Ibrahim Kodra, the painter whose signature remains a work of art

By: Jurgis Çyrbja

"Incluso su firma es una obra de arte." (Even his signature is a work of art.) said Pablo Picasso about Ibrahim Kodra, the most important internationally recognized Albanian painter.

Ibrahim Kodra was born on April 22, 1918, in Ishem, in the district of Durres, where today is his resting place. The world-famous artist, the pride of our nation, left us about six thousand works as an extraordinary heritage not only for Albanian art, but also for world art, as his emblematic figure is considered one of the most important in the art of the XNUMXth century.

Ibrahim Kodra exhibited his works around the world, in the most prestigious galleries alongside art giants, such as: Pablo Picasso, Henri Mattise, Marc Chagall, Salvador Dali, Georges Braque and many other art giants, some of whom he was not alone with fellow traveler in the artistic journey, but also had a close and influential friendship.

Ibrahim Kodra was a post-cubist, whose artistic formation was greatly influenced by Pablo Picasso's cubism, especially after the close friendship that was born between them in Rome in 1948. Newspapers of the time wrote about Picasso together with Kodra, considering the Albanian as "the last post-cubist in Europe."

But Kodra's art differed in nature and emotion from the typical cubism of the figures that founded this art style, which focused more on three-dimensional and deepening linear, atmospheric perspective and inner human nature. Kodra used cubism as a contemporary style combined with Albanian nature, tradition, colors and emotions.

In his works, Albanian costumes and clothing, the characteristic nature of his people, and even the landscapes, whether whole paintings or even in the background, resemble his birthplace, Ishmi, on the other side of the Adriatic, from Italy, where he lived.

That's why Picasso called the friendship he had with Kodra food for the soul. "My Albanian" referred to Picasso during their long conversations. All the great artists of the time, during the conversations with Kodra, tried to know and imagine his Albania, through Kodra's conversations and undoubtedly through the folklore elements that were found in Kodra's canvases, which were also illustrations of childhood memories in Išem and longing. for his Albania.

Through his art, Ibrahim Kodra became the worthy ambassador of Albania to the world, as his paintings can be found in the rooms of the Vatican, in the Chamber of Deputies (Italian Parliament) in well-known galleries and museums, and in private collections all over the world. the world.

The great French poet, Paul Eluard, in the pages of "Unité" in 1946, called Kodra "the primitive of a new civilization," and by primitive he meant pure art in a new, modern world. The primitivism that he pointed out early through the modern style, or the expressionist way of thinking and living, was nothing but a primitivism that came from his roots, from his homeland Ishmi.

The origin from a Mediterranean country, with a coast and land like an Adriatic tavern, but with a unique culture, almost a new world in itself, was the impetus and the source from which a new artistic element flowed that manifested a new creative form, so Eluard also praised him, adding that "Ibrahim Kodra is the father of a new world civilization."

Kodra managed to visit Albania in 1973 and then in 1996, 1997, 2003, and to return forever, according to the bequest he left, to rest in the grave in Ishem, in the place he loved so much.

Today, the administrative unit of Ishmi, in addition to being a natural and historical wonder, with fabulous landscapes and beaches, with exceptional historical and spiritual values, such as the Basilica and Castle of Gjuricaj, Cape of Rodon, etc., is also the resting place of our artist madh, which even today calls for an artistic and inspiring pilgrimage of contemporary foreign and Albanian artists.

Some time ago I met the contemporary artist, Agron Hoti, internationally confirmed in creative circles with exhibitions in New York, Paris, Shanghai, Casablanca and Tel Aviv, with whom, while we visited the grave of the great master Ibrahim Kodra, we discussed the idea of ​​creating an exhibition with Kodra's works, near the place where he rests in eternal peace.

This would give even more value to the area, in terms of the recognition of Kodra by the younger generations, but also Ishmi itself the place it deserves in history and art, exalting the works of the figures who made history, and in particular Ibrahim Kodrës , the magnificent figure of world art who continues and makes us proud as a nation and as Albanians through his name and works that he left us as a legacy. / "ExLibris" newspaper/