Humidity and other atmospheric factors had caused damage to the statue of Mother Teresa located in Qafë Thanë. After several days of work, a specialized restoration intervention has been completed to restore the shine of the monumental artwork by sculptor Vladimir Llakaj. He explained that the damage had been caused by moisture, dust, and the lack of protective maintenance over the years.

“Since she is such an extraordinary figure — Mother Teresa, an honor to the nation and the world — after the request from the Mayor of Pogradec, they asked me if I could help clean it. Because of its position and sculptural structure, it was somewhat difficult, as the base is very narrow at the bottom and wider at the top. It required very solid scaffolding to inspect it properly, but we still managed to complete the work, clean it, and restore its tone. It should remain in good condition for several years,” said sculptor Vladimir Llakaj.

According to Llakaj, the composition of the bronze alloy directly affects the deterioration of statue surfaces. He stressed that the absence of a protective beeswax coating had caused stains and a loss of uniformity.

A year ago, he also restored the statues of Lasgush Poradeci and Mitrush Kuteli, which had suffered contamination from dust and humidity near the lake.

“They had been crafted with greater care and precision, and since they were smaller works compared to the Mother Teresa statue, it was easier to clean them. They had accumulated a lot of dust, apparently from Saharan winds and the humidity from the lake, which compresses the dust and creates corrosion on the bronze. Statues absolutely need to be cleaned and maintained once every two or three years,” Vladimir Llakaj added.

Restoration work is also being carried out on several busts of heroes from the Second World War. The initiative aims not only to restore the aesthetic appearance of the city’s symbolic monuments, but also to ensure their long-term preservation against the effects of time.