Christmas Tree... Artistic installation

Christmas time is a Joyful time, full of lights and colors. But wouldn’t it be great if we take some moments off this joy, unwrap the tree off lights, colorful and joyful decorations and reflect on the black and white reality of a recent past? Of a past when believing in Christmas and celebrating it could cost your life? Of a past when communism star, with the hammer and sickle replaced the Christmas peaceful star? Prison chains in the place of garlands and instead of Christmas ornaments, portraits of the communism martyrs and paper boats, symbols of the much desired freedom. A desire that the luckiest could fulfill, but that would cost others their life. A poor, simple, grey Christmas tree and beneath it a few gifts, wrapped with dictators empty words. Locked up, prohibited. Communism this common ism that likewise any other isms (from Nazism to Fascism) have cost so much to the world.
(Artistic Installation by Gentian Minga, 1983, Tepelenë, Albania) Photos by: Antonio Çakshiri