Photo © Tate (Jai Monaghan)
9 rooms in Performer and Participant
This monumental installation evokes a fantastical world inhabited by whimsical winged creatures embodying hope and renewal
Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? comprises giant fabric moths illuminated by flickering lightbulbs. These vividly coloured creatures are suspended at various heights, caught in swirling motions of flight.
Woven into their construction is a strong sense of familial history and memory. Halilaj worked closely with his mother Shkurte over many months to create the sculptures. The materials include Kosovar fabrics such as Qilim and Dyshek carpets. During this process, the two discussed Halilaj’s childhood memories. When he was younger, Halilaj would chase moths around the light bulbs in his family house in Kostërrc – a home which was destroyed during the Kosovo War (1998-9).
The moths transform from static sculptures hanging in space into costumes that the artist wears as part of live performances. Halilaj has said: ’I can enter [into this costume] and the body disappears, becoming an insect. So, with this idea of hiding and becoming an insect, I just escaped another time to talk and confess about something that is still too complicated … I would try to dream something beyond verbal, a different kind of language that would be added to my body.’
Halilaj often uses moths as a motif in his work. They are fragments of childhood memories, nostalgia and resilience, resonating with the larger social and political context of conflict and displacement. They can symbolise the persistence of optimism and metamorphosis.
Petrit Halilaj, Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? (grey and warm yellow) 2017
Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? 2017 is an installation that consists of six large sculptures that take the form of colourful fabric moths. Each sculpture consists of a steel and brass armature on which two fabric wings made from antique Kosovar rugs have been fixed and from which emerge two long polyester fabric tails. The giant fabric insects’ bodies measure over two metres with their shimmering tails extending a further two metres in length. The insects’ heads are made from Flokati handmade shag-pile rug from which protrude antennae made from Chenille wire. The moths are referred to by the overall title Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? and are differentiated individually by a colour description. In light green (Tate T15458), the body of the moth is made from a finely woven Dyshek carpet bearing a small, repeating green diamond pattern, bordered by weaved stripes of yellow, blue and red dyed wool; the tail is turquoise. The moth dark pink (Tate T15459), is also formed using antique Dyshek carpet with a dark red diamond weave, bordered by black Chenille wire, with black brush-like antennae and a shiny red tail. There are two pairs of moths which are always displayed together as pairs and installed near to flickering light-bulbs: they are grey and warm yellow (Tate T15460); and light yellow and warm violet (Tate T15461). The moths grey and warm yellow are both made from antique Qilim (or Kilim) rugs: the former is primarily blue and red with a repeated decorative flower-like geometric patterning in blue, green and pale blue; the latter has a red ground with a repeating dark-blue motif. The grey moth is lined with a silky silvery-cloth and has grey furry antennae. The warm yellow insect’s dark red and blue body contrasts with a bright yellow textile tail. Light yellow and warm violet are made respectively from biege Qilim carpet with repeated brown abstract motifs and a bright yellow tail; and a solid cream antique Jan rug with a rich violet-coloured tail and orange fuzzy antennae. Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? was commissioned for the exhibition Viva Arte Viva at the 57th Venice Biennale in 2017 and installed in the Arsenale; here a total of eighteen moths were displayed, suspended from the ceiling and walls, with their long fabric tails trailing onto the floor, and one work placed directly on the floor. The moths can be presented together or in smaller paired groupings. In total the artist has made twenty-three moths. A number of these were included in his solo exhibition at the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles from September 2018 to January 2019.
1/4
artworks in Petrit Halilaj
Petrit Halilaj, Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? (light green) 2017
Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? 2017 is an installation that consists of six large sculptures that take the form of colourful fabric moths. Each sculpture consists of a steel and brass armature on which two fabric wings made from antique Kosovar rugs have been fixed and from which emerge two long polyester fabric tails. The giant fabric insects’ bodies measure over two metres with their shimmering tails extending a further two metres in length. The insects’ heads are made from Flokati handmade shag-pile rug from which protrude antennae made from Chenille wire. The moths are referred to by the overall title Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? and are differentiated individually by a colour description. In light green (Tate T15458), the body of the moth is made from a finely woven Dyshek carpet bearing a small, repeating green diamond pattern, bordered by weaved stripes of yellow, blue and red dyed wool; the tail is turquoise. The moth dark pink (Tate T15459), is also formed using antique Dyshek carpet with a dark red diamond weave, bordered by black Chenille wire, with black brush-like antennae and a shiny red tail. There are two pairs of moths which are always displayed together as pairs and installed near to flickering light-bulbs: they are grey and warm yellow (Tate T15460); and light yellow and warm violet (Tate T15461). The moths grey and warm yellow are both made from antique Qilim (or Kilim) rugs: the former is primarily blue and red with a repeated decorative flower-like geometric patterning in blue, green and pale blue; the latter has a red ground with a repeating dark-blue motif. The grey moth is lined with a silky silvery-cloth and has grey furry antennae. The warm yellow insect’s dark red and blue body contrasts with a bright yellow textile tail. Light yellow and warm violet are made respectively from biege Qilim carpet with repeated brown abstract motifs and a bright yellow tail; and a solid cream antique Jan rug with a rich violet-coloured tail and orange fuzzy antennae. Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? was commissioned for the exhibition Viva Arte Viva at the 57th Venice Biennale in 2017 and installed in the Arsenale; here a total of eighteen moths were displayed, suspended from the ceiling and walls, with their long fabric tails trailing onto the floor, and one work placed directly on the floor. The moths can be presented together or in smaller paired groupings. In total the artist has made twenty-three moths. A number of these were included in his solo exhibition at the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles from September 2018 to January 2019.
