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07/06/2024
“Poison for a Couple” is Keti Kapanadze's solo exhibition. The title references the artist's 1990 black-and-white photo depicting a pair of old-fashioned perfume bottles. The show features her early series of works. The exhibition includes a fascinating collection of black-and-white conceptual photos from the 1990s. Additionally, it features Anima Ex Machina texts and drawings created with black gouache on paper, which were later transitioned to cardboard. The artist employed a technique akin to automatic writing exercises. The drawings resemble technical diagrams and convey a sense of mystery. The artist believes that blackness represents a space where all information is stored, and her indecipherable drawings emerge from this realm. Some of the works included in the exhibition were originally created in the 1980s, but in 2003-04, the artist remade some of them as part of the lost original works. She also introduced several new compositions, expanding the series. The exhibition will also include Akasha Chronicles painting series (2010), which involves layered canvases with transparent material. Keti Kapanadze began her artistic career in Tbilisi in the mid-1980s. While such artist groups like the 10th Floor and later Marjanishvili Studio artists were active then, Kapanadze was not part of these groups and was seldom invited to exhibit alongside them. She stands out as one of the pioneering feminist artists in Georgia, delving into her identity through conceptual photography. Kapanadze describes her artistic process as capturing objects without showing herself yet conveying her message through these objects, expressing the depth of her identity and experiences. Keti Kapanadze often exhibits in Germany, where she has been living since 2000 when she received Bauman Stiftung's stipend. She was a visiting professor at Johannes Gutenberg University (Mainz, Germany), and later, supervised the diploma projects at VA[A]DS at the Free University of Tbilisi. Host of the exhibition: TBC Concept Marjanishvili #7 Curated by Irena Popiashvili
07/06/2024
#Glimpseingallery - “Children in Georgian Painting” is the exhibition dedicated to Children’s Day. It is a retrospective exhibition of paintings and graphic works on the theme of children from the collection of the Shalva Amiranashvili State Museum of Art of Georgia. Keeping pace with the chronicles of human fine art, the history of Georgian art comprises a unique collection of children’s images, created by both Georgian and foreign artists residing in Georgia. Such as Niko Pirosmani, David Kakabadze, Shalva Kikodze, Vasili Shukhaevi, Mose Toidze, Ketevan Maghalashvili and etc. Most of the works are shown for the first time. The exhibition commemorating the International Day of Children’s Protection serves as another reminder to society that children are always important symbols of the world, and the elder generation must provide a secure environment for them. The exhibition organized by the “International Children’s Fund” aims to showcase the evolving public understanding of the unique phenomenon of children and childhood in fine art. Host of the exhibition: The Sighnaghi Museum of History and Ethnography
07/06/2024
#Glimpseingallery - Kako Topuria’s work focuses on unified figurative motifs, which draw attention owing to their positioning. His system of hieroglyphic-lettrist images is created through the application of a single formula of abstraction, which transforms the diversity of the characters in such a way that it is impossible to unravel their specific elements. Thanks to their hieratic figurativeness, conditional facial expressions and undifferentiated appearance, these characters resemble archaic idols. These are modern idols that are completely free of any mystical context. Figures with the appearance of "toys' ' are moving in a conventional environment like puppets, demonstrating ironic and childish emotions and parodied bodies. They represent the drama of the modern world – the interpretation of which begins with the death of the gods, and is shown through the neglect of personal differentiation and individual qualities, executed with the help of symbolic and allegorical elements. With colorful frescoes, the palimpsest culture of performance, deformed figurativeness, iconic imagery and the reflection of movement, the artist offers the audience an engaging and original version of the cultural mythology that is precipitated in the vast space of the modern world. Host of the exhibition: Baia Gallery
07/06/2024
TBILISI ART FAIR - For the fourth time, the Tbilisi Contemporary Art Fair is back. Already well-known for the art scenes of Europe and Asia, the event was held at the ExpoGeorgia exhibition center. TAF • Tbilisi Art Fair showcases local and international galleries, young and emerging artists’ solo exhibitions, and curated exhibitions. The largest contemporary art fair in the region unites art professionals, curators, critics, collectors, international media, and visitors from all over the world. TAF serves as a platform for performances, workshops, TAF TALKS, TAF KIDS | SOLO KIDS, TAF | SOLO HOBBY, and other activities that aim to promote the integration between contemporary art scenes.
