Mikel TEMO GREKO

“Absence & Silence” is the credo of my creation. It is this that I try to achieve and that which is the source of my creativity. That is a spiritual status of emptiness that brings me to new haven and a new earth, immersing me to wonderful world of colors and images. When I am working I lose all sense of time and place. I experience a state of consciousness quite common but nonetheless magical. It is the same meditating state experienced by monks. In this state of grace, the paintings begin to take shape seemingly on their own accord. A completed painting is the pinnacle of this spiritual journey. A “non forced preparation”, is the vision I hope to achieve. Forms and colours are born together. I do not have a format as I begin but adopt one as I go. My first thoughts are worked on a small surface. It isn’t until I have worked numerous sketches and drafts that I then bring this to a larger scale. In my work I try to reveal the expression of the mind and soul and their interaction together. My art ranges from an unconscious spiritual statement to an abstract image, offering the viewer another perspective, another reality and another language. The technique used helps me achieve my goal which is to emphasize the spiritual essence of abstraction and the interaction during this process.

Born in 1964 in the town of Korca in the south of Albania, Mikel Temo Greko inherited a familial artistic tradition and started painting in early childhood. While studying painting and drawing at the Academy of Arts in Tirana, capital of Albania (1982-1986) he discovered the art forms prohibited at that time: impressionism, cubism, expressionism and surrealism.

From 1986 to 1998, Mikel shared his knowledge and love of contemporary art with his students at the Art School of Tirana but it was only after trips to Italy and France that his work turned more explicitly abstract. In 1991 he founded the Association of the Albanian Independent Painters and Sculptors and in 1997 received a PhD in Arts.

Mikel Temo Greko has been widely exhibited throughout Europe. He immigrated to Canada in 2000 and continues to paint in Vancouver, British Columbia.

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2003

  • Bari Design Gallery, Richmond, Canada

2001

  • French Alliance, Vancouver, Canada

2000

  • European Community, Tirana, Albania

1999

  • “Les Portes Ouvertes” organized by the Montreuil City Hall, France
  •  Albanian Embassy, Paris, France
  • Europe Hall, Laval, France

1998

  • “Les Portes Ouvertes”, Montreuil, France

1997

  • XXI Gallery, Tirana, Albania

1996

  • Greenwood Gallery, Seattle - WA, USA

1994

  • Kordic Gallery, Velika Gorica, Zagreb, Croatia

1993

  • National Centre of Culture, Annecy, France

1992

  • Amimoni Gallery, Yoannina, Greece
  • National Art Gallery, Tirana, Albania

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2002

  • International Biennale of Austria 2002, Kragenfurt, Austria
  • Ballardlederer Gallery, Vancouver, Canada

2001

  • Artropolis 2001 Canadian Broadcasting Center Building,Vancouver, Canada

1998

  • National Art Gallery “Mediterranea N.1” Albania-Italy, a common cultural horizon, Tirana, Albania

1997

  • National Art Gallery, “ONUFRI” annually exhibition, Tirana, Albania

1996

  • National Art Gallery, “ONUFRI” annually exhibition, Tirana, Albania

1995

  • National Art Gallery, “ONUFRI” annually exhibition, Tirana, Albania
  • Passage Prive Gallery, Albanian Painting Exhibition, Lyon, France

1993

  • Grand Palais, annually exhibition of French artists, Paris, France
  • National Art Gallery, exhibition of the Association Albanian Independent Painters and Sculptors, Tirana, Albania
  • Zumbulaqi Gallery, Albanian Contemporary Art Exhibition, Athena, Greece

1991

  • National Art Gallery, exhibition of the Association Albanian Independent Painters and Sculptures, Tirana, Albania

1989

  • National Art Gallery, “Fall” exhibition, Tirana, Albania

1987

  • National Art Gallery, “75th Anniversary of Albania Independence”, Tirana, Albania

1986

  • Shkodra Art Gallery, “Marubi” exhibition, Shkodra, Albania

1982

  • Academy of Arts Gallery, Young Artists Exhibition, Tirana, Albania

1981

  • Korca Art Gallery, “Fall” exhibition, Korca, Albania

REVIEWS AND CATALOGUES PUBLICATIONS

1998

  • Mediteranea N.1, Albania - Italy, a common cultural horizon. Published by the National Historical Museum and the National Art Gallery (October 1998, catalogue, p. 90, 91)

1997

  • Contemporary Art of Central and Eastern Europe, Guide Apollonia, Council of Europe Publishing. (Guide September 1997 p.40)
  • Pamor Art, published by National Art Gallery, (review p.23)

1994

  • “Slikarstvo Poleta” published by Kordic Gallery (February 1994, catalogue)

1993

  • The Albanian Independent painters and sculptors, “SOROS” foundation publishing (November 1993, catalogue p. 18)
  • Les Artistes Francais, Salon Grand Palais 1993 (published under the care of Mr. Jacques Toubon, Minister of Culture and Phrancophony, September 1993, catalogue, p.163)

GRANTS AND AWARDS

1998

  • Madre Teresa di Calcutta, published by the National Post Department, Albania-Italy, (first stamp price, September the 5th, 1998,)

1997

  • National Art Gallery, “ONUFRI” exhibition, (Onufri price, 1997)
  • Ph.D. Psychological Fundamentals of the Creation in the Figurative Arts
  • The 70th Anniversary of the first Albanian National Bank Foundation, (first stamp price, September 25th 1997)

1996

  • Famous Philosophers and Mathematicians, (first stamp price, September 20th, 1996)
  • The 50th UNICEF Anniversary, (first stamp price, November 20th, 1996).

1995

  • Elvis Priestly, 60th Birth Anniversary, (first stamp price, November 20th, 1995)

1994

  • EUROPA’ 94, published by the Post State Department,(first stamp price, February 1994)

COLLECTIONS

  • The National Art Gallery, Tirana, Albania
  • The Academy of the Fine Arts, Tirana, Albania
  • National Historic Museum, Tirana, Albania
  • European Council, Tirana, Albania
  • Amimoni Gallery, Yoannina, Greece
  • XXI Gallery, Tirana, Albania
  • Various private collections, Albania, Italy, France, Austria, Swiss, USA

ASSOCIATIONS

  • Founder & Vice President of the Albanian Independent Painters and Sculptors, 1991–1998
  • Board member of the Albanian League of the Artists, 1996–1997
  • Founder & Vice President of the Albanian Stylists and Dress - makers, 1997–1998
  • Founder & President of the First Private Art – Designer School “ Vangjush Mio”, Tirana, Albania 1997-1998