2/4
artworks in Petrit Halilaj
Petrit Halilaj, Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? (light yellow and warm violet) 2017
Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? 2017 is an installation that consists of six large sculptures that take the form of colourful fabric moths. Each sculpture consists of a steel and brass armature on which two fabric wings made from antique Kosovar rugs have been fixed and from which emerge two long polyester fabric tails. The giant fabric insects’ bodies measure over two metres with their shimmering tails extending a further two metres in length. The insects’ heads are made from Flokati handmade shag-pile rug from which protrude antennae made from Chenille wire. The moths are referred to by the overall title Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? and are differentiated individually by a colour description. In light green (Tate T15458), the body of the moth is made from a finely woven Dyshek carpet bearing a small, repeating green diamond pattern, bordered by weaved stripes of yellow, blue and red dyed wool; the tail is turquoise. The moth dark pink (Tate T15459), is also formed using antique Dyshek carpet with a dark red diamond weave, bordered by black Chenille wire, with black brush-like antennae and a shiny red tail. There are two pairs of moths which are always displayed together as pairs and installed near to flickering light-bulbs: they are grey and warm yellow (Tate T15460); and light yellow and warm violet (Tate T15461). The moths grey and warm yellow are both made from antique Qilim (or Kilim) rugs: the former is primarily blue and red with a repeated decorative flower-like geometric patterning in blue, green and pale blue; the latter has a red ground with a repeating dark-blue motif. The grey moth is lined with a silky silvery-cloth and has grey furry antennae. The warm yellow insect’s dark red and blue body contrasts with a bright yellow textile tail. Light yellow and warm violet are made respectively from biege Qilim carpet with repeated brown abstract motifs and a bright yellow tail; and a solid cream antique Jan rug with a rich violet-coloured tail and orange fuzzy antennae. Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? was commissioned for the exhibition Viva Arte Viva at the 57th Venice Biennale in 2017 and installed in the Arsenale; here a total of eighteen moths were displayed, suspended from the ceiling and walls, with their long fabric tails trailing onto the floor, and one work placed directly on the floor. The moths can be presented together or in smaller paired groupings. In total the artist has made twenty-three moths. A number of these were included in his solo exhibition at the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles from September 2018 to January 2019.
3/4
artworks in Petrit Halilaj
Petrit Halilaj, Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? (dark pink) 2017
Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? 2017 is an installation that consists of six large sculptures that take the form of colourful fabric moths. Each sculpture consists of a steel and brass armature on which two fabric wings made from antique Kosovar rugs have been fixed and from which emerge two long polyester fabric tails. The giant fabric insects’ bodies measure over two metres with their shimmering tails extending a further two metres in length. The insects’ heads are made from Flokati handmade shag-pile rug from which protrude antennae made from Chenille wire. The moths are referred to by the overall title Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? and are differentiated individually by a colour description. In light green (Tate T15458), the body of the moth is made from a finely woven Dyshek carpet bearing a small, repeating green diamond pattern, bordered by weaved stripes of yellow, blue and red dyed wool; the tail is turquoise. The moth dark pink (Tate T15459), is also formed using antique Dyshek carpet with a dark red diamond weave, bordered by black Chenille wire, with black brush-like antennae and a shiny red tail. There are two pairs of moths which are always displayed together as pairs and installed near to flickering light-bulbs: they are grey and warm yellow (Tate T15460); and light yellow and warm violet (Tate T15461). The moths grey and warm yellow are both made from antique Qilim (or Kilim) rugs: the former is primarily blue and red with a repeated decorative flower-like geometric patterning in blue, green and pale blue; the latter has a red ground with a repeating dark-blue motif. The grey moth is lined with a silky silvery-cloth and has grey furry antennae. The warm yellow insect’s dark red and blue body contrasts with a bright yellow textile tail. Light yellow and warm violet are made respectively from biege Qilim carpet with repeated brown abstract motifs and a bright yellow tail; and a solid cream antique Jan rug with a rich violet-coloured tail and orange fuzzy antennae. Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? was commissioned for the exhibition Viva Arte Viva at the 57th Venice Biennale in 2017 and installed in the Arsenale; here a total of eighteen moths were displayed, suspended from the ceiling and walls, with their long fabric tails trailing onto the floor, and one work placed directly on the floor. The moths can be presented together or in smaller paired groupings. In total the artist has made twenty-three moths. A number of these were included in his solo exhibition at the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles from September 2018 to January 2019.
4/4
artworks in Petrit Halilaj
Art in this room
Petrit Halilaj
Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? (grey and warm yellow)
2017
Petrit Halilaj
Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? (light green)
2017
Petrit Halilaj
Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? (light yellow and warm violet)
2017
Petrit Halilaj
Do you realise there is a rainbow even if it’s night!? (dark pink)
2017