Janaq Paço

Scanderbeg with the people (1982) - Paço's work in Skanderbeg Museum in Krujë

Janaq Paço (1914,^[1] Konitsa, Kingdom of Greece - 1991, Tirana, Albania) was one of the most known Albanian sculptors of the 20th century. Some of his prominent works include the monuments of Skanderbeg in Kruja, Tirana, and Pristina, Kosovo (reproduced post-mortum), as well as The Gladiators.^[1]

Life

Paço studied first at his home town and then the high school in Thessaloniki, Greece. Afterwards he entered the Athens School of Fine Arts in Athens. During his studies, Paço worked and studied with the Greek modern sculptor Costandinos Dimitriadis, himself student of Auguste Rodin, and others.

He went to Albania in 1941. After World War II, he worked as sculpture teacher in Artistic Lyceum "Jordan Misja" in Tirana, where he would teach all his life until retirement.

Paço was one of the founders of the Albanian sculpture school and tradition.^[2]

In addition to his realistic sculptures, Paço created also many nude sculptures during the 1960s and 1970s, and was obligated to destroy them by himself fearing a punishment from the Communist Regime.^[2] During this time he was criticized by other members of the Albanian League of Writers and Artists. This lead him to gradually disconnect from the League.^[2]

Bibliography of art works

Main part of his work:

The monument of Skanderbeg in Krujë (started in 1949; finished in 1959), which would be later copied in Pristina, Kosovo, after the 1998–1999 Kosovo War.^[3]
The monument of Skanderbeg (1968), today in "Scanderbeg Square" in Tirana, where he co-worked with the first Albanian sculptor Odhise Paskali and Andrea Mano
Two statues of Fan Noli, and one of Aleksandër Moisiu (1960s)
The Gladiators (1973) (3.5 m), anticipated to be placed at the entrance of the ancient Durrës Amphitheatre in Durrës^[1]
The sculptural group Skanderbeg with the People (1982), which is placed in the entrance of the Skanderbeg Museum in Krujë

Awards and prizes

In 1984, he was awarded with the People's Artist of Albania title.
At the exhibition "Spring '90" at the National Art Gallery of Albania, Paço was the winner of first prize with his art work named Girl's Portrait (Albanian: Portret vajze), which one year earlier (before the Fall of Communism in Albania) was prohibited to be exposed inside the gallery as a "modern art work".

References

List of Articles from Albanian Library Bksh.al

External links

People's Artist of Albania

Actors	Dhimitër Orgocka Kadri Roshi Margarita Xhepa Marie Logoreci Melpomeni Çobani Naim Frashëri Pjetër Gjoka Robert Ndrenika Sandër Prosi Pandi Raidhi Skënder Sallaku Sulejman Pitarka Tinka Kurti Violeta Manushi Reshat Arbana

Cinematographers	Xhanfize Keko Pirro Milkani Viktor Gjika Kristaq Dhamo Pirro Mani Dhimitër Anagnosti Fehmi Hoshafi Muharrem Fejzo

Dancers	Besim Zekthi

Singers	Gaqo Çako Jorgjia Filçe-Truja Loro Kovaçi Marie Kraja Avni Mula Bik Ndoja Tefta Tashko-Koço Ibrahim Tukiqi Mentor Xhemali Vaçe Zela

Music directors and Composers	Kristaq Antoniu Kristo Kono Mustafa Krantja Nikolla Zoraqi

Musicians	Lola Gjoka

Figurative Arts	Abdurrahim Buza Sadik Kaceli Odhise Paskali Vangjush Mio Agim Zajmi

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