Through a message, the Grandfather of the World Bektashian, His Holiness, Haxhi Dede Edmond Brahimaj, has consoled many family members, relatives and friends of the world-famous Albanian, the well-known painter Omer Kaleshi, who passed away a day ago. In addition to being a world-renowned Albanian painter, Kaleshi was and will remain a great friend of the Bektashis. The cycle of Kalesh paintings donated to the Bektashian Holy See, donated three years ago by the painter and placed in the Odeon of the Bektashian Holy See, which are visited every day by many believers, are a gift of the soul and of great value, which apart from the messages they convey , will always keep the love and respect for this great artist alive.
From, the Bektashian World Grandfather, His Holiness, Haxhi Dede Edmond Brahimaj,
"Dear mothers and fathers, Bektashin sisters and brothers around the world!
Dear Bektash clergy wherever you spread the light of Haxhi BektashVeli!
Yesterday, our friend and brother, the unforgettable Omer Kaleshi, the pious son of Kerçova, the outstanding painter, whose art crossed the borders of the continents through talent and spirit, was sent to Istanbul for the hereafter.
We accompanied him with mind and heart through deep pain, through silence and sorrow, because the memories of the days we spent with him were so joyful and so beautiful!
I first met him in Paris, at our evenings of Bektashi cultures, where with his wise and slow speech he even came and greeted our initiative, joining the deep respect of all Albanians for our Naim, the whistle of the language and the great Albanian.
I went to his atelier in Paris, in that place where his art unfolded its spirit, not only artistic but also national, Balkan and universal, always in search of the most vital motives. And above all, I was amazed by the portraits of dervishes, those nuances and colors that to this day have surprised visitors from all over the world. For our brother, Omer, paintings were life, its physical continuation and the homeland itself.
That homeland that was present in every painting and in every detail, there in the small studio, near his apartment, in Paris.
I personally, but also the friends of the Bektashian Holy See, were lucky enough to have Omer Kaleshi among us even three years ago, when he gave us a very precious gift, to all of us, giving us a cycle of his paintings. The "Omer Kaleshi" gallery, which has taken its rightful place in the surroundings of our magnificent Odeon, is today visited by dozens and hundreds of visitors a day, best completing not only the mosaic of our cultural tradition, but also the identity of the Bektashi tariqat.
In one of my last visits to Paris, I persistently asked to meet him, even though our brother had been hospitalized diagnosed with Covid-19. He welcomed me to bed with that undivided smile and I saw hope light up in his eyes. I prayed to him, taking his hand in mine and told him that soon we were waiting for him in Tirana, in our holy See, for other beautiful plans we had to realize.
That's how we parted, longing and full of faith for the future, because after all, this is our mission, the clergy, and these are the laws of the All-Merciful. It is important to remain full of faith and pure of heart, in devotion to Him, in this temporary life and in the next, forever.
May our brother Omer reign in peace!"
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF OMER KALESH:
Year, 1932 – He was born in the village of Serbica in Kicova, Republic of Macedonia.
Year, 1950 – He graduated from the Technical High School of Skopje in the electrical department.
Year, 1956 – Emigrates to Turkey.
Year, 1959 – He begins his studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Istanbul.
Year, 1961 - Participates with his works in the University Festival organized by the City Gallery - of Istanbul.
Year, 1962 – During five months, together with his fellow students, Ergin Kolbek and Oktay Anilanmert travels around Turkey. Some impressions of this trip inspire him to create his paintings many years later, such as Shepherds, Dervishes, etc.
Year, 1963 – Istanbul, his first personal exhibition opens in the gallery of Robert Collège. Ankara, participates in the State Exhibition of Painting and Sculpture. Travels around Europe (France, Italy, Yugoslavia, etc.)
Year, 1964 – Personal exhibition at the Istanbul Ankara City Gallery, participates in the State Exhibition of Painting and Sculpture. Travels to Italy, Austria, Germany, Belgium, England, France, Spain, Yugoslavia and Greece.
