My first trip to Stockholm will always remain close to my heart as 'the time I went to celebrate an old friend, the great Albanian artist Anri Sala for the Absolut Art Award'.

As I approached Stockholm for the first time, I realized that part of those stories I read so eagerly in Stieg Larssonn's books were true. The walk from the bus station to the Nobis Hotel (a beautiful old-style building from outside turned into a hip and cosy design hotel downtown) on a sunny bright day turned to be quite bizarre: some of the locals, already inebriated by alcohol, were trying to grab me by the arm and whisper something in their native language — which I completely failed to grasp. Partly feeling like I was in a movie and partly curious about what else the city had to offer, I arrived at the press conference already in session, where Centre Pompidou chief curator Christine Macel was presenting Anri Sala with the award.

”Receiving the ABSOLUT ART AWARD feels like being rewarded more than once. It’s a great honor to me to be its recipient following Rirkrit Tiravanija. And I also feel awarded by the presence of those who could come: family, friends, old and new – an exceptional archipelago of people that ABSOLUT kindly brought together from significant places and moments of my life, making this moment so meaningful to me. I believe there is a special and candid streak in the way ABSOLUT approaches art and people,” says Sala.

After the conference, journalists were gathered together to watch some of Sala's videos in the upper rooms. Even though I was already familiar with most of the works, I am always hypnotized by their strong visuals. There is a sort of disorientation that makes the viewer watch his work over and over again and always with a different perspective. With sounds that don't connect exactly with images and titles that have a wider and provocative meaning in relation to what the viewer is looking at, most of the works either use a live performance as their starting point or could lead to a performance in the future.

Following the screening, I learn that interviews with Anri are going to be communal — five journalists at a time. Confused and worried at the prospect, the meeting with Anri + 4 turns out to be both stimulating and pleasant!

As I don't even have 24 hours to spend in Stockholm, after the interview I run quickly to visit the Bonniers Konsthall where Ulla von Brandenburg and Malin Pettersson Öberg's shows have just opened, so that I can be back at six to get ready for dinner where 'black tie' is requested...

As the dinner nicely carries on, I hear people talking about the next day. I wish I could stay longer and spend time celebrating Anri Sala and enjoy the city more, but Milan is waiting for the gallery weekend. Following a live orchestra concert, Anri and Christina Macel's short and delightful speeches, the crowd moves into a cosier side of the room where a DJ set starts. There, under all the blue lights, I couldn't help but notice how many friends and supporters Anri Sala gathered in the years: some very old friends, some new, but all there for the same reason. They were just happy to share an Absolut great moment with Anri.Gea Politi