Dr. Shpend Bengu

Born on May 12th, 1962, Tirana – ALBANIA.

With an experience of over 20 years in University Master level, in institutions in and out of the country. With a rich professional experience in the fields of Art, Multimedia and Cultural Heritage in and out of the country. Winner of “Painting Prize” in Contemporary Art Biennale of Austria in 2006; winner of “Best Experimental Film” prize in Tirana Film Festival 2008 and many other national and international prizes.

Expert, curator and collaborator in the fields of Printmaking, Graphic Novels, Comics, Graphic Design, Multimedia, Digitalization, New Media, Cultural Heritage and Cultural Diversity in many institutions, universities, national and international organizations as: LIBRARY OF COGRESS (LOC) USA, ELIA, UNICAL, UNESCO, UNDP, OBSH, Ministries of Culture of Albania, Italy and Slovenia, Palazzo Spinelli, Calabria University etc.

With an experience of over 20 years in University Master level, in institutions in and out of the country. With a rich professional experience in the fields of Art, Multimedia and Cultural Heritage in and out of the country. Winner of “Painting Prize” in Contemporary Art Biennale of Austria in 2006; winner of “Best Experimental Film” prize in Tirana Film Festival 2008 and many other national and international prizes. Expert, curator and collaborator in the fields of Printmaking, Graphic Novels, Comics, Graphic Design, Multimedia, Digitalization, New Media, Cultural Heritage and Cultural Diversity in many institutions, universities, national and international organizations as: ELIA, UNICAL, UNESCO, UNDP, OBSH, Ministries of Culture of Albania, Italy and Slovenia etc.

He is the only representative of Comics Makers in Albania till the beginning of the XXI century. In 1997, he introduced the comics for the first time in the university curricula. In 2014, as a director of Albanian ICH at the Ministry of Culture of Albania, he organized and directed the First Edition of Albanian Graphic Novels. In 2004, he organized and directed the First Edition of Calabria Cartoon in Italy. Calabria -Italy.

2018 Multimedia trainer for “Tirana ART FEST, 2018” in collaboration with Tirana Municipality. Tirana - Albania. 

2017 - 2018 Host and Curator of Home Movie Day Albania. Tirana - Albania. 

2016 Expert international trainer of ACP for the digitalization for Western Balkans Film Archives 

2014 Director and organizer of First Edition “Albanian Graphic Novels” Tirana - Albania. 

2011 Member of the jury at the Tirana International Film Festival (international film section competitions: Short Movie Film, Experimental Film, Documentary and Animation. Tirana - Albania.

2008 – 2010 Archives Digitalization De Rada, in the Central State Archive. BESA Project (Library Electronics Sites Albanophone) University of Calabria. Director, editor and operator graphic designer series documentary project BESA. Albania and Italy. 

2002 – 2011 – Author of several multimedia projects for the promotion of Albanian culture Arbëresh and collaboration with prof. Francesco Altimari and Linguistics Department, Department of Albanian language at the University of Calabria in Italy. Albania and Italy. 

Worked as Graphic Designer for publishing houses "Bulzoni" and "Edzioni dell 'Orso" in Florence, Italy, for cover books, logos and periodicals. Florence - Italy. 

Underground Comics manager and "Comics Without Words" by young artists from Europe, Asia and Afrika, in collaboration with editor Luca Bonnano. London - UK.

November 2001 Participates as trainer in Workshop organized by Stripburger Foundation and Ministry of Slovenian Culture, for new authors for comics in Central and Eastern Europe. Ljubljana - Slovenia. 

2000 Author of mural paintings in the “Church of the Sacred Heart” in Tirana. Tirana - Albania. 

May 1995 Curator and Chairman of the Jury for the exhibition «the Spring '95», organized by the Ministry Albanian Culture, National Gallery of Fine Arts. Tirana - Albania.

April 1995 With the cooperation of the Foundation, "GUILP" and "ARCINOVA" organizes the young authors group Third Edition Expo Albanians Expo-comics. Fiera di Levante. Bari - Italy.

Education

Doctoral Studies - September 2012 Ph.D. Thesis: “Albanian Cultural Heritage in the global network” Field & Specialty: Albanian Art History / Interdisciplinary Arts, Centre Of Albanian Studies, National Research Institute on Archeology, History, Anthropology & Arts, Linguistics & Literature. Tirana - Albania.

University, Bachelor- September 1982 - July 1986 Graduated as Graphic Painter - at the Academy of Fine Arts. Tirana - Albania.

