TIRANA, Nov. 4 /ATA/ – Some photographs do more than capture a moment; they tell the story of an era.
A construction site, a theatre performance, a hydroelectric power plant under construction or the first editions of a folk festival – decades later, such images continue to tell stories of events, places and social change, above all capturing the lives of the people behind them.
Against this backdrop, the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) is taking part in the 32nd Tirana International Fair, organised by Klik Ekspo Group, with a photography exhibition entitled “32 Images, 32 Stories – An Albania in Transformation.”
The exhibition offers visitors a selection of photographs from ATA’s extensive archival collection.
More than a photographic selection, “32 Images, 32 Stories – An Albania in Transformation” offers a journey through time, documenting different stages in Albania’s economic, social and cultural development.
Each photograph bears witness to the work carried out over the decades and offers an opportunity to revisit events, places and moments that have shaped the country’s history.
Among the images documenting milestones in Albania’s past is the installation of the first turbine at the Vau i Dejës hydroelectric power plant in Shkodra, northern Albania, in April 1971. Other photographs capture the introduction of electricity to rural communities for the first time, marking a significant turning point in their daily lives.
The collection also revisits the draining of the Maliq marsh in 1946, oil extraction in Kuçova in 1947, the copper mine in Rubik and a steam-heated greenhouse in Vlora.
Together, these images document the efforts and transformations that shaped a country undergoing development.
But the story of Albania is also told through its culture, art and traditions.
The exhibition captures the construction of the Palace of Culture, the staging of the opera “Rusalka”, the country’s first operatic production, lessons at the Artistic Lyceum and a performance of the 1976 theatrical production “Zonja nga qyteti” (The Lady from the City).
Traditional costumes, landscapes across Albania and scenes from the National Folk Festivals in Gjirokastra further enrich the collection, offering visitors a glimpse into the country’s cultural identity and heritage.
For one generation, these photographs may evoke nostalgia, while younger visitors will discover images of a time they never experienced.
Behind every photograph is also the work of ATA’s photographers and journalists, who documented the events and personalities of their time, building an archival legacy that has endured to the present day.
At a fair that brings together people, businesses and ideas, ATA’s exhibition highlights the importance of preserving collective memory and documenting history through 32 authentic photographs. The exhibition will remain open to the public at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana until November 6.
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