The Roof Garden Commission at the Met
Metropolitan Museum of Art / Facebook
Petrit Halilaj's commission draws inspiration from his native country of Kosovo.
For this year's Met Roof Garden commission, Abetare, artist Petrit Halilaj (born 1986, Kostërc, former Yugoslavia) has created a site-specific installation for his first major outdoor project in the US, which has transformed The Met Roof with sprawling 3-D rendering sculpture.
Halilaj's work is deeply connected to the recent history of his native country, Kosovo, and the consequences of cultural and political tensions in the region. It is based on extensive research and doodles he found on classroom desks both at his former school in Kosovo and in other countries in the Balkans.
The sculptures offer a look inside the collective minds and imaginations of schoolchildren growing up in the midst of conflict.
About the Artist
After studying art at the Accademia di Brera in Milan, Petrit Halilaj moved to Berlin in 2008, where he still lives and works.
His projects encompass a variety of media, including sculpture, drawing, poetry, and performance.
This particular project is quite personal for Halilaj, as he was forced to relocate to an Albanian refugee camp as a child and art became a form of therapy for him during these tough times.
Museum Hours
Sunday–Tuesday and Thursday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday and Saturday: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Closed Wednesdays
"Abetare" will be on display until October 27, 2024