Odhise Paskali

Odhise Paskali, sculptor, People’s Sculptor, academic, passed away. He was born in Përmet in 1903. In 1919 he went to Italy, where he graduated from the lyceum (1923) and enrolled in the Faculty of Literature and Philosophy in Turin, with the intention of studying Albanianology, but at the same time he was also interested in sculpture. In 1927 he defended his diploma in the field of art history. In Albania, Odhise Paskali participated in the creation of the “Miqtë e artit” (“Friends of art”)  society, which organized the first national exhibition of “Arti i thjeshtë“ (“Simple Art”) (1931). On November 28, 1932, the “Luftëtarit Kombëtar“ (“National Warrior”) memorial was inaugurated in Korça, a masterpiece of Albanian authorship and sculpture. On the same day, the statue of “Flamurtar“ (“Flag-bearer”) was inaugurated in Vlora on the grave of Ismail Qemal Vlora. After the liberation Odise Paskali created busts of the heroes of the Anti-Fascist National Liberation War, some of which were placed in city squares. Odhise Paskali together with Andrea Mano and Janaq Paço created the Skanderbeg monument in Tirana (1968). True to detail, the silhouettes render the hero in a parade motion, with his sword at his side and his energetic head raised like a warrior and statesman. In the 70s of the 20th century and after, Odhise Paskali created busts of prominent patriots and fighters of the National Renaissance, such as Naum Vekilharxhi, Zef Serembe, Idriz Seferi. He made new interpretations of Naim Frashëri, of Jeronim de Rada in a loose plastic style. The realistic portraits he carved in these years are distinguished by a plastic treatment that reflects the type and character of the individual. Odhise Paskali also worked on the busts of the leaders of the Albanian state, Ahmet Zog and Enver Hoxha. Odhisa Pascal’s sculpture, generally realistic, conveyed a deep national patriotic inspiration, but lyricism and symbolic philosophical generalization are not left out. He was decorated with the “Honour of the Nation” order. (In the photo: Odhise Paskali)