Year, 1965 – Finishes university studies of the Academy of Fine Arts, in the atelier of the painter Bedri Rrahmi. Ankara, personal exhibition at the German Cultural Center. Ankara, participates in the State Exhibition of Painting and Sculpture. Belgrade, Persian exhibitiononal at Galerija Kulturnog Central. Skopje, (Macedonia), personal exhibition at Galerija Kulturnog Centra. Set in Paris.
Year, 1967 – The Hague, exhibition together with the painter Nuray Ataç at the "Sfinx Gallery". Travel through the Netherlands.
Year, 1968 – Paris, participates in the Salon des Indépendants (Salon of Independent Artists), Grand Palais. Paris, participates in the Salon International de Peinture (International Salon of Painting).
Year, 1969 – Pristina, personal exhibition at Galerija Kulturnog Centra. Skopje, personal exhibition at Galerija Kulturnog Centra. Paris, participates in the Salon des Indépendants, Grand Palais.
Year, 1970 – Paris, participates in the Salon des Indépendants, Grand Palais.
Year, 1971 – Lecce (Italy), participates in the International Salon of Painting. During two years, he deals with the works for the creation of his atelier.
Year, 1973 – Paris, participates in the Salon de Mai, (Salon of May), at the Musée d'Art Moderne.
Year, 1974 – Paris, participates in the Salon de Mai at the Musée d'Art Moderne. Paris, participates in the Salon Réalités Nouvelles, Parc Floréal.
Year, 1975 – Istanbul, personal exhibition at the Museum of Painting and Sculpture (Musée de Peinture et de Sculpture). Ankara, personal exhibition at Center Culturel Français.
Year, 1976 – Paris, personal exhibition at Center Culturel 17. Ankara, participates in the collective exhibition at Galerie d'Art Vakko. Travels to Tunisia.
Year, 1977 – Istanbul, collective exhibition at Galerie d'Art Maçka.
Year, 1979 – Paris, participates in the «Nouveau Salon de Paris» exhibition.
Year, 1980 – Paris, participates in the exhibition at the Institut Audiovisuel. Travels to the United States of America and Canada.
Year, 1981 – Paris, exhibits together with painters Gül Derman and Günèr Somtürk at Galerie «Régine Lussan». Paris, participates in the exhibition L'Art Contemporain Turc, UNESCO. Paris, participates in the Nouveau Salon de Paris.
Year, 1982 – Paris, participates in the Salon des Artistes Français, Grand Palais. Paris, collective exhibition at Galerie M.J.C. Travels to Kosovo.
Year, 1983 – Paris, participates in Salon d'Art Plastique A.P.A.C. Paris, participates in the exhibition organized in Corbeil.
Year, 1984 – Istanbul, personal exhibition at Galerie Baraz.
Year, 1985 – Ankara, personal exhibition at Galerie d'Art Artizan. Paris, participates in the exhibition of the Center International d'Art Contemporain.
Year, 1986 – Istanbul, participates in the exhibition "Turkish Artists in Paris" (Artistes Turcs de Paris), at Galerie d'Art TEM. Istanbul, participates in the Insanlar exhibition at Galerie d'Art TEM. Istanbul, personal exhibition at Galerie d'Art TEM.
Year, 1987 – Ankara, personal exhibition at Galerie MI-GE. London, participates in the exhibition Eclats de l'Art de Peinture vivante Turque I, (Excellences of Contemporary Turkish Painting I), with the MI-GE Gallery. Chantilly, participates in the exhibition Turkish Painters of Today in Paris, (Peintres Turcs Vivant à Paris). Amiens, participates in the exhibition Peintres Turcs Vivant à Paris.
Year, 1988 – Paris, personal exhibition at the Anatolian Cultural Center (Centre Culturel Anatolie). Istanbul, personal exhibition at the TEM Art Gallery. Ankara, personal exhibition at MI-GE gallery.
The Hague, participates in the exhibition Eclats de l'Art de Peinture vivante Turque II, with the MI-GE gallery.
Ankara participates in the II "ASIA-EUROPE" Biennale.
