|
Paço, Janaq
(b Konicë [now Koniatsi, Greece], 14 March 1914; d Tiranë, 11 July 1991). Albanian sculptor. After finishing his education in the State Gymnasium in Tiranë (1926–9) and in Thessaloniki, he studied sculpture at the Academy of Athens (1934–9). During and immediately after attending college he worked as an assistant in the studio of the sculptor Constantin Dimitriadis (b 1879) in Athens. His early works were clearly influenced by Classical art, for example My Girlfriend (marble, h. 380 mm, 1937; Tiranë, A.G.). On his return to Konicë in 1942 he produced a life-size head, Elsa (plaster; Tiranë, A.G.), which demonstrated a shift towards a greater realism. In 1946 he was a founder-member of the Jordan Misja Arts Lyceum in Tiranë, and from about this time Paço set out through his work to immortalize Albanian heroism, love and humanism. Among his most original works of the post-war period are the bust of Qemal Stafa (bronze, h. 900 mm, 1949) at Qemal Stafa Square, Tiranë, and his equestrian statue of Scanderbeg (bronze, h. 6 m, 1955; see ALBANIA, fig. 4) in the central square of Krujë. One of Paço’s greatest talents was his versatility. The poetic portrait My Son (bronze, h. 320 mm; Tiranë, A.G.) contrasts sharply with the dynamic portrait of the linguist Christoforides (plaster, h. 420 mm, 1968; Gjirokastër, N. Ren. Mus.). Some of his works are deeply realistic, while others, such as Alexander Moisi (plaster, h. 2.2 m, 1959; artist’s col.), are highly stylized. The roughness and spontaneity of some of his early works are quite different from the academic refinement of the bust My Daughter (plaster, h. 490 mm, 1957; artist’s col., see New Albania, 1972). Many of his sculptures were created for parks, such as Thoughtful Girl (plaster, h. 710 mm, 1965; Tiranë, A.G.).
|
