Autostrada Biennale Releases Curatorial Approach and Title of its 5th Edition

5th Autostrada Biennale
Unfolding Currents: The Pulse of Time
July 5 – October 5 2025
Autostrada Biennale

Autostrada Biennale has announced the title and curatorial framework for its 5th edition, set to take place from July 5 to October 5, 2025, in Prizren, Kosovo. Curated by Erzen Shkolloli, the upcoming biennale will be titled Unfolding Currents: The Pulse of Time and will engage deeply with the historical and cultural layers of Prizren throughout the venues in the city.

As Autostrada Biennale celebrates its tenth anniversary, this edition embraces a situated approach, inviting artists from diverse backgrounds to create works that interact with Prizren’s historical sites. Through a mix of pre-existing and reimagined works and newly commissioned projects, the biennale continues with its approach of carefully weaving contemporary art within the historic cultural fabric of Prizren.

The title Unfolding Currents: The Pulse of Time encapsulates Erzen’s  curatorial vision. “Unfolding Currents” evokes the fluid nature of historical and artistic narratives, while “The Pulse of Time” alludes to the persistent rhythms of transformation. This thematic framework underscores the biennale’s commitment to exploring the intersection of past, present, and future in the vibrant setting of Prizren.

The curatorial statement for the biennale, provided in full below, elaborates on the conceptual and historical underpinnings of this edition:

Unfolding Currents: The Pulse of Time highlights the dynamic interplay between artists, artworks, audiences, and the rich historical context of Prizren, Kosovo. A city layered with architectural and cultural history, Prizren serves as a living repository of the country’s heritage.

In its tenth year, Autostrada Biennale adopts a situated approach, inviting artists from various generations and geographies to engage deeply with a number of the city’s historical sites. By reimagining past works and commissioning new projects, this edition fosters a vibrant dialogue in the present while critically reflecting on the past.

Unfolding Currents: The Pulse of Time embodies the spirit of this dialogue. The phrase “Unfolding Currents” evokes the continuous evolution of historical and artistic narratives, while “The Pulse of Time” captures the rhythmic, persistent nature of these transformations. This title emphasizes the biennale’s active engagement with the layered contemporary moment we inhabit.

Situated along the Prizren River, the city of Prizren is composed of many pasts and presents. Formed over millennia by a retreating glacier, Prizren, now the second-largest city in Kosovo, lies at the foothills of the Sharr Mountains. Bronze Age fragments have been uncovered around the city’s historical fortress. Byzantine churches sit alongside significant Ottoman mosques and residences. Many examples of Yugoslav infrastructure remain in use, while evidence of the Kosovo War leaves no surface unmarked.

The exhibition unfolds across several historical sites, from the Clock Tower and Shani Efendi House to Gazi Mehmed Pasha Hammam and beyond. Many of the featured projects are already taking shape. This announcement invites readers and future visitors on a journey through key sites where they can encounter these projects in formation.

The Clock Tower and Hamam of Shemsedin Ahmet Bey are key landmarks in Prizren. Built in 1498, the hamam ceased functioning by the mid-19th century when the Clock Tower replaced part of its structure. Originally wooden, the tower was later rebuilt in stone by Eshref Pasha Rrotulli. Its clock and bell, removed in 1912, remain missing. After years of neglect, restoration efforts in the 1970s transformed the hamam into the Archaeological Museum of Prizren, showcasing artifacts from the Neolithic to the Ottoman period.

For this year’s biennale, Vadim Fishkin’s Lighthouse (1996) transforms the tower into a living signal. Pulsing lights, linked in real-time to the artist’s heartbeat wherever he is, are transmitted via mobile technology. Having traveled to various contexts, the work now turns the site into a beacon, guiding the way on the biennale journey.

A short walk from Prizren’s central marketplace, Shani Efendi House continues this exploration of embodied practice. Built in the 1930s as a residence, it later became a space for political and social gatherings during the Yugoslav period.

Inside, the mixed-media paintings and sculptures of Prizren-born Simon Shiroka deepen the exhibition’s connection to local artisanal practices and mythologies. Steeped in the city’s history of craft, Shiroka’s work brings together traditional approaches to silversmithing with contemporary art by rendering intricate scenes based on dreams, complex filigree elements, Kosovar symbology, and more.

Meanwhile, Robert Gabris’s large-scale drawing The Garden of Catastrophe (2024) seeks, in his words, not to “aestheticize the concept of dying” but to work with flaw, failure, and imminent disaster. Gabris’s intricate pencil lines, depicting interrelated beings, are “an integral part of retelling historical oppression and pain, embodying the idea of existence afterward.”

Erzan further states:

“As the curator of the 5th edition of the Autostrada Biennale, Unfolding Currents: The Pulse of Time, I am honored to lead this edition. As a curator from Kosovo, I have a deep understanding of the groundedness and fragility of artistic practice here.

The temporary nature of the artworks in Unfolding Currents: The Pulse of Time means that many aspects of their vibrant questions and proposals will inevitably fade. Despite this, these projects are designed to leave a lasting impression on both our memories and the city’s fabric. The legacy of previous biennale editions, seen in the work of Open Group, Neda Saeedi, and Alban Muja, highlights how these artistic contributions continue to evolve and resonate.

The history of Prizren, marked by memory, erasure, and trauma, shapes our approach and reflects the resilience of Kosovar culture. This edition seeks to honor and build upon this legacy by exploring new ways to engage with and preserve our heritage spaces. The Autostrada archive—which is expanding in parallel to this biennale—serves as an important repository for artist publications, biennale materials, and evolving insights. My hope is that Unfolding Currents: The Pulse of Time will foster meaningful dialogue and reflection for artists and audiences alike, both now and in the future.”

Autostrada Biennale’s 5th edition promises to be a great continuation of the institution’s mission and approach of continuous experimentation, sustainable growth and strong links with all local communities. Widely regarded as one of the most dynamic and interesting biennials in the region, Autostrada Biennale is certainly one not to miss later this year.

More details on participating artists and public programs will be released in the coming months. Stay updated through Autostrada Biennale’s official channels.