Name Janaq Paco | ||
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Janaq pa o skulptor i madh shqiptar estela dashi julia bardhushi fatos morina
Janaq Paço (1914, Konitsa, Kingdom of Greece - 1991, Tirana, Albania) was one of the most known Albanian sculptors of the 20th century. Some of his prominent works include the monuments of Skanderbeg in Kruja, Tirana, and Pristina, Kosovo (reproduced post-mortum), as well as The Gladiators.
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Life
Paço studied first at his home town and then the high school in Thessaloniki, Greece. Afterwards he entered the Athens School of Fine Arts in Athens. During his studies, Paço worked and studied with the Greek modern sculptor Costandinos Dimitriadis, himself student of Auguste Rodin, and others.
He went to Albania in 1941. After World War II, he worked as sculpture teacher in Artistic Lyceum "Jordan Misja" in Tirana, where he would teach all his life until retirement.
Paço was one of the founders of the Albanian sculpture school and tradition.
In addition to his realistic sculptures, Paço created also many nude sculptures during the 1960s and 1970s, and was obligated to destroy them by himself fearing a punishment from the Communist Regime. During this time he was criticized by other members of the Albanian League of Writers and Artists. This lead him to gradually disconnect from the League.