978, until his death Zajmi was a professor at the

Academy of Music and Arts of Albania An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary or tertiary higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membership). The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, f ...

in Tirana. He was a

professor Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an Academy, academic rank at university, universities and other post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin as a "person who pr ...

and dean of The Albanian Academy of Belle Arts in Tirana. In 1978, upon request of the Albanian Arts Academy, he founded the scenography studies program and took the chair at The Albanian Academy of Belle Arts in Tirana, where hundreds of future scenographers would study and graduate. He taught there for the next 40 years.

Artworks

His artwork has been exhibited in many countries such as

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United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...

Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...

Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...

Egypt Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediter ...

, etc. Forty of his paintings and scenography are part of the Tirana National Art Gallery collection and collections in other countries as well. Some of his artwork is currently exhibited at the Building of the Prime Ministry of Albania.

National and international awards

He is the winner of many national awards in painting and scenography. For his artistic excellence and merit, he has been awarded: * Winner of KULT Award 2008 - Best Scenographer of the Year * First Prize Award in Painting for ''Kosova Field'' artwork - 1989Zajmi na la emblemën e betejës së Fushë Kosovës
, lajmonline.com * First Prize Award in Scenography for the '' General of the Dead Army'' theatrical scenography, Kragujevac Festival - Prishtina 1976 * First Prize Award in Scenography for the Eugène Ionesco ''

Rhinoceros A rhinoceros (; ; ), commonly abbreviated to rhino, is a member of any of the five extant species (or numerous extinct species) of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. (It can also refer to a member of any of the extinct species o ...

'' theatrical scenography, Rajsburg Biennale - Poland 1996 * Naim Frasheri Medal Award -1968 * Second Prize Award in Painting for ''Vasil Laçi'' Portrait artwork - 1972 * Second Prize Award in Painting for ''Ganimet Tërbesha'' Portrait artwork - 1981 * Second Prize Award in Painting for '' Ded Gjo Luli'' Composition artwork - 1984 * Aleksandër Moisiu Award - 1997 *

Merited Artist of Albania Merited Artist of Albania ( sq, Artist i Merituar) was a state honorary title for the decoration of outstanding art performers of People's Socialist Republic of Albania. It was created by law in 1960 and amended in 1980. The title was no longer gi ...

- Awarded in 1975 * People's Artist of the Republic of Albania - Awarded in 1991 * In 1995 he is awarded the title

Professor Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an Academy, academic rank at university, universities and other post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin as a "person who pr ...

with the motivation for services rendered to the people of Albania by teaching and enriching the Albanian social life with young painters and scenographers * Forty of his paintings and scenographies are part of the national fund of the Albanian National Art Gallery

His artistic-scientific creativity

He is the writer and editor of the "Issues of Scenography and its Components", a chapter in ''Theoretical Basis of the Figurative Arts'' book which is a textbook for the students of the Tirana Academy of Belle Arts. Lecturer of many artistic and scientific thesis such as "The Development of Albanian Art" at the University of

Algiers Algiers ( ; ar, الجزائر, al-Jazāʾir; ber, Dzayer, script=Latn; french: Alger, ) is the capital and largest city of Algeria. The city's population at the 2008 Census was 2,988,145Census 14 April 2008: Office National des Statistiques ...

and "The Artwork of the Albanian Painter Vangjush Mio" in

Ankara Ankara ( , ; ), historically known as Ancyra and Angora, is the capital of Turkey. Located in the central part of Anatolia, the city has a population of 5.1 million in its urban center and over 5.7 million in Ankara Province, maki ...

. He is the president of the Nationwide Figurative Artists’ Association with headquarters in Tirana, Albania. The association cooperates with Albanian artists from all ethnic Albanian territories ( Kosova, Macedonia,

Montenegro ) , image_map = Europe-Montenegro.svg , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Podgorica , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , official_languages = M ...

and

) as well as the Albanian

Diaspora A diaspora ( ) is a population that is scattered across regions which are separate from its geographic place of origin. Historically, the word was used first in reference to the dispersion of Greeks in the Hellenic world, and later Jews after ...

National recognition

The impact and repercussion of Zajmi's artwork and artistic activity has been reflected in various books, interviews and documentary films broadcast on both the

national National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, ce ...

and private

TV channels Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or the medium of television transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertising, e ...

. * �
A voice in the microphone
��,

Radio Tirana Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (; en, "Albanian Radio and Television"; mostly called RTSH ) is an Albanian public broadcasting radio and television company. Founded in 1938, it operates several radio and television channels, over a domestic transmi ...

