On April 11, 1998 , Kristaq Rama, Sculptor of the People, passed away in Tirana. He was born in Durrës. He attended the “Jordan Misja” Artistic Lyceum, completed higher studies and graduated from the “I. E. Rjepin” Institute of the Academy of Arts in Leningrad in the branch of sculpture (1954-1960). He started working as an inspector for arts in the Ministry of Education (1960–1962) and then director of the National Art Gallery (1962–1966), director of a directorate at the Ministry of Culture and Education (1966–1970); from 1970 he devoted himself entirely to sculpture. He was a lecturer and the leader of the Monumental Sculpture Workshop at the Institute of Fine Arts. He exhibited for the first time the bust in wood “Malësori” (“The Highlander”) (1959). He created about 200 works in sculpture, among them, with co-authors: “Përmendorja e Luftës së Vlorës” (“The Monument of the Vlora War”) (Vlorë, 1970), “Monumenti i Pavarësisë” (“The Independence Monument”) (Vlorë, 1972), “Nënë Shqipëri” (“Mother Albania”) (Vlora Martyrs Cemetery, 1972),The monumental relief on the facade of the Prime Minister’s Office (1974), “Enver Hoxha” (former Enver Hoxha Museum, 1988). His other works are: “Shote Galica” (Kukës, 1969), “Kushtrimtari” (Martyrs’ Cemetery, Tropojë), “Komandanti Bato” (National Historical Museum, 1981), “Avni Rustemi” (Vlora), etc. After 1990, he created works with an intimate character, moving figures, nudes, portraits, etc. Kristaq Rama won the honorary award at the Biennale of Alexandria with the work “Marinari” (1963). Kristaq Rama is also known as a volleyball player and received the title “Master of Sports” (1954). Deputy of the People’s Assembly (1970–1991) and member of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly (1986–1990). He has received the Republic Award of all three degrees several times. (In the photo: “Mother Albania” Monument in Tirana.)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 3 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2009, page 2212.
Photo: © https://sq.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monumenti_N%C3%ABna_Shqip%C3%ABri
Graphic processing: AHCF
