Bunk’Art 1

The BUNK’ART project began in November 2014 with the public debut of BUNK’ART 1, a video museum installation located within the dictator Enver Hoxha’s atomic bunker on the outskirts of Tirana, and will conclude on November 19, 2016 with the inauguration of BUNK’ART 2 in the city center.

While BUNK’ART 1 focuses on the history of the Albanian communist army and the daily lives of Albanians during the regime, BUNK’ART 2 reconstructs the history of the Albanian Ministry of Internal Affairs from 1912 to 1991 and reveals the secrets of “Sigurimi,” the harsh persecution weapon used by Enver Hoxha’s regime. The project’s inventor and general curator is the Italian journalist Carlo Bollino, while the historical research team is managed by the journalist Admirina Peçi. The Albanian NGO “Qendra Ura” is supporting the BUNK’ART initiative.

After the dictator Enver Hoxha’s inauguration in June 1978, the communist government opened the anti-nuclear bunker to the public. A five-story subterranean palace with 106 chambers and an assembly hall has been converted into a historical and art center known as “BUNK’ART.” The passageways, the areas provided for meetings of the General Staff of the Army in case of war, the rooms where communist exdictator Enver Hoxha and former Prime Minister Mehmet Shehu were thought to sleep in case of a nuclear attack, and the gigantic hall dedicated to meetings of the political Bureau, which also contains an albanian traditional Buffe, have been transformed into a video museum exhibition and into art.

Beginning in April 2016, BUNK’ART has become a permanent attraction for visitors in the area, depicting Albanian life during the 45 years of communism.