Odhise Paskali, a sculptor, People’s Sculptor, and academic, was born in Përmet. In 1919, he went to Italy, where he completed high school (1923) and enrolled in the Faculty of Literature and Philosophy at the University of Turin, intending to study Albanology but also became involved in sculpture. In 1927, he defended his diploma in the field of art history. In Albania, Odhise Paskali participated in the establishment of the society “Miqtë e artit” (“Friends of Art”) which organized the first national exhibition of “Arti i thjeshtë” (“Simple Art”) (1931). On November 28, 1932, the monument to the “Luftëtari Kombëtar” (“National Warrior”) was inaugurated in Korçë, a masterpiece of the author and Albanian sculpture. On the same day, the statue of the “Flamurtari” (“The flagbearer”) was inaugurated in Vlorë above the grave of Ismail Qemali. After the liberation, Odhise Paskali created busts of heroes of the National Liberation Anti-Fascist War, some of which were placed in city squares. Odhise Paskali, along with Andrea Mano and Janaq Paço, created the Skanderbeg Monument in Tirana (1968). Truly detailed, the silhouettes depict the hero in a parade motion, with the sword resting by his side and the head raised as a fighter and statesman. In the 1970s and beyond, Odhise Paskali created busts of distinguished patriots and fighters of the National Renaissance, such as Naum Veqilharxhi, Zef Serembe, and Idriz Seferi. He made new interpretations of Naim Frashëri, Jeronim de Rada in a freer plastic style. The realistic portraits he sculpted during these years are distinguished by a plastic treatment that reflects the character and personality of the individual. Odhise Paskali also worked on busts of Albanian state leaders, Ahmet Zog and Enver Hoxha. Generally realistic, Paskali’s sculpture conveys a deep sense of national patriotism but does not shy away from lyrical and symbolic philosophical generalizations. He passed away in 1985 and was decorated with the Order of “Honor of the Nation.” (In the photo: Odhise Paskali)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 3 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2009, page 1953-1954.
Photo: © https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odhise_Paskali
Graphic processing: AHCF