Year, 1989 – Paris, personal exhibition at the Turkish Tourism Office. Reims, participates in an exhibition together with the famous Turkish painters Abedin Dino, Selim Turan, Kemal Bastuji. Travels to Albania.
Year, 1990 – Ankara, personal exhibition at Galerie d'Art Sanat Yapim. Paris, exhibits at the PARISTANBUL exhibition, at the Cité Internationale des Arts. Paris, exhibits at Artistes Turcs de Paris, at Espace A.G.F. Richelieu. Istanbul, personal exhibition at Galerie d'Art TEM. Istanbul, collective exhibition at Galerie d'Art Arkeon. Ankara, is honored with the Painting Prize from the Art Institute.
Year, 1991 – Ankara, personal exhibition at Galerie d'Art Sanat Yapim. Istanbul, participates with Galerie d'Art TEM, (Centre Culturel ATATURK), From Celebi to Gurbiiz, Five Years in the Service of Art. Moscow, participates in the exhibition Eclats de l'Art de Peinture Vivante Turque III, Galerie MI GE. Istanbul, participates in Les Tiroirs exhibition at Galerie M. D. Paris, personal exhibition at Galerie ART 50. Istanbul, participates in 1st Istanbul Art Fair, TUYAP. Paris, UNESCO, ten paintings are exhibited on the occasion of the Yunus Emre Franco-Turkish Conference.
Year, 1992 – Ankara, personal exhibition at Galerie Halkbank. Istanbul, participates in the exhibition of Galerie d'Art Almelek. Izmir, participates in the Galerie d'Art Tuval exhibition. Mulhouse, participates in the Les Tiroirs exhibition at the Center d'Art International.
Year, 1993 – Istanbul, personal exhibition at Galerie d'Art TEM. Paris, personal exhibition at the Galerie ART 50. Flavigny, participates in the exhibition of the gallery La Licorne Bleue, «A view of Jacques Lacarrière on four contemporary artists». Istanbul, the 3rd Art Fair with "Tem Sanat Galerisi", TUYAP.
Year, 1995 – Istanbul, personal exhibition at Galerie d'Art TEM. Paris, solo exhibition at Galerie ART 50.
Year, 1996 – Ankara, personal exhibition at Galerie MI-GE ART. Travels to Egypt, Spain and Switzerland. Istanbul, participates in the exhibition Self-Portrait in Turkish Painting of the Yapi-Kredi Gallery, Istanbul, participates in the exhibition of Contemporary Turkish Art, Habitat II. Istanbul, participates in the exhibition View of Man in Turkish Painting, at the Museum of Painting and Sculpture. Istanbul, participates in the Sixth Art Fair, "Tem Sanat Galerisi", TUYAP. Skopje, personal exhibition at the City Museum.
Year, 1997 – Istanbul, personal exhibition at Galerie d'Art TEM Istanbul, participates in the exhibition of Center d'Art Artemis.
Year, 1998 – Paris, participates in the France-Greece-Turkey exhibition, in Saint-Loubès, and presented at La Coupole. Almaty, participates in the exhibition organized by Mimar Sinan University of Istanbul.
Year, 1999 – Istanbul, personal exhibition at Galerie Art TEM. Nanterre, solo exhibition Balkan Drama (Drame balkanique), at the Théâtre des Amandiers. Travels to Thailand and China. Paris, personal exhibition at Galerie Zafira. Istanbul, participates in the exhibition Portraits of Artists at the Cultural Center of Yapi Kredi. Paris, participates in the Turkish Heads (Têtes de Turcs) exhibition, at Galerie «Zafira». Skopje, participates in the exhibition of Drama Theater. Paris, participates in the exhibition of the City Hall of Paris XI.
Year, 2000 – Paris, personal exhibition Drama Balkanique, at the ELELE Cultural Center. Paris, participates in the exhibition Turquoise 2000 – Regard sur l'Art Contemporain Turc, at l'Espace Pierre Cardin. Istanbul, participates with Galerie TEM in the "Xth Fair" of TUYAP. Strasbourg, participates in the exhibition of the Center Européen de la Jeune Création. Athens, participates in the exhibition Twenty Turkish Painters, Twenty Greek Painters, (Vingt peintres turcs, vingt peintres grecs) at Galerie AENEON.
