The Two Gullivers
Flutura Preka and Besnik Haxhillari have been working together as an artistic duo since 1998 under the name The Two Gullivers, focusing on performance art. The concept of Gulliver, inspired by Jonathan Swift’s fable, reflects themes of travel, emigration, and displacement, which are integral to their work. Through a performative and interdisciplinary approach (using performance, painting, drawing, photo, video, installation etc.) they explores identity and relationships with the other, developed through dialogue and negotiation, arising from their composite identities. They create exhibitions and events where installations come to life through performance and public interaction, making their art a platform for exchange and dialogue.
Originally from Albania and established in Montreal since 2000, the duo studied fine arts in Tirana, Lausanne, Berlin, and Montreal, where they recently completed their PhDs in studies and practices of arts at UQAM. Their performative work has been exhibited at prestigious venues, including:
Europa, Europa L’avant-garde du XX siècle en Europe centrale et de l’est (1994)
The Venice Biennale (1999)
After The Wall at Kunstmuseum Bonn, Hamburger Bahnhof Berlin, and the Ludwig Stiftung in Vienna (1999-2000)
National Art Gallery, Tirana (1998, 2003)
The Beijing Biennale (2005)
VIVA Art Action in Montreal (2006, 2010)
Material Traces at the Leonard & Bina Ellen Gallery, Montreal (2013)
The 32nd International Symposium on Contemporary Art in Baie-Saint-Paul (QC) (2014)
The Musée national des Beaux-Arts du Québec (MNBAQ) (2016)
The Museum of Contemporary Art of Montreal (MAC) (2018)
Musée d’art de Joliette (2024)
They have also contributed to notable publications and exhibitions such as Installation Art in the New Millennium (2003), East Art Map (2006), Marina Abramovic: The Artist is Present (2010), and Manifesta 14 in Tirana, Albania (2022).
Besnik Haxhillari, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Philosophy and Arts at Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR). His research is focused on the creative process and the role of preparatory drawings in performance art.
Flutura Preka PhD, is a lecturer in the Department of Philosophy and the Arts at the University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières (UQTR) and a member of the COLIBEX Research Chair. Her research focuses on the issues of re-enactment in performance and contemporary art.
The research and creation work of Flutura Preka & Besnik Haxhillari (The Two Gullivers) is recognized and supported by numerous awards and grants in Quebec and Canada, such as CALQ, le CAC, le FRQSC, le CRSH, etc.
The Two Gullivers coined the term CONFÉRMANCE to describe their conferences accompanied by performances, as well as PERFORMOGRAPHIE, which refers to the process of creating performances. They have given lectures and performances at renowned institutions, including: Sorbonne Nouvelle – Paris 3, McGill University, Montreal, I.U.A.V. Venice University, SUNY College at Old Westbury, New York, Aix-Marseille University, Musée d’Art Contemporain, Marseille, Université du Québec à Montréal, Tanzquartier, Vienna, Neuer Berliner Kunstverein, Berlin, University of Arts, Tirana, University of Bucharest etc.