Theme: Being Human

If anything, the COVID-19 pandemic served as an opportunity for humanity to hold its breath and for the first time in decades reflect about the future and its place in it. How will we as a race thrive in an everchanging environment, while still upholding the essence of what makes us human? Will we be able to successfully navigate through the whirlpool of philosophical and ethical debate stemming from the unprecedented developments in bio and info tech? As our resistance, resilience and creativity will be put to a test, our future and mere existence will depend on our definition of what Being Human means in the 21st Century.

Tirana Amphitheatre
Artificial lake
Tirana, Tiranë, 10001
Albania

Arben Merkoci

Research Professor ICREA

ARBEN MERKOÇI is ICREA Professor and director of the Nanobioelectronics & Biosensors Group at Institut Català de Nanociencia i Nanotecnologia, situated at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. His research is focused on the integration of biological molecules and other species with micro- and nanostructures of interest in the design of novel (bio) sensors. Professor Merkoçi has published over 319 articles and served as scientific evaluator and member of panels of experts of various international governmental and nongovernmental agencies, as well as scientific committee member of many international congresses, director of several workshops and other scientific events and has been invited to give plenary lectures and keynote speeches in various countries. Professor Merkoçi helped establish and is currently leading the first science-research unit of Nanotechnology and Nanoscience in Albania as part of the Albanian Academy of Science, called NANOAlb.

David Hardy

Potographer

DAVID HARDY is a documentary photographer in Albania. His work focuses mainly on the visual arts related to human rights in the country, more specifically, women's rights, social equality, awareness against discrimination against the LGBTI+ community in the country and region, a community to whom he belongs as a transgender person. Hardy's shots have been widely published in local and European media in photojournalism reports on Albania, and have found the continued support of human rights organizations in Albania and the Western Balkans through initiatives to raise awareness of social equality. He has opened several exhibitions in the country related to social issues, while his work has been widely published in local and European media in photojournalism reports about Albania.

Dren Abazi

Singer-Songwriter

Dren Abazi is a successful singer-songwriter and producer from Kosovo. He is the leader of Zig Zag Orchestra, a contemporary band whose music explores genres like jazz, klezmer, ska, and authentic Balkan sounds. The critically acclaimed album ‘After Party” brought the Abazi and Zig Zag Orchestra into the spotlight, making them one of the most famous and prosperous bands in Albanian music. ‘‘Mes Yjesh’ is their latest album which marked their 10th anniversary in the music scene signifying their prominent achievements and their developments as artists. In this musical collection brings together their best productions through the years. A full repertoire where different genres are interlinked marking the ZigZag Orchestra distinguished and festive sound.

Ervina Halili

Poet

ERVINA HALILI is a writer and researcher from Prishtina, Kosova. Her book, “The Slumber of Octopus” published in Vienna, received great reviews in Germany, while her book “Amuletë” was awarded the 2015 annual prize for poetry in Kosova. Some of Halili's literary concepts include the state of metaphysics and dreams, whereas her focus as a researcher centers on social behavior and myths. She is a collector of lost archival materials of the Rilindja publishing house in Kosova, and has her own private collection of published materials after the Second World War in the country. Halili has been a writer in residence in Vienna, Sarajevo, Switzerland, Graz and Belgrade.

Giorgio Verdiani

Researcher and Professor

Giorgio Verdiani is a researcher and professor at the Facoltà di Architettura di Firenze. He has obtained a Ph.D. in architectural and landscape survey and representation and is specialized in digital surveys, using laser scanner technologies, photographic survey, image post-processing, and 3D computer graphic. Verdiani has been particularly active in digital surveys since 2001, taking part or managing technical and/or scientific responses to more than one hundred survey campaigns all around Italy and Europe. Since 2011, Verdiani is the director of the “Architecture Informatic Laboratory” (LIA) at the Facoltà di Architettura in Firenze.

Hana Zeqa

Costume Designer

HANA ZEQA is the founder of Fight or Flight, a slow fashion and fashion technology studio in Prishtina, Kosova. Fight or Flight develops research-based fashion technology prototype garments and slow fashion everyday wear, aiming to find practical and sustainable solutions through smart textiles, digital textiles, and electronics in garments. Hana is an MA Costume Design graduate from London College of Fashion, researching Wearable Technology and interactive garments. Hana Zeqa's work with Fight or Flight has been showcased at Ars Electronica, Costumes of 21st Century Exhibition Moscow, Sadlers Wells Theatre, Oxo Tower London, H&M Starting House etc. Hana is also a Costume & Fashion History lecturer.