Trainings and specializations - Information Technology, Digital Media, Communication, Cultural Heritage, Public Administration, Public relations, European Integration etc.

Employment Record

2023 – Resident Artist and lecturer. Liminka School of Art. Liminka - Finland 

2018 to present: Lecturer of Printmaking, in the Department Art & Design at the Faculty of Applied Science and Economics in Albanian University. Tirana - Albania. 

2013 – 2018 Lector of Printmaking and Multimedia at Tirana European University.Tirana – Albania.

2013– 2015 Director of intangible Cultural Heritage, Revitalization of Albanian Language and Cultural Diversity in Ministry of Culture. Tirana – Albania.

2011 – 2013 Director of the Regional Directorate of National Culture of Tirana, Ministry of Culture. Tirana - Albania.

2002 – 2018 Associate lector of the University of Calabria and of other institutions of the province of Calabria in the fields of graphic design, painting and multimedia techniques. Participated in initiatives undertaken to assess Albanian culture at the University of Calabria and in other entities of the Province of Calabria. Lector of Master in Multimedia studies, artistic, computer techniques and multimedia applications, organized by the University of Calabria and the local authorities (municipal and provincial) of Calabria, Italy. Calabria – Italy. 

2012 – 2013 (Part time) Lector of Multimedia in AAB University, Prishtina - Kosovo. 

2004 – 2009 Lector of Art History in the Architecture Department at the Faculty of Architecture in Albanian University. Tirana - Albania.

August 1996 - February 1997 Dean of the Faculty of Visual Arts in Academy of Arts in Tirana, and Professor of graphics, drawing, painting, and the theory of communication. Initiator of the pilot project with the subject, theory of communication. Tirana - Albania. 

March 1987 - July 1996 Lecturer in the High School of Fine Arts in Tirana, in subjects; painting, drawing, graphics, history of writing.

Exhibitions

May 2025 – Exhibition and premiere of film in collaboration with Ken Weissman “Albania Beatiful and Primitive” Cod Center. Tirana - Albania

June 2024 – Exhibition “Silentium Formae”. Black Box, Pazari i Ri. Tirana - Albania

June 2024- Exhibition of “The History of Albanian Graphic Novels”, National Museum Leskovac – Serbia

November 2023 – Exhibition "FINS-ITCH" (Finish Intangible Cultural Heritage) Liminka Library. Liminka – Finland.

May 2023 -- Exhibition “Mini Print Cantabria Collection” Castle Lighthouse, Castro Urdiales, Cantabria, Spain 

May 2023 - Exhibition “Dal Mare Comics Festival”. Comicdom Con. Athens - Greece. 

February 2023 - Exhibition “I know what I like”. Dean Clough’s Crossley Gallery. Hallifax - UK. 

December 2022 - “Mini Print Cantabria Collection”. University Art Gallery - University of Maria Curie-Skłodowska, Lublin - Poland.

September 2022 - Exhibition “Dal Mare Comics Festival”. Istituto Italiano della Cultura. Athens - Greece. 

September 2022 - Exhibition “Dal Mare Comics Festival”. Organised by Polo Museale di Lecce, Regione Pulia, Comunita Europea, Ministero Italiano della Cultura. Shetitorja Murat Toptani. Tirana - Albania.

June 2022.- Exhibition and workshop. “Dal Mare Comics Festival”. Museo Castromediano e Biblioteca Bernardini. Museo Della Parola e della Stampa. Lecce - Italy. 

May 2021 - Exhibition "Collection Mini Print Cantabria, La Mer et les Phares” à Bordeaux, Cervantes Institute in Bordeaux, France. Bordeaux - France. 

November 2020 - Exhibition of the First Edition of the International Graphic Biennale. Mitrovica - Kosovo.

September 2020 - Premiere of the documentary made by him "Damnatio Memoriae" Tirana - Albania. 

July 2020 - Exhibition "Tirana of the Art of Quarantine in 100 years". Tirana - Albania. 

October 2018 International Comics “Nova Festival”. Pančevo/Beograd/Kovin - Serbia. 

August 2018 IMPACT 10 - Mini Print Biennial, Centro de Arte Faro Cabo Mayor. Santander - Spain. 

November 2017 Grafika ’17. Shenja Shqiptare. Edition III. Galeria e Artit Fier. Fier - Albania. 

November 2016 Grafika ’16. Shenja Shqiptare. Edition II. Galeria e Artit Fier. Fier – Albania. 

November 2015 Grafika ’15. Shenja Shqiptare. Edition I. Galeria e Artit Fier. Fier - Albania. 

