Saimir Strati
Saimir Strati (Fier, Albania, April 11, 1966) is an Albanian mosaic artist.
He began his career doing restorations in Albania to several mosaics at the archeological sites of Byllis, Amantia and Appolonia. He is a member of the British Association of Modern Mosaic.
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[edit] Artworks
Saimir Strati is primarily an artist who works in mosaics. He has used materials including nails, toothpicks, corks, sea glass, eggshells, compact discs, coffee beans, porcelain and mirror glass among other materials. He is also a painter. The diversity of the artist's subjects, material and technique distinguish Saimir Strati as being traditional and contemporary with his approach on reviving the old technique and professionalism in antiquity and the mingling of daily/ industrial material.
Strati is heavily inspired by music, and in the mosaic series 'The Four Seasons' based on the Vivaldi concerto, each season is represented by a different musical instrument. This series was created over the course of more than five years. Another work on oil depicts traditional Albanian Polyphonic singers. 'The King' is a portrait of Elvis Presley measuring nearly 2 metres in height and uses over 400 CD's.
His work 'Sea Girl' is based on a legend from Vlora, his hometown. The story is about a young woman separated from her lover. She prays to become a fish to cross the sea to reunite with him. The artwork itself is made from sea glass which took the artist several years to collect.
'Peace' is a quintessential work of the artist, where the mirror fragments used in the mosaic reflects the message of our relation to peace.
[edit] Guinness World Record
[edit] 2006 - Leonardo Da Vinci
In 2006, Saimir Strati began what has seemingly become an annual tradition of setting a Guinness World Record. Using industrial nails, the artist re-created the self portrait of Leonardo Da Vinci using nearly 400 kilos of nails over a 2x4m surface. The technique resembles digital photography, in that each nail represents a pixel. The record was confirmed in Tirana by Guinness World Records on September 4, 2006, as the World's Largest Nail Mosaic.
[edit] 2007 - Reinless Spirit
The following summer another record attempt took place. On July 26, 2007, the artist began affixing toothpicks, a total of 1.5 million over a 4x2m surface, to create the image of a horse. The work was dedicated to Antonio Gaudi, and was confirmed on September 4, 2007 as the World's Largest Toothpick Mosaic. The largest toothpick mosaic was 8m2 (86.11 sq. feet) by Saimir Strati (Albania) and displayed at the Arbnori International Centre of Culture, Tirana, Albania on 4 September 2007. The artist used 1.5 million toothpicks and worked 40 days to achieve this record.
[edit] 2008 - Mediterraneana
In June 2008, Strati contacted what is now Ekphrasis Studio to collaborate and help manage his third record attempt. After several weeks of intense correspondence with various organizations in Barcelona that yielded little interest, it was decided to do the event in Tirana. On July 20, Ekphrasis Studio arranged a deal with Sheraton Tirana and on August 8 the artist began his third record attempt. The mosaic had a Mediterranean theme, and consisted of 229,764 corks over a surface of 12.94m x7.10m, or 91.87m2. The event took place over the course of 27 days at the Sheraton and was accompanied by an exhibition of both previous World Records as well as seven other artworks.
[edit] 2009 - King of Pop
In November 2009, for the Guinness World Record Day Saimir strati finished The largest Paint Brush Mosaic; The mosaic was made by the artist all over Albania in every city . and he finish it in the center of Tirana the capital of Albania. He decided to do this Art work and also a Paint brush mosaic with gigantic sizes for the honor of Michael Jackson after his death.This was the fourth Guinness world Record For Him And Albania
[edit] 2010 - Artists Banknote
Again in November For the Guinness World Record Day Saimir Strati finish t The Largest Screw Mosaic witch he dedicated to the Artists all over the World.He created this bank note because he explains that Artist have not they own money and because he thinks that for the real Artists the money is not so important they are blind towards it, that's way he put it the Portrait of Hommer because he was blind and could not see. The mosaic has over 350000 screws and the screws were put in relief. Saimir Strati Finish these Art Piece in 1( Days exactly in the Guinness World Record Day .
[edit] 2011 - One World,One Family,One Coffee
In 31 days Saimir Strati created The Largest Coffee bean Mosaic in the World And he got his 6 Guinness World Record. In these mosaic were 5 Characters Witch Represented each a Continent. South America with samba dancer, North America with a cowboy, Asia with a Chinese girl playing tambourine, Europe with a old man that plays a firzamonik, and Africa with an African boy who plays tribal music. The world was united by The Albanian Artists. He used over One Million of coffee beans in this mosaic.
While in Tirana for a friendly match on August 20, players from the Liechtenstein national football team visited the exhibition. On August 26, Iceland Prime Minister Geir Haarde visited the exhibition with Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha.[1] On September 1, for the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Albanian Royal Family, Prince Leka visited the exhibition. Albanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Lulzim Basha visited the exhibition on several occasions.
The mosaic was completed on September 4, 2008 and confirmed as the World's largest by Guinness Adjudicator Carlos Martinez.
Following the completion of the mosaic, players from the Swedish National Football Team visited the exhibition on September 6, and players from the Malta National Football Team visited it on September 10, while in Tirana for FIFA World Cup qualification matches.
[edit] Live performances
Every world record attempt Saimir Strati has attempted has been a live performance. He has also done a large scale artistic performance at Dubai's annual "One World, One Family, One Festival" (Dubai Shopping Festival).
The World's Largest Nail Mosaic and the World's Largest Toothpick Mosaic were created in the International Cultural Centre of Tirana. The World's Largest Cork Mosaic was created at Sheraton Tirana.
His audience has included Royalty, National leaders, politicians, business leaders, professional athletes and the general public from around the world.
[edit] Exhibitions
1996 - Fier, Albania
2004 - Miss Globe International, Durrës, Albania
2005 - Fier, Albania
2006 - International Centre of Culture, Tirana, Albania
2006 - United States Embassy, Tirana, Albania
2007 - International Centre of Culture, Tirana, Albania
2008 - Sheraton Tirana Hotel and Towers, Tirana, Albania
2011 - July,Exhibition with the Apolon Colony
2011 - September, Exhibition with the Pogradec Colony
2011 - Art work in the museum Believe it or Not (USA) ~
[edit] Recognition
In November 2009, Strati was decorated with the Honour of The Nation by the President of Albania.
