On the occasion of the Week of the Italian Language in the World, the Italian Embassy in Pristina and the Italian Cultural Institute of Tirana, in charge of Kosovo as well, offer a rich programme of events, exhibitions, debates and screenings for a young and adult audience. The main topic of the week is “The Italian language and sustainability”, which intends to promote the culture of sustainability worldwide through the use of the Italian language.
An essential role is played by Italo Calvino (1923-1985), one of the most famous Italian writers of the second half of the twentieth century, whose 100th birth anniversary is celebrated this year. The Week of the Italian Language started with the opening of the exhibition “Eccellenze italiane – Figure per Italo Calvino” (Italian Excellencies – Characters for Italo Calvino) at the Lapidarium – National Museum of Kosovo, organised by the Cooperativa Giannino Stoppani/Accademia Drosselmeier for Bologna Fiere, Emilia Romagna Region and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The exhibition will include the illustrations of 31 Italian and foreign artists who illustrated Calvino’s novels and stories for young readers. Visitors can access the exhibition until 22 October.
Calvino will also be at the centre of the conference held by Riccardo Castellana, University of Siena, and devoted to Calvino’s first novel The Path to the Nest of Spiders. The meeting will be moderated by Majlinda Bregasi from the “Hasan Prishtina” University. In addition, Christian Balzano will present the talk “Fuori dal mondo” (Outside of the World) at the faculty of Philology of the main Kosovo University. This dialogue, ideated by the Italian artist, wants to raise questions on the planet’s condition and its contaminated and contaminating nature. The environment is also at the centre of the animated film Yaya & Lennie – The Walking Liberty (2021) directed by Alessandro Rak, on show from Friday 20 in the “Kino Armata” Cinema.
The same day will also see the opening of the section of Italian books translated into Albanian, donated by the Italian Cultural Institute of Tirana to the University of Pristina.
“We are getting ready to celebrate an appointment that, for 23 years and with the involvement of our diplomatic-consular network, has animated the debate on our language in the world, this year focusing on the concept of sustainability. The Italian language serving as a means of access to understanding, awareness, education and respect for the environment. We will be talking about the Italian language and sustainability, on the one hand, to illustrate Italy’s commitment in the fight against climate change, and on the other hand, to explore the work of one of the greatest Italian intellectuals of the 20th century, Italo Calvino, on the centenary of his birth. Through a debate and an exhibition of illustrations designed for, but not limited to, the youngest, we will try to collect observations on the impact our civilisation has on the environment, one of the central themes of the Calvino’s works”, said the Italian Ambassador to Kosovo, Antonello De Riu, adding that “Over the centuries, literature has shaped the idea of the environment and the relationship between the human and the natural worlds. But it is especially in contemporary times – given the consequences of the climate crisis, the collapse of biodiversity, the spread of pandemics – that literature and environmental issues find elements of mutual implication. We hope that by rereading Calvino’s work we can become more aware, less indifferent, and willing to create a better planet”.