07/06/2024
#Glimpseingallery - Kakhaber Tatishvili’s solo exhibition at Vernissage gallery. Kakhaber Tatishvili (b. 1964) is a Georgian artist. In 1984, he graduated from Iakob Nikoladze School of Art. In 1986-1992, studied at the State Art Academy. "Thematically and in terms of performance, I try to be diverse in my work. It mainly reflects my vision and attitude towards this or that subject, event, person or situation. I always wanted these works to be the result of an original, distinctive vision. “That's why the periods of my creativity are different from each other." - KAKHABER TATISHVILI
07/05/2024
#Glimpseingallery - Exhibition by photographer Gia Chkhatarashvili is about USHGULI. Caucasus mountain village Ushguli is the highest inhabited village in Europe, dating back two thousand years. The exhibition showed the life of Svanetian people. With the photographs Gia wants to preserve the cultural values he believes should be cherished and remembered. Gia Chkhatarashvili (1959) is a Georgian self-taught photographer. After graduating from Tbilisi State University with a degree in Philosophy, he discovered photography as a primary job. His career began in 1990 and his works have been exhibited in the United States, Germany, Poland, Norway and Switzerland. Host of the exhibition: Baia Gallery
18/04/2024
Vakho Bugadze’s exhibition entitled “O, I, II” is presented by ATINATI. The concept for the two-stage exhibition (the ATINATI Cultural Center and at No.104 Public School) stems from an old photo of the school found in the artist's archive. The artist worked on the series for over a year, creating over 100 works. This exhibition will showcase the symbolic path of Bugadze’s progression from school pupil to his becoming an artist. Vakho Bugadze (born on April 18, 1964) is a notable representative of Georgian contemporary art. A sculptor by education, he chose painting as his primary medium. From the 1990s onwards, he has taken part in numerous exhibitions held both in Georgia and abroad. The works presented at the exposition were specially created for this exhibition. Host of the exhibition: ATINATI’S Cultural Center
14/04/2024
Artist in focus • Mirian Shvelidze (მირიან შველიძე, 1947-2022) is a key figure in the development of new Georgian scenography. Mirian Shvelidze, a postmodernist artist, played a pivotal role in the creation of The Artist’s Theatre in the 1960s, alongside other Georgian scenographers. This innovative theater emphasized the visual aspect of performances, giving it equal importance to the dramatic action on stage. Shvelidze’s artistic contributions are closely tied to the theater of Robert Sturua. Throughout his life, he served as the main artist of Rustaveli National Theatre, providing scenography for landmark productions such as Richard the Third, King Lear, Hamlet, and Is He a Man a Human?! The Misfortune of Darispan and more. Beyond Rustaveli Theatre, Shvelidze collaborated with directors from Marjanishvili, Gori, Griboedov Russian Drama, and Liberty Theatres, contributing to numerous productions. The conceptual retrospective, which was shown at Dimitri Shevardnadze National Gallery titled “Miro”, presented three main directions of the artist’s creativity: easel painting, wall painting, and scenography. Host of the exhibition: Dimitri Shevardnadze National Gallery Curator of the exhibition: Maia Chikvaidze
14/04/2024
'Tooth Decay in Paris' is Beso Uznadze’s (1968) solo exhibition. In the works of Beso Uznadze, the relationship between existence and absence is manifested in a deep and complex ontology. The artist creates an expansive psychographic map where various states such as trauma, fear, frustration, alienation, or impurity are described. This creation appears to be mediated and approaches the absurd forms of existence. However, it is actually preceded by a number of complex subtexts and emotional backgrounds that define its creative context. Whether addressing migration, identity issues, or acute political and social backgrounds, the main starting point seems to be freeing oneself from concentrated information all at once. He studied documentary photography in Tbilisi School of Photography Sepia, later he continued his education in photojournalism in London. Since 2000 he has worked in England (London). Similarly to his photos Uznadze manages to have an invisible link with his paintings. The artist manages to project his emotional vulnerability to the canvas, which becomes reachable for the viewer when observing his paintings. He often experiments and creates a visual narrative with the synthesis of mixed painting technique and photo media. Beso Uznadze participates in many international exhibitions, art fairs, international projects and competitions. Host of the exhibition: Gallery Artbeat
14/04/2024
Artist in focus • Edmond Kalandadze (ედმონდ კალანდაძე) was born on May 4, 1923, in Guria. Edmond Kalandadze was one of the forerunners of new art trends in Georgia. Mastering the techniques of Pompeian frescoes, and Renaissance and European painting, greatly contributed to the formation of the young artist’s pictorial language. Edmond Kalandadze’s art is based on the artistic embodiment of nature and human passions. The uniqueness of Kalandadze’s artistic language derives from his own perception and comprehension of the world, and of the coexistence of nature and man - the world and the individual. His works almost always create an impression of improvisation and artistic joy.