September 2013 The International Comic Book and Cartoon Festival. Prizren - Kosovo. 

August 2012 “Kosova Award”. World Cartoon 2012. Galeria e Arteve Pejë. Peja - Kosovo. 

December 2011 Shpend Bengu & Armand Sallabanda EXPO. Tirana - Albania. 

November 2011 Cultural Austrian Week. “Mozaik“, White kube“, Bulevardi Dëshmorët e KombitTirana - Albania

September 2011 “Strips in de Ballkan”. Representing of Albania at Balkan Comics Festival. Antverpen - Belgium.

March 2006 Go-Est Film Festival in Visbaden. Frankfurt - Germany.

December 2005 TIFF Tirana International Film Festival – Third Edition Millennium 2 Cinema. Tirana, Albania.

December 2004 TIFF Tirana International Film Festival – Second Edition Milenium 2 Cinema. Tirana - Albania.

February 2004 “Calabria Cartoon 2004” University of Calabria & Commercial Center “Metropolis” Rende (CS) - Italy.

November 2003 “Homage to De Rada, to Arberia, and Calabria” Badia Greca. Esarchic Monastery of Grottaferrata. Grottaferrata, Rome - Italy. 

October 2003 Personal exhibition dedicated to De Rada. Italian-Albanian College at San Demetrio Corone (CS) Italy. San Demetrio Corone (CS) - Italy. 

October 2003 DeRadian Personal exhibition. National Library of Cosenza. Cosenza – Italy. 

December 2002 Exhibition “Comics – Stories from the Balkans”. Thessaloniki - Greece. 

August 2002 “For Twenty-Four Thousand Kisses” Balkan festival. Ravenna - Italy. 

August 2002 Comics from the Other Europe. Dubrovnik - Croatia. 

May 2002 Stripburek – “La Bande Dessinée dans l’Autre Europe” Confort Moderne. Poitiers – France.

February 2002 Stripburek – “Comics from the other Europe” Karton Gallery. Budapest - Hungary.

November 2001 Exhibition KUD France Presern. Ljubljana - Slovenia. 

April 1995 Exhibition of the Third edition of Expocomics Fiera del Levante. Bari - Italy. 

March 1995 Exhibition of the Seventh International Comics Artic Festival. Art Center Kemi. Kemi - Finland. 

October 1994 Exhibition of the Biennial of Lisbon Cordoaria Nacional. Lisbon - Portugal. 

March 1994 Exhibition of the Second Edition of Expocomics Fiera del Levante. Bari - Italy.

Prizes / Awards

May 2021 - For his high merits in Visual Arts, he has been awarded with the certificate “Master in Fine Arts” by the publishing house "De Agostini", and "START Group", and selected to be part of the publication "Atlante dell'Arte Contemporanea 2021" (Atlas of Contemporary Art 2021). This edition covers the 81-year period of World Contemporary Art, from 1940 to 2021, and coincides with the 25th anniversary of the founding of De Agostini Publishing House. Rome - Italy.

December 2020 – International Graphic Biennial Mitrovica Print 2020 - 3^rd price. Mitrovica - Kosovo.

June 2017 - “Global Art Ambassador Award” from Big Picture Foundation and United Nation Organization. New York - USA.

September 2006 - Price for painting - (Biennale Austria). Hüttenberg - Austria.

December 2005 - First Prize for Best Experimental Film, Tirana International Film Festival. Tirana - Albania.

March 1994 Price “Roberto Careschia”. Second Edition Expo comics. Fiera dei Levante. Bari - Italy.

Links

“Albania Beatiful and Primitive”. COD Centre

https://youtu.be/84UVG3NpfpA?si=m07_S5ZjGDdcXlNm

https://www.facebook.com/reel/576339604993632/?s=single_unit

Florence Heritech 2020. https://www.florenceheritech.com/plenary-session-online/

Universiteti i Prishtinës Fakulteti i Filologjisë dhe Universiteti i Tiranës Fakulteti Histori-Filologji. Seminari XXXII Ndërkombëtar për Gjuhën, Letërsinë dhe Kulturën Shqiptare https://filologjia.uni-pr.edu/desk/inc/media/B73C8DC3-C7D1-4739-A192-6CE7130441C7.pdf

Creative Mornings: Shpend Bengu abut Mystery https://creativemornings.com/talks/shpend-bengu-about-mystery

Università della Calabria Dipartimento di Lingue e Scienze dell'Educazione - Laboratorio di Albanologia http://www.albanologia.unical.it/default.htm

