Dënalisa Shijaku
Dënalisa Shijaku is a Berlin-based abstract painter with Albanian roots. Together with her family, she emigrated to Germany in 1993 and spent her first years in various refugee shelters. She grew up in both East and West Germany. Due to her residency status at the time, she was unable to pursue higher education. Through social media, she managed to establish her career as an artist. Her art serves as a means to capture and express emotions on canvas, and invites the viewer to dive into an endless world of colors, shapes and materials.
Shijaku has exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions. She is currently represented in several galleries, including Nuo Gallery (Munich), Lyle Gallery (New York), and Gallery 1888 (Toronto).
Artworks
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This large painting installation consists of five interconnected canvases, with the centerpiece being the largest at 3 meters tall, creating a “dream altar.” Accompanying the altar are two implied “dream guardians”—two religious hats sit on an interfaith prayer rug, serving as protectors against bad dreams.
This prayer rug, inspired by both Jewish and Muslim traditions, tells the story of an intertwined history that is often forgotten or disavowed. Together with the dream altar, it forms a fictional narrative—a symbolic space where these two religions meet again, interweaving their spiritual roots. Once lost in an earthquake, this altar is a respectful reconstruction of its legacy, honoring the Guardians’ role in bringing peace to those once tormented by nightmares.