Paris, France — The power of art and the thriving art scene of one of Europe’s newest countries, Kosovo, are to be played out in the Marais neighborhood of Paris at the cutting-edge Galleria Continua. The collective show entitled Silent Threads: Resounding Kosovo brings together 15 artists from this landlocked nation curated by the New-York -based Kosovar artist Sislej Xhafa, whose own body of artistic work reflects economic and social themes and political realities and how they effect society. Kosovo became a self-declared independent country in the Balkans in 2008 recognized by the United States and most of the European Union, but not Serbia and other nations. The exhibition offers a unique insight into this country that has struggled tirelessly for its independence, a struggle that is reflected in the art works to be displayed. Through paintings, sculptures and installation works the artists tell untold threads or stories and underscore the beauty and scars of their heritage as well as their cultural origins

The Galleria Continua will also be presenting the works of the artistic pair Ornaghi & Prestinari who hail from Milan in an exhibition entitled Blursday in reference to the English informal expression blursday which was used to describe the confusion of time and space during the periods of confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic when days seemed to run into one another. Their conceptual works explore the domestic, fragile and intimate dimension of things. A third exhibition showcasing the Cuban contemporary artist Carlos Garaicoa will also be on show underscoring the Havana-born artist’s work with colorful colors and the new works of painting and sculpture that he has created for his first show in the Galleria Continua’s Marais gallery. He was the very first Cuban artist exhibited by Continua when he had an exhibition held at the Continua’s flagship gallery in San Gimignano in 2002.

Meanwhile take the time to enjoy the Michelangelo Pistoletto show that is currently underway at Continua. Entitled New Perpectives it is a playful and colorful show in which the artist juxtaposes multi-coloured QR codes with his mirror works and modern works by not just Pistoletto but Pablo Picasso and Lucio Fontana. Michelangelo Pistoletto is one of the most important figures of Arte Povera, the Italian art movement that essentially challenged conventional art elitism with experiments with everyday materials. Pistoletto is a major protagonist of contemporary art, who has been working for over 60 years on art as a social tool for interaction and sharing that is capable of generating change and innovation within society.

Galleria Continua was founded in 1990 by Mario Cristiani, Lorenzo Fiaschi and Maurizio Rigillo in the magnificent and timeless Italian city of San Gimignano. It aims, as its name implies, to give continuity to contemporary art in a landscape rich in signs of ancient art. Other locations followed including Beijing, Havana, Rome and Paris which opened in the historic Marais district in 2021. The Galleria Continua is more than just a beautiful exhibition space. There is a book store and a place for enjoying beverages, light meals, snacks and award-winning Italian ice-cream. ©Trish Valicenti for The Gourmet Gazette. Open Tuesday to Saturday 11am until 7pm and by appointment. The current three upcoming show are on from January 24th until March 19th, 2025, while the Pistoletto, Picasso and Fontana show is on until January 11th. 87 rue du Temple, 75003, Paris, France, +33 (0) 1 43 70 00 88. https://www.galleriacontinua.com/