“Alien” La Galeria de la Ciudad de Tecate – Tecate/Mexico 2009

The word “alien” caught my attention because in English it is applied to both foreigner and extra-terrestrial species.
I am an “alien” in most parts of the world, because I come from a newborn country, the Republic of Kosovo, of which only 30% of countries in the world recognized its independence.
So on this visit to Mexico, which still awaits an official statement of the Security Council of the United Nations to recognize our republic, I am a foreigner from a country, which does not exist from the political viewpoint (an Alien from an Alien country).
What’s most important to me in art, is the concept that I want to get through, regardless the medium/technique used. “Alien” also talks about borders and in Berlin (1961 – 1989), Gaza and the huge wall on the border between Mexico and the U.S. in Tecate.
I’ve been a nomad, a “homeless”, like some of the people in the photographs presented in this exhibition, which aims to show small moments of life, very simple details, which conain the meaning of life. As off 17.02.2008 I have a home; The Republic of Kosovo.

Artan Balaj
Tempe – Arizona 2009

Alien

The series Artan Balaj is presenting at the City Gallery of Tecate is primarily an example of his natural ability as an artist to surprise. At the same time, it is an example of his on going personal dialogue about the nature of human beings and things.
In Alien, Artan portrays the darkness and somber, criticizes contemporary society, explains his own condition as an artist torned by war and persecution. Thus, he does not do it with pessimism or aggressiveness blaming society; he creates a story filled with fantastic images, full of color and light.
With this series the artist creates a strong link between urban mythology movements of contemporary subcultures, especially Heavy Metal and Punk music.
The social and political will is not missing from his work. His own concepts and symbolic elements on individual freedom and his own way of life are reflected in each one of the pieces or the Alien series.
The use of human portraits mainly represents a technical challenge; on the other hand, a subtle transposition from the subject of the picture to the artist himself, offering a vision based on his own life experience. For Artan, art is like life, so he urges us to keep them both simple, to just see, hear, feel, simply exist.

Laura Castanedo
Tecate – Mexico 2009