The Museum of Caricature and Cartoons in Vianden, Luxembourg, presented an exhibition of more than 40 works of the Albanian-born cartoonist and painter, Agim Sulaj in summer 2011. He often tackles controversial issues such as environmental protection or international migration. Sulaj, who has won many international prizes, spoke with Southeast Europe: People and Culture while he was preparing for his next exhibition, this time at the Museum of Humour in Izmir, Turkey in September 2011. 

The suitcase is very much present in your works. Why is this? 

I get inspired by life and reality, impressions and memories, as well as surrounding shades and lights. I have been living in Rimini, Italy, since 1993 and my best friend on my journey has been the suitcase with the life I left behind inside. The suitcase always keeps an idea, a picture or a caricature inside. The suitcase has brought me luck because my art has been inspired by the world I keep inside it.

Do you find inspiration from your home country Albania?

I touched upon the elements of Albanian world when I worked for “Hosteni,” a popular magazine during the communist regime. The front pages of this magazine featured my cartoons, which focused on the imperfections of communism. Nowadays I am less interested in Albanian politics, as I no longer live there and my artistic focus is more on other problems of international politics, immigration, Europe, famine and others.

What was your first piece? How did your career start?

My first painting depicted a sailor sailing a ship without a mast or sails. I was 10 years old at the time. Since then my passion for drawing has not stopped. I am happy to have been recognised in Albania and abroad. This recognition has injected strength into my veins to keep on following this path of imagination and fantasy. I live with painting and my art in its endless and superb complexity. It is my job and my hobby. I have dedicated all my time to my art and when I don’t work, I feel bad.

How much time do you spend on a piece?

My techniques in painting and caricature take a lot of time, as I use small and fine brushes. I need almost one month to paint a picture with the dimensions of 70cm ×100 cm and three days for a caricature or a drawing.

Why was your new exhibition held in Luxembourg? What are your plans?

The International Salon of Humour and Cartoons is held annually in Luxembourg at the Museum of Caricature and Cartoons in cooperation with the local municipality and the Friends of Vianden Castle. It is currently in its fifth year. I have won two international prizes at this Salon. I was invited this year to open an exhibition at the Museum. It opened on 9 July 2011 and attracted quite a large crowd within one day. Now I am preparing some works for and exhibition in the Museum of Humour in Izmir, Turkey, where my pieces will be exhibited in September. Afterwards, I will continue on to Bruges, Belgium and other locations.