Year, 2001 – Istanbul, personal exhibition at Galerie d'Art TEM. Paris, personal exhibition at Galerie Zafira. Travel to Hungary and the Czech Republic.
Year, 2002 – Istanbul, participates in the Plastic Arts exhibition of Marmara University with Galerie d'Art TEM. Caen, personal exhibition in the framework of the Second Meeting about the culture of the Balkans-Albania, (La II-ème Rencontre autour de la Culture des Balkans – Albanie, at the Bibliothèque municipale de Falaise. Ankara, participates in the Ankart exhibition with Galerie TEM. Paris , personal exhibition at UNESCO.
Year, 2003 – Istanbul, personal exhibition at Galerie d'Art TEM. Travels with Jacques Lacarrière in Macedonia and Albania. Istanbul, participates in the International Contemporary Art Fair at the Lütfi Kirdar Center with Galerie d'Art TEM.
Year, 2004 – Ankara, personal exhibition at Galerie Arda. Skopje, personal exhibition at the City Museum. Tirana, personal exhibition at the National Art Gallery of Albania. Prishtina, personal exhibition at the National Gallery of Kosovo. Istanbul, participates in the exhibition of Yeditepe University with Galerie d'Art TEM. Prague, participates in the Contemporary Turkish Art exhibition of Galerie d'Art TEM at the Prague International Fair. Tirana, participates in the exhibition Colors of Albania in the National Art Gallery.
Year, 2005 – Istanbul, personal exhibition at Galerie d'Art TEM. Epinay-sur-Seine, France, personal exhibition at Maison du Théâtre et de la Dance. Namur, Belgium, participates in the Galerie d'Art Petenier exhibition.
Year, 2006 – Travels to Russia, where he visits Moscow and St. Petersburg. The Hague, personal exhibition Imprints from the Balkans at the Embassy of the Albanian Republic. Istanbul, participation in the "Contemporary Istanbul" exhibition at the Lütfi Kirdar Center with Galerie d'Art TEM.
Year, 2007 – Istanbul, personal exhibition at Galerie d'Art TEM. Paris, participates in the exhibition Hommage à Fikret Moualla in the Paris City Hall VIII. Istanbul, participates in the "Modern Turk 2" exhibition from the 1950s to 1970s with the TEM gallery. Paris, his personal exhibition «Homage to Jacques Lacarrière», («Hommage à Jacques Lacarrière») at the Embassy of the Turkish Republic.
Year, 2008 – Ankara, personal exhibition at Galerie Arda. Istanbul, participates in the "Contemporary Istanbul" exhibition at the Lütfi Kirdar Center with Galerie TEM Istanbul, participates in the Almelek Gallery exhibition. He travels to Saudi Arabia, where he visits Mecca and Medina.
Year, 2009 – Istanbul, personal exhibition at Galerie d'Art TEM Ankara, participates in the Ankart exhibition with Galerie d'Art TEM. Kicevo, Macedonia, is honored with the title of 'Honorary Citizen of Kicevo'. Istanbul, personal exhibition at the French Institute. Izmir, participates in the Third EGEART Exhibition at Ege Universiti, Ataturk Kultur Merkezi. Paris participates in the exhibition "Entre-deux: Istanbul-Paris", organized at Cité International des Arts.
Year, 2010 – Paris, personal exhibition at the City Hall of Paris XIII, in the Bièvre, Athèna and Antichambre galleries. Istanbul, personal exhibition at TEM Art Gallery. 2011 – Pristinaine, Kosovo - Participation in the exhibition of the National Gallery. Ankara – Personal exhibition at GROUP SANAT gallery. 2013 – Paris, the exhibition Colors of Albania in the exhibition hall of the City Hall of Paris VII, on the holidays of November 28-29, alongside three other Albanian painters Artur Muharremi, Bujar Luca and Zamir Mati in France.
(Note: Part of a study, by cultural diplomat and art researcher Luan Rama, Paris).
