Edi Balla, born in Tirana in 1997, focuses on identity and memory in his work, creating connections between personal experience and universal human themes. A graduate with a BA and MFA in Sculpture from the University of Fine Arts in Tirana, Balla has exhibited his work both in Albania and internationally. He currently splits his time between Tirana and Lodi.


Casa Orsini Domestic Art Space in Lodi hosted the personal exhibition RRUGË: Prefabricated Memories by Albanian artist Edi Balla (Tirana, 1997). This unprecedented exhibition project was specifically designed for the spaces of Casa Orsini, the home-studio of architect Carlo Orsini. Open to the public from February 10 to April 7, 2024, the exhibition offered a unique exploration of memory, home, and identity, leaving a lasting impact on its visitors.

The exhibition begins with the video installation Playhouse, featuring children’s playhouses inhabited by imaginary beings, symbolizing how childhood imagination shapes our perception of the world and reverberates into adulthood. This is followed by the site-specific installation A Mental Map, which uses over 500 sketches and 14 paintings to visually narrate Balla’s personal journey, particularly his move from Albania to Italy.

“Understanding identity is a key part of my work,” says Balla. “As a contemporary artist, I feel the need to explore and express the experiences and memories that form the map of my life.” His exhibition, RRUGË, layers objects, memories, and family traditions, offering a poignant metaphor for the fragility and complexity of memory.

Balla’s work offers a unique lens into the intersections of personal and collective identity, making RRUGË an engaging and reflective experience for visitors.