Self in flux: persona and the veiled self is a contemporary art project by Elbasan- based visual artist Kristian Zara, supported by the Swiss Cultural Fund in Albania.

This interdisciplinary project spans painting, sculpture, installation, and video art, exploring the psychic world as a source of today’s socio-political context. In a country where independent authenticity often lingers in the shadow of self-appearance, the project merges art with psychoanalysis and alchemy to investigate how inner experiences are shaped, displaced, and reformed—bridging forth a fragmented, intangible world.

Running from 10 August 2025 to 31 January 2026, Self in flux combines studio practice with public programming: five open studio events (20 September, 18 October, 15 November, and 6 & 23 December) and a scenographic exhibition (9–31 January 2026), followed by a conversation with the artist (20–28 January 2026).

Drawing on Jungian inquiries into persona and shadow—alongside the symbolic language of alchemy—Zara’s work foregrounds visual and material transformation as psychic process. Through clay, plaster, lime, linen, and resin, masks and sculptural installations become instruments for probing authenticity, collective memory, and intergenerational traces. A time-based video work will extend the inquiry into another temporal and performative layer.

Self in flux also functions as a tool for reflection, confrontation, critique, and self- discovery—inviting individuals to examine their inner worlds in relation to collective and societal expectations. One of the artist’s central aims is to explore the concept of authenticity as it dissolves and reshapes under the influence of inherited pasts and present-future responsibilities.

The theoretical framework touches on history, intergenerational trauma, alchemical processes, collective memory, and contemporary developments—all informing the visual language of the artworks.

Moreover, the project arrives as a cultural act in the city of Elbasan, which currently lacks a gallery or dedicated space for visual art exhibitions.

What to expect

  • A body of work and single time-based video work (5–12 minutes).

  • Five open-studio events where visitors can observe the creative process and engage with the artist.

  • A temporary gallery installation in a private space converted for the exhibition, using scenographic composition to shape the viewer’s experience.

  • Documentation will include installation views, process records, and an accompanying art catalogue.

Location & visiting

Rruga 28 Nëntori (across from the former Maternity Hospital), Elbasan. All open studios and the exhibition are free and open to the public. Visitors are encouraged to ask questions and learn about the project’s themes and process.