Hapu Festival

Open up with Prishtina and Gjakova – Immerse into the Play!

Dear explorers of public space,
HAPU is happening this year for the eleventh time! In addition to Prishtina, we are also opening up in Gjakova in collaboration with the initiative of the Foundation “For Gjakova (Për Gjakovën)”. We extended our program on 1^st and 2^nd of August in Gjakova, and from 2^nd to 5^th of August in Prishtina. Thus, we are immersing into the play of artists from France, Germany and Portugal who, with their extraordinary skills and art, will transform public spaces into artistic ones, bold, creative and multi-dimensional spaces.

Elements of contemporary circus will open this edition of the festival, through a fascinating performance by Juan Ignacio Tula. Manipulating the large wheel and its endless rotations, inspired by the spinning dervishes, they will immerse us in an extraordinary experience. The performance invites us on a journey of universal and personal experiences and everything that exists in between.

Together, we will fold origami, but not the usual ones. Giant, life-sized origami figures of artist Frank Bölter, will be folded together. We will share and celebrate our origami creations with each other and, at the end, transform, reuse and recycle them.

We will immerse ourselves in the play of the French artists from Tac o Tac, in their jumps on pneumatic stilts, we will follow them and re-experience the streets of Gjakova and Prishtina, in a transformed atmosphere, in a rediscovery of the sky, ready for taking off.

Mimo’s Dixie Band will bring us the unique sounds that will bring to us immersive images and atmosphere of the old streets of New Orleans. They will give us the opportunity of playing together with the audience, with circus and theater elements, as well as their amazing energy, bringing the audience to the center of attention.

We’re thrilled to offer you this unique celebration across the public spaces of Prishtina and Gjakova—an invitation to witness the magic that artists bring when they transform the public spaces for those moments that we are together.

Come out, open up, and meet the artists! Play, experience the transformation, become part of this rediscovery, and witness the allure.
We’ll be waiting for you!

Florent Mehmeti, Artistic Director, HAPU – Festival of Art in Public Space