, Guest Agim Zajmi, 30 minutes -1995 * “Blue - with Agim Zajmi”, Klan TV, 120 minutes - 2004 * �
The Theater is My Home
�� by Arben Minga,

Albanian Radio Television Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (; en, "Albanian Radio and Television"; mostly called RTSH ) is an Albanian public broadcasting radio and television company. Founded in 1938, it operates several radio and television channels, over a domestic transmi ...

, 1 hour - 2005 * , Vizion+ TV, 30 minutes - November 2000 * , ALSAT TV, 1 hour - January 2008 * “Red Fish’s Escape” with Agim Zajmi, NEWS24 TV, 30 minutes - 2009 * �
Agim Zajmi, the poet of scenography
��

Biblio. P. 181-182 - L. 350 Tir.800. Classification 75 .054 .071.1(496.5)(092) 929(496.5) ajmi, Agim

* �
I am optimistic on the future
�� - interview with Agim Zajmi, ''Art and Culture Newspaper'', 2000, Nr. 33, 13 December, P.5 * �
I feel comfortable among the youth
�� - Interview with Agim Zajmi (Scenographer and painter), ''Gazeta 55 Newspaper'', Nr. 8, 14 January 2005, P.16 * �
We must be conductors of the epochs
�� - Interview with Agim Zajmi, journalist Admirina Peçi ''Tema Newspaper'', Nr. 252, 22–23 April 2001 P. 16-17 * �
The life and professional values of the father of many Albanian scenographies
��, article on Agim Zajmi by Professor Kudret Velça and Kristaq Dhamo, ''Gazeta Shqiptare Newspaper'', Nr. 1969, 5 September 2001, P.12-13. * �
The world will accept like artists when we will come like albanians
��. Article on journal ''Bashkimi'', Nr. 4516, P.6. * �
Agim Zajmi the poet of scenography
��. Monograph, author Kundet Velça, redactor Adriatik Kallulli and Qirjako Meniko, "Maluka Editions", Tirana, 2000, 75.054.071.(496.5)(092)929(496.5) * �
Souvenirs from meetings of Agim Zajmi with the big albanian writer Azem Shkreli
"Bashkimi" Newspaper, Number 15, 28 july 1997, p.3 * �
Agim Zajmi, 50 creations, gift for Berat. And on the scenography of the Comedy “I need a husband
�� - Interview with the scenographer Agim Zajmi”, ''Shekulli Newspaper'', Nr. 338, 8 December 2001, P. 21 by Admirina Peçi. * �
The exhibition, with the artist’s eye. Painter Agim Zajmi expresses his opinions on the Ceramics International Exhibition
��, ''Dita Newspaper'', Nr. 381, 14 March 2002, P.14, by Admirim Domi. * �
I am pleased with my life’s account
�� - on the 67th birthday anniversary of Scenographer Agim Zajmi, ''Dita Newspaper'', Nr. 962, 29 November 2003, P.19. * �
Art is the ocean where anyone can swim : Painter Agim Zajmi narrates
��, ''Koha Jone Newspaper'', Nr. 358, 29 December 2003, P.21, by Baxhul Merkaj. * �
Zajmi, the man who gave breath to the stage : Agim Zajmi - Scenographer
��, ''Dita Newspaper'', Nr.1254, 20 September 2004, P.18 by Bexhul Merkaj and Albert Z. Zholi. * �
I believe in the younger generation
�� - interview of Dorina Azo with Agim Zajmi, ''Gazeta 55 Newspaper'', Nr. 8, 14 January 2005, P.16. * �
A poor artwork is very tiring
�� - interview with Agim Zajmi, ''Dita Newspaper'', Nr. 1351, 7 January 2005, P.19, by Anila Çuli. * �
Art teaches people how to view reality
�� - interview with the Scenographer and Painter Agim Zajmi, ''Sot Newspaper'', 30 April 2006, P.18-19, by Genta Kondi. * �
Artistic works can be sold only in joy or grief moments
�� - interview with the Scenographer and Painter Agim Zajmi, ''Korrieri'', number 285, 14 october 2006, P.22, by Ymeri Anisa. * �
Kosova, the permanent motif of my paintings
�� - interview of Eralda Kenaj ''Gazeta 55'' Newspaper, number 28, 1 february 2008, P.15. * �
An entire life searching the beauty
�� - interview of Najdeni-Bilbili, Bukurie ''Gazeta 55'' Newspaper, number 59, 8 mars 2007, P.12. * �
Përcillet për në banesën e fundit piktori dhe skenografi Agim Zajmi
��. Gazeta SHQIP. 2013-10-16. Retrieved 2013-11-08.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Zajmi, Agim Albanian painters 1936 births 2013 deaths People's Artists of Albania Merited Artists of Albania Artists from Tirana