Solo exhibition of Safet Spahiu, entitled “Purple Imagination”
We would like to inform you that on 11.11.2025 (Tuesday), at 7 pm, the solo exhibition of the artist and professor at the Tetovo State University, Safet Spahiu, entitled “Purple Imagination” will open in Cifte Hamam at the National Gallery of Macedonia.
Fifty works from his latest cycle of paintings made in mixed media will be exhibited. The exhibition will be opened by the director of the National Gallery of Macedonia, Ali Sinani.
The curator of the exhibition is Maja Krstevska and it will be open until 24.11.2025.
“PURPLE IMAGINATION”
The exhibition of the cycle “The Colour Purple” by the visual artist Safet Spahiu at the National Gallery of Macedonia depicts his journey through several poetic circles. Through his own individual expression which dominantly guides his present focus, he imparts a poetic stamp on each expression. In order to execute the complex idea around the content and the manner in which he depicts the motif, he visualises the poetics of the colour purple in a graph like structure with expressive background tonality, maintaining a constant impression of narrative symbols and a clearly imprinted reflection. His depictions are highlighted; Spahiu thoughtfully and fittingly shapes what I would call the challenges of the creative capacity, aiming to achieve his goal, thus thoroughly conceives his idea through a decorously executed composition.
A hallmark of this Cycle are the bold contrasts with semi-tone strokes, as well as the desire to drown out and completely circumvent the challenges of existence; thus the observer is free to fully explore the pieces and experience the joy of his entire oeuvre. Furthermore, the artist demonstrates his pure dedication to the unusual, the imaginary, and a realised poetic and artistic commitment that primarily leads to a synthesis based upon his own experiences. With his contemporary interpretation and the intensive use of different values in the transition of colour towards the purple hue, he achieves an equal artistic impact that is stylistically linked.
The artist’s poetic impression is depicted as a universal information through his focus on separately presented expressions, set within a new spiritual ambience and already imbued with dignity. The need to communicate a message, thought, or idea through interpretation of the artwork emerges here as a clear sensation of signs and symbols, forming a narrative that extends the very nature of its realisation.
Spahiu reveals the emotion in every stroke with amplified vitality and through the interplay of colours, he spontaneously weaves them into a singular narrative, embodying a part of his being, his inner visions, and the outer world.
Ultimately, the analysis of the depictions show that Spahiu, with a remarkable ease and narrative precision, brings cohesion to the poetic purple, which he establishes as an abstract expressionist principle, while simultaneously maintaining the vitality of the composition.
Maja Krstevska Senior curator
BIOGRAPHY
Born 1960 He was born in Prizren – the Republic of Kosovo, has lived in Gostivar since 1994.
Education 1981 – 1985, graduated at the Faculty of Arts at the University of Pristina, Department of graphic design, in the class of Professor Shyqri Nimani.
Post-graduate studies 2000, Completed his post-graduate studies at the Faculty of Art, department of Graphic Design in the class of Professor Shyqri Nimani at the University of Pristina.
Solo exhibitions
Prizren:
1986 Cultural Centre
1988 KUD “Agimi”
1991 Gallery “Vatra”
1992 KUD “Agimi”
1993 Art Gallery “RADA”
1996 Art Gallery “RADA”
2018 City Gallery “AMAM”
Gostivar:
1996 Café Gallery “La Mrage”
1996 Café Gallery “La Mrage”
2005 Cultural Centre “ASNOM”
2018 Gallery KULT
2025 Gallery KULT
Skopje:
2000 Art Club “Alternativa”
2007 Cultural Information Centre
2009 National Gallery “Cifte Amam”
2015 Cultural Information Centre
2025 National Gallery “Cifte Amam”
New York, USA:
2009 Gallery MC in New York
2019 Gallery MC in New York
Pula, Republic of Croatia:
2023 Gallery Cvajner
Istanbul, Republic of Turkey
2023 Cultural Information Centre
Group exhibition
He has been a part of numerous group exhibitions in the country and abroad, including: Kosovo, Albania, Croatia,
Germany, France, Turkey, Bulgaria, Argentina, USA, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, etc.
Awards:
1995 Award “Flaka e Janarit” Gnilane
2000 Award “Istaknat Pedagog” FFA, SUT – Tetovo
2000. Award “Ars Albanika” Pristina
2007 Award “Lazar Licenoski” DLUM Skopje
2008 Award for Contribution to SUT – Tetovo
2010 Award “Noemrviska Nagrada” DLUM Draudakum
2012 Award “Global Art Competition” KOSOVA ART Pristina