OPEN LETTER/ Come to the dialogue and listen to me speak, otherwise I will cut off your scholarships, you will rot in prison. Please!

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In Zef Shoshi's studio, with Zog, Enver and Mao Zedong

2022-04-27 10:38:02Pikëpamje SHKRUAR NGA BEN BLUSHI
In Zef Shoshi's studio, with Zog, Enver and Mao Zedong
In the photo: Writer, Ben Blushi

Zef Shoshi had made a portrait of me. Since three years ago. I had not seen him. I went this week
Here you are, said Zefi and showed me the easel
It's not me, I told him.
You are, said Zefi. I sketch with a pencil. Here you are and in color, on the canvas.
No this is not me, I told him. Where is my beard?
Well then you did not, said Zefi. Will I grow a beard?
The same blue jacket, I said, as who wore it like that, as cooperative chairman. I look like a well-fed communist.
It also came when you posed, said Zefi, with this jacket,
Then I was dealing with politics, I said, I was ugly
Maybe, said Zefi
I took my eyes off myself. I raised my head to the ceiling
Do not look at the studio, he said, it all fell from the earthquake
What to do, I asked
Many works were destroyed, great damage
Yes, this portrait of mine, why did it survive, I told
him What will you drink, Zefi asked,
Nothing, I told him, I want to take a picture of you.
Well, he said, make
me. if I make you a portrait, I told her
Where to stay, asked Zefi
Will you stand in front of that nude there,
This is old nude, I did it in Russia, it may be 65 years,
That woman will be dead, I said
Eh , said Zefi, how do you know he
makes me nude now?
I made one two years ago. A friend brought me a model
Even undressed?
Yes, you lay on the couch where you
Naked are sitting?
Naked,
Tell me, I told
Zef Shoshi took out the painting
His body is good, I told him, his face is fine. As if he does not go naked with lips painted red.
I do not like it either, said Zefi, how his skin was, did not stick to me
.
No No, said Zefi I do not touch the models. Sali Shijaku told me that when we were in Leningrad, do not confuse with models
Yes Sali was confused with models?
Who remembers. Yes the Russians were very loose
Since when does Zef draw?
Since the age of nine. Dad enjoyed the drawing. He forced me to draw Leonardo da Vinci paintings
Also my father was a painter?
It could not be done, said Zefi. Worked in the bank. In the time of communism he made the tables of socialist emulation.
But why did he not become a painter?
The King did not give him a scholarship. The father made a portrait of Zog and took it home to win the scholarship.
Well, Zog should not have liked it himself, just like me
I do not know, said Zefi, but he did not give the father a scholarship
. Where did you work?
Until 1976 I made book covers for the publishing house Naim Frashëri. Then I made a portrait of Enver Hoxha and I was released as a freelancer. Liked my portrait
How many times have you drawn Enver?
Many times, said Zefi. I once made Enver in Tropoja, knee to knee with the people.
Did you go to Tropoja?
Po said Zefi. But after Enver left. I asked the people who had met him. Then I made the paintings from his photos,
But why did Enver not pose?
He refused. I was once called to Ksamil. He had a meeting with the people. I stood about three feet close to him and threw some sketches. They let me work for almost 15 minutes. That was the time
to speak to you?
No, said Zefi,
who controlled Enver's paintings?
Ramiz Alia. When I made the official portrait of Enver, he came to the studio.
What did Ramiz tell you about Enver?
He made a remark to my eyes. Because he knew her better than I had ever seen her up close
. Did you change Enver's eyes?
I did not make any changes. Did
you draw any Russians, Khrushchev or Brezhnev?
I drew the meeting of 81 parties in Moscow. Before me, Guri Madhi had drawn the meeting with Enver and Mehmet Shehu. I did it without Mehmet because at that time he had been declared an enemy and had to hide from official paintings. I also drew Mao Zedong.
Yes Mao Zedong why, I asked There
was an exhibition of Albanian art in China and a painting by Mao had to be close to a painting by Enver. I made Maon.
How big was Mao's work?
Square, said Zefi. Maybe as much as this nude.1.30 to 1.30
Works every day now?
When can I say yes, said Zefi
Shake your hand?
I do not tremble but I do not have much inspiration
How old are you, I asked
83, said Zefi.
You painters live much longer, longer than writers, I said
We work on foot, said Zefi, writers sit Sit
right, I said, so I'm becoming a photographer
Show me my nude photo, said Zefi.
Ia tregova.
I do painting from photography, you take pictures with paintings
Let's see how black and white comes out, I told him, there is not much light in the studio
Yes with the portrait we do everything, Zefi asked
What to do, I told him, there I am not
Look, said I I have to work. I also have a son who can not work. For this portrait I spent
How much should I give you, I asked
you You know yourself, said Zefi
Well, I told him I will come again and we will fix it, but on one condition
Tell me, said Zefi.
Delete this my portrait.
We talk, said Zefi.

This post is taken from the facebook page of the writer, Ben Blushi


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