Buy this book near our office in Tirana, @ Villa with Star. We’re proud to be HPJ contact in Tirana for all those who are interested in buying this fantastic book. Great idea for a gift from Albania!
We loved Hans Peter Jost book immediately when we saw it! It’s putting in front of each other two times from our own generations. In the beginning of the 90ies most of us were teenagers or young kids and still collected chewing gum wrapping papers. And here we are in the years 2010 when the dream of all of us is to be rich, famous and successful but in our very own Albanian way!
The historical events 20 years ago changed the world profoundly, as the end of the Cold War ushered in the democratization of the countries of Eastern Europe. Albania was also swept up in the wave of the regime critical movements, and with the overthrow of the communist government hopes for prosperity and freedom took root.
Hans Peter Jost’s photographs of that time document a country marked by communism in the throes of change.
They recall a time when there were no private automobiles on the streets, when horses transported goods and human beings, when Coca-Cola and ATM’s were not yet part of the urban landscape and the house facades were not yet adorned with satellite dishes. The images of this time with its roots in the past are juxtaposed with photographs from the Albania of today. They underscore vividly the discrepancies between the dreams of 20 years ago and the reality of today.
The course of events since 1990 are further clarified in the essays by Christina Kleineidam; they are stories of injustice and corruption, from sacrosanct patriarchal traditions and concrete wastelands. The book ironically examines the progress portended by the change.
Hans Peter Jost, born 1953 in Zurich, works as a freelance photographer with focus on documentary photography and portraiture. His main interest is in social issues, which he often pursues for years. He is a member of the vfg (Association of photographic designer) and the Swiss Werkbund.
Kleineidam Christina, born 1961 in Bad Nauheim, works as an architect and journalist. In 2010 the photo-text book “Cotton Worlwide” – a project in collaboration with Hans Peter Jost – has been released.
Fatos Lubonja, born in 1951 in Tirana, is an author and editor of the literary magazine „Përpjekja“ (effort). From 1974 till 1991 he was under arrest because of his dissident position. He has already published several novels, essays and critical newspaper articles. In 2004 he got the Herder Prize in Literature.
Please write us in case interested in buying this book or contacting the author! It could be a great gift for those back at home, which couldn’t take their albaniantrip this time!