Università della Calabria Dipartimento di Lingue e Scienze dell'Educazione - Laboratorio di Albanologia

AIM EXPERT TRAINERS https://www.thealbaniancinemaproject.org/aim-expert-trainers.html ARCHIVES IN MOTION WORKSHOPS FAQ

https://www.thealbaniancinemaproject.org/faq.html

Albanian Cultural Intangible Heritage & Cultural Diversity

Cartellonistica e Segnaletica Bilingue, nelle Comunità Albanofone della Provincia di Cosenza

Biblioteca Elettronica dei Siti Albanologici della Calabria

Besa 2

Progetto VATRA

Convegno Inaugurale del Progetto VATRA

Progetto per la valorizzazione e promozione del territorio dei comuni di etnia albanese Cartellonistica e Segnaletica Bilingue, nelle Comunità Albanofone della Provincia di Cosenza

Biblioteca Elettronica dei Siti Albanologici della Calabria

2018 Home Movie Day

Albanian Identities Today in the Global Viewpoint

Albanian Cultural Intangible Heritage & Cultural Diversity https://drive.google.com/open?id=1bcRLg3SneqTfqjg_veF6dULTGyo&usp=sharing

Cartellonistica e Segnaletica Bilingue, nelle Comunità Albanofone della Provincia di Cosenza http://www.albanologia.unical.it/Cartellonistica_bilingue/default.htm

Biblioteca Elettronica dei Siti Albanologici della Calabria http://besa.unical.it:591/index.htm

Projekti Besa 2 http://www.albanologia.unical.it/BESA2/rete_bibliotecaria.htm http://www.albanologia.unical.it/Vatra/download/BROCHURE_VATRA%20def%20NEW.pdf http://www.albanologia.unical.it/Vatra/download/Tirana_11-06-2010_locandina.pdf

Progetto per la valorizzazione e promozione del territorio dei comuni di etnia albanese ricadente all’interno dell’area PIT finanziato nell’ambito del PIT 3 della Regione Calabria P.O.R.

2000/2006 Asse 2 Misura 2.2 Azione 2.2b http://www.albanologia.unical.it/ProgettoArberPollino/

Cartellonistica e Segnaletica Bilingue, nelle Comunità Albanofone della Provincia di Cosenza http://www.albanologia.unical.it/Cartellonistica_bilingue/default.htm

Biblioteca Elettronica dei Siti Albanologici della Calabria http://besa.unical.it:591/index.htm

2017 Home Movie Day Locations http://www.centerforhomemovies.org/2017-hmd-locations/

http://www.albanologia.unical.it/Download/Tirana_2017_04_04.pdf

Contact

shpendbengu@gmail.com

SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCES AND PUBLICATIONS

1. Bengu Sh.“New Perspectives on Rock Art in North Albania (Pictograms and petroglyphs of Rubik’s Cave) "EXSPRESSION" Atelier - Antropologia e Preistoria
2. Bengu Sh. “Researching new methodologies for art education: the case of Albania” IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering (Volume 949, 2020). International Conference Florenze Heritech “The Future of Heritage Science and Tecnologies” 14 – 16 October 2020, Villa Vittoria Florence. Italy
3. Bengu Sh. “Monedhat: Identiteti kombëtar dhe mesazhi politik” (Coins: national identity and political message). Medius Nr.4, Botim i Institutit Medius 2018, Mediaprint, ISSN 0261- 7781, pages: 88 – 78. Tirana, Albania
4. Bengu Sh. “Komunikimi pamor ndër shqiptarë, në dëshmitë e Edith Durham” (Visual communication among Albanians as witnessed by Ms. Edith Durham). Scientific conference “Miss Mary Edith Durham”. Muzeu Historik Kombetar, 2019, Tirana, Albania
5. Bengu Sh. “Trashëgimia jomateriale arbëreshe dhe mediat e reja”. "The intangible heritage of Arbëresh and new media". Scientific conference “Albanian identities today in the global perspective. Model of the Italian Arbëreshi ”. Akademia e Shkencave Tiranë. Instituti “Benussi”, Faqe: 161 – 171. Albania

6. Bengu Sh. “Arberia un’ antica identità culturale da rilanciare per creare nuove interazioni in area balcanica e mediterranea”. Scientific conference of University of Calabria and Terzo Pilastro, Aula Magna. 1 december 2016. Tirana, Albania

7. Bengu Sh. “Kontributi i SHBA-së në dokumentimin e Trashëgimisë Kulturore Shqiptare”. The US contribution to the documentation of the Albanian Cultural Heritage ”. Scientific Conference: "Albanian Studies in America". Kosovo Academy of Sciences and Arts, Section of Linguistics and Literature, Prishtina 25-26 September 2015. ISBN 978-9951-615-57- 0, pages: 579 – 597.

