Helidon Xhixha
| Helidon Xhixha | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1970 (age 46–47) Durrës, Albania |
| Nationality | Albanian |
| Alma mater |
Academy of Arts in Tirana Brera Academy Kingston University |
| Known for | Sculpture |
| Awards | Public Medal, 2016 London Design Biennale |
| Website | www |
Helidon Xhixha is a contemporary artist born in Durrës, Albania, in December 1970. Xhixha is known for his stainless steel sculptures, which is often fused with other mediums such as marble or brass.
Born into a family of artists, Xhixha inherited his respect for the Fine Arts and passion for sculpting from his father, whom among other things, was a state portraitist for the Albanian government. Following secondary school he first attended and graduated from the Academy of Arts in Tirana, where he was a part of a rising period for Albanian art. He then moved to Italy, where he attended the Brera Art Academy of Milan in 1991. In 1998 Xhixha was awarded a scholarship to Kingston University, London, where he developed techniques in engraving, sculpting and photography. Graduating from the Brera Academy in February 1999 his creations included works in Murano glass and sculptures in stainless steel using innovative and specialised techniques. He is known for his use of polished stainless steel in his statues.
In 2003, Xhixha sculpted the work Monument to the Prancing Horse, a work inspired by the logo of the sports car producer Ferrari. It was initially displayed on the grounds of the Gallerio del Vento, and is now located in the Rotonda Via Grizzaga of Maranello, Italy. In June 2007, Xhixha presented a sculpture at the Cornice Venice International Art Fair to pay tribute to the victims of 9/11. The six-meter-tall monument entitled Renaissance of the Twin Towers has been exhibited in numerous cultural capitals including Florence and Berlin. Utilising the imagery of the American Flag, the work becomes a symbol of civilisation whilst invoking contemporary ideas like those explored by Jasper Johns and Donald Judd.
In the early 2010s, Xhixha began producing sculpture works inspired by Dubai and the UAE. He first visited Dubai in 2001, but delivered his first public monument to the city in 2012, entitled Elliptical Energy. He then exhibited at the festival "Design Days Dubai". In 2014 Xhixha formed a partnership with PMG, located on Sunny Isles Beach, Florida. The building was designed by Uruguayan architect Carlos Ott, and Xhixha was commissioned to make a sculpture for each of the 68 residential units, stating to the New York Times that he envisioned the project as "my very own private museum."
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