Intertitles
Bekim Zeqiri
23.03–20.04.2023

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Intertitles in·ter·titles. ˈintə(r)ˌtītəl,

A word or group of words (such as dialogue in a silent movie or information about a setting) that appear
on-screen during a movie but are not part of a scene.
The National Gallery of Kosovo is pleased to present Intertitles, the first solo show by artist
Bekim Zeqiri. A collection of large-scale paintings in ink, acrylic and house paint, Intertitles conveys
a tension between absence and immediacy. The phrase Intertitles was first introduced in the silent
film era and refers to a word or group of words that appear on-screen during a movie but are not
part of the scene. These words and phrases are typically used to indicate imminent dialogue,
describe action, or provide context to the action.
Inspired by the mechanisms of theater – sketched set designs, written stage directions in a play
script and the dialogue between actors – the written word in Zeqiri’s paintings is an element that
moves the action forward or creates suspense while blurring the space between painting and
performance. Continually seeking to challenge the viewer's assumptions about what is "real" and
what is constructed, Zeqiri’s images question our commonly held social norms and hierarchies,
using humor and irony to subvert these conventions.
The scale of Zeqiri’s work invokes a physical response. Large swaths of negative space illustrate an
absence. The size of the canvases create an immediacy, as if sitting in the front of a movie theater
under a looming image. By introducing intertitles into a single painted image, language provides
additional context to the painting and invites the viewer to engage with both the visual and written
aspects of the image.
In the world of Intertitles, words are both precious and redundant; they point to the action while
simultaneously leaving the viewer in a state of permanent intermission.

The exhibition is curated by Carolyn London, a writer, creative director and curator from New York
City.

Bekim Zeqiri studied at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf with Markus Lupertz and graduated with
M.F.A in 2000. His work was featured in a solo exhibition at the KIT – Kunst im Tunnel Düsseldorf,
Germany, and in several group exhibitions such as Josef Albers Museum, Bottrop, Germany. Zeqiri
lives and works between Kosovo and New Jersey, United States.