14/04/2024
Oleg Timchenko’s exhibition entitled “Diagonal 13” is a project that was specially created for the space of Dimitri Shevardnadze National Gallery. The central theme revolves around the circus. The tragic destinies of dwarves and clowns, concealed behind the grandeur of royal courts of the past or the enchanting circus arena, have inspired artists throughout history, from Velázquez to Fellini. These masterpieces of creative thought encourage us to ponder not only the fates of individuals but also broader themes of humanism and, simultaneously, human cruelty. In this solo exhibition, Oleg Timchenko portrays the circus theme through various stylistic series that already have become familiar in his career. Consequently, the artist’s new collection for this exhibition appears as a “stylistic retrospective.” Oleg Timchenko (1957) is one of the founders and active members of the avant-garde group, The 10th Floor, in the 1980s and early 1990s. During the Perestroika period, the artists united in the group reexamined postmodern art and reflected it in their own context. Alongside their artistic responses to contemporary issues, Oleg Timchenko’s works consistently incorporate themes from history and literature, romantic-symbolic visions, and fairy-tale series infused with humour. Host of the exhibition: National Gallery
14/04/2024
Artist in focus • Solomon Gershov (სოლომონ გერშოვი, 1906 - 1989) was a Jewish artist from the Soviet Union and a representative of nonconformist art. Solomon Gershov’s art was distinctly unique. Neither social realism nor the artistic styles of the 1960s can be discerned in his work. Gershov appeared as a link in the violently broken chain that connected 1960s nonconformist art with the Russian avant-garde. Solomon Gershov enjoyed a particularly close, friendly and creative relationship with Georgia. The artist spent time residing in Tbilisi during the 1960s.
14/04/2024
Europalia dedicated an arts festival to Georgia! The starting point for this edition was the country’s fascinating culture and the art scene. One of the most prominent Georgian artists - Andro Wekua exhibited in the Art and history museum with his work called - “Stranger in Paradise”. He expresses on a large bare stage, the full gamut of melancholic and imaginative dimensions he evokes and depicts with his creations. Thea Djordjadze with an exhibition entitled “the ceiling of a courtyard” at WIELS. Thea Djordjadze creates a new body of work, examining and challenging not only the formal and material qualities of the building, but also its institutional context. With these works, the Georgian-German artist continues to elaborate her eloquent vocabulary of sculptural paintings and painterly sculptures. S.M.A.K. organizes the first museum solo exhibition of Georgian artist Karlo Kacharava (1964 – 1994) outside Georgia. The exhibition extensively features Karlo Kacharava’s paintings, works on paper and illustrated diaries. The artist was only 30 years old when he died, Kacharava left behind volumes of poetry, art criticism, and cultural commentary. The exhibition at M HKA features a generous selection of drawings and paintings by Elene Chantladze, in dialogue with display and support structures conceived by Rooms Studio, at times hosting each other, at others remaining autonomous. The exhibition articulates and celebrates the common ground that comes alive through their work. Music by: Natia Todua – Magnolia
16/02/2024
#Glimpseingallery - Sophia Cherkezishvili’s (1971) solo exhibition entitled - “When I was born, I decided to live” is on display at ATINATI’S cultural center till 15th March. The majority of the author’s creative works are painted on expansive canvases using vivid, expressive colors. She repeatedly portrays the same character in her art. All of her pieces depict the same image of a woman; but the context, emotions, and expressions vary. In order to achieve this, the author sometimes inscribes the title of the picture directly onto the canvas, occasionally using Georgian script. “Why women? Today I am expressing my emotions through them. What am I creating? I observe, listen, and communicate with those around me. I’m interested in both real and non-existent places.” S. Ch. Sophia Cherkezishvili (born 1971) is a Georgian artist. She graduated from the Gerrit Rietveld Academy, Amsterdam, and continued her studies in Holland. She is currently engaged in teaching activities. She regularly takes part in both local and international exhibitions. All exhibited works are part of the ATINATI collection. Host of the exhibition ATINATI’S cultural center
16/02/2024
Artist in focus • Vera Pagava / ვერა ფაღავა (1907,Tbilisi – 1988,Paris) was a Georgian painter, graphic artist, decorator and monumentalist who was an important representative of French art in the 1960s and 1970s. The focus of Pagava’s observation is often directed not so much towards an object, but the transparency of glass and liquid; Exaggerated shadows are also a mixture of light. As a whole, colorful sections create a harmonious rhythm and inner dynamics of the composition. Vera Pagava often placed very few geometric figures of different colors on a picture plane. These abstractions present the author as a poetically-minded, highly sophisticated master. In 1966 she represented France at the 33rd Venice Biennale. In 1986 Vera Pagava created stained glass windows and the interior design of the St. Joseph Church in Dijon. Music performed by Ucnobi and Nato Metonidze based on Ishkhneli sisters’s composition “Ar Daijereb” Special thanks for contribution: AC/VP - Association culturelle Vera Pagava TBC Concept Marjanishvili #75hardchallenge