8. Bengu Sh. “Kujtesa e Trashëgimisë Jomateriale dhe Diversitetit Kulturor në Shqipëri në Aplikimet Multimediale” (Mediat E Reja).” "Memory of Intangible Heritage and Cultural Diversity in Albania in Multimedia Applications" (New Media). " Scientific Conference: “Media Transformation and Collective Memory in Albania”. Tiranë, Albania 5 - 9 November 2015.ISBN 978-9928-199-89-8, page: 106 -125.

9. Bengu Sh. “Project of the Balkan University in Albania, in the beginning of the 20th century. The American School of Kavaja, pedagogical and aesthetical model”. Scientific conference: ICRAE2015, University of Shkodra “Luigj Gurakuqi”, University Education for Business and Technology. Shkodër, 23-24 October 2015. -, ISSN: 2308-0825.

10. Bengu Sh. “Ndikimi shekullor i Abat Prend Doçit në vlerësimin e Trashëgimisë Kulturore Jomateriale Shqiptare”. "The centuries-old influence of Abat Prend Doçi in the evaluation of the Albanian Intangible Cultural Heritage". Scientific Conference: "Abat Prend Doçi Rilindas great, missionary of national knowledge and culture". (In the framework of Pope Francis' visit to Albania), Ministry of Culture. ISBN: 978-9928-198-03-7, Faqe: 95 – 103.

11. Bengu Sh. “People 2 people” “The role of Culture in Citizen Participation and Community Development” International conference of TACSO Albania, October 30-31, 2014 Gjirokastra, Albania page: 6.

12. Bengu Sh.“Edith Durham dhe toka e të shkuarës së gjallë”. "Edith Durham and the land of the living past." Scientific Conference: "Miss Mary Edith Durham" (On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of her death). Ministry of Culture. September 19, 2014, ISBN: 978-9928- 198-04-4, pages: 63 – 85

13. Bengu Sh. “Këndvështrime të reja mbi Artin e Guvave në Shqipëri (Piktogramet e Guvës së Rubikut)”(New points of view on Cave art in Albania – Rubiku Cave Pictographs) XXXII International Seminar for Albanian language, literature and culture – University of Prishtina and University of Tirana, ISBN: 978-9951-00-165-6, August 2013, pages: 169 – 184. 14 - Bengu Sh. “Trashëgimia albanologjike në udhëkryq mes digjitalizimit dhe shkatërrimit” (Albanian heritage at the crossroad: between digitalization and destruction). XXX International Seminar for Albanian language, literature and culture – University of Prishtina, Kosovo, August 2011.

14. Bengu Sh. “Ditët e Studimeve Shqiptare” (Days of Albanian Studies) Researching new methods and practices in the courses of graphic design and multimedia. DSSH - UET (29-30 Prill 2016), Tirana, Albania

15. Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. Eighth Ordinary Session Paris, UNESCO Headquarters. 9-11 December 2014

16. Conference on Intellectual Property, Intangible Cultural Heritage and Traditional Medicine in the context of policies for the safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in the countries of South-Eastern Europe. Organized by The Regional Centre for the safeguarding of ICH in South-Eastern Europe under the auspices of UNESCO. Sofia, April 23-24, 2015 - Grand Hotel Sofia Bulgaria.

17. Bengu Sh. “Jeronim De Rada, Anselmo Lorechio, dhe zhvillimi i Arteve Grafike në botimet e shek. XIX”. Unical, conferenza internazionale sull’opera letteraria dello scrittore arbëresh Francesco Antonio Santori nel bicentenario della nascita (1819-2019)

18. Bengu Sh. “K’cim Veni” i Tropojës, Një element i rëndësishëm në Trashëgiminë Jomateriale Shqiptare. Origina – e Tashmja – e Ardhmja” (K’cim Veni of Tropoja – an important element of non-material heritage of Albania), First national conference on the traditions of dancing and hopping in Albania, “Kcimet si thurimë e ritualeve të jetës dhe trashëgimisë shpirtërore në Tropojë”.Bajram Curri, Albania 15-16 december 2016.

19. Bengu Sh. Simposium “Art in the digital Epoch”