Welcome to an Artist Talk Wednesday February 11th, 6:30-9:00pm
Meet five artists from Tbilisi, Georgia; Aleksi Soselia, Galaqtion Eristavi, Wato Tsereteli, Mamuka Japharidze och Nino Sekhniashvili
The GATE # 3 presentation is a collaboration between Box and Skogen and part of a larger program at Skogen: SIX GATES TO CAUCASUS, it also builds upon Box board member Josefina Posch´s collaboration with Wato Tsereteli and the Tetsi Group with the nordic art /Between Miracles exhibition and seminar at The Center for Contemporary Art- Tbilisi.
If we imagine a gate we might think of an entrance to another state (national or mental) – it might be a place for phantasies, political negotiations, economical transactions, or even magical disappearances or dreams.
Caucasus for sure is a backdrop for dreams and myths, but also of conflict, war and traces of a fallen soviet empire. The region is naturally framed between big civilizations by the Black and Caspian seas, the big Caucasus Range, steps and diverse mountain ranges. From west it met Greek-Roman-Byzantine-European, from north: Scythes-Alan’s – Khazars – Slav’s, from east: Iranian – Mongols – Seltchucs, from south: Mesopotamian – Arabic…. The Great Silk Route was not only passing through the Caucasus – it was a crucial exchange point for goods between east and west.
During three weeks the Tbilisi based Tetsi Group will work together with invited artists to explore the idea of gates as a format for artistic interaction and learning. The concept of the gates brings the whole program of this thematic block into an processual uncontrolled artwork and proposes an understanding of art not primarily as objects on display, but rather as the creation of openings and journeys.
Complete program can be found here.
About the artists:
Wato Tsereteli is artist, photographer, curator and creative administrator. He studied film in Tbilisi and obtained an MA from the Department of Photography at the Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp (Belgium). Tsereteli’s artistic works are two, three, and four-dimensional objects with well-structured spatial organization. He initiated the Caucasian Center of Cultural Development (Media Art Farm/Institute of Photography and New Media), and the Cumbo group, a free artist-run space. Wato Tsereteli has curated the international art exhibition Appendix and multiple exhibitions and projects of contemporary art. Recently he has established the first Center of Contemporary Art in Georgia, Tbilisi. The center serves as an educational, research and exhibition platform for art professionals and has already organized several exhibitions and presentations of local and international artists. In 2012 Wato Tsereteli launched the Tbilisi Triennial as a permanent platform for discussion of educational issues.
Nino Sekhniashvili is Tbilisi based artist who graduated from the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts with diploma in Print Graphic. She developed as an artist during her numerous stays at different artistic residencies and through participation in artistic events in Georgia and beyond its borders. Her artistic language is not defined by any specific media, as she tries to expand beyond traditional and contemporary visual techniques. In 2005 together with Kate Siamashvili theartist created a fake music band Dario Radio. Nino Sekhniashvili is the founder of the gallery and performance basement „Nectar“ (Tbilisi, Georgia).
Mamuka Japharidze (born in 1962) is conceptual and multimedia artist, also known for his environmental art practices and educational projects. His works focus on language, ecology and process-based art. Mamuka Japharidze runs Shindisi Field Academy, which is located at a distance of 7 km from Tbilisi and is also known as the Cloud Library. There together with the Centre of Contemporary Arts Tbilisi, he teaches a special course on bio farming and its relation to art. Mamuka Japharidze graduated from the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts, where he became one of the founders of the artists’ group (meate sartuli) Tenth Floor. Since 1987 he participated in numerous national and international exhibitions, attended many international artists’ workshops and residencies, participated in performances and actions, coordinated arts and exchange projects, curated exhibitions. In 1999 he was selected to represent Georgia at the 48th Venice Biennale.
Aleksi Soselia was born in 1988 in Tbilisi, Georgia. Aleksi graduated from the informal Master program in Photography at the Center of Contemporary Art – Tbilisi in 2011. He works in various media, which are Photography, Graphic design, and Installation art. With his work, Aleksi mostly approaches the urban and social aspects of the city and its alternative spaces, as well as social and public interactions within transformative environments. He works individually as well as in group projects, in particular within Tetsi Group. In 2013 together with Tetsi group team members he founded his own organization ‘Active for Culture’. With organization he created Georgian video art archive. Currently with his team members Aleksi works on creation of open contemporary art space in Rustavi city.
Galaqtion Eristavi was born in Tbilisi in 1990. In 2011, he graduated from the Tbilisi State Academy of Art (BA degree in Photography). Next, he was a student of the Center of Contemporary Art-Tbilisi (CCAT), graduating the non-formal MA course in mediation and curatorial studies. As an artist he is working in different media. Since 2011, he had shows in different international festivals such as art fairs in Vienna and Budapest also in galleries in Geneva, Stockholm, Warsaw, Basel, Prague and etc. Galaqtion is an active member of the Georgian art scene, constantly working on shows and exhibitions. In 2013 with Tetsi Group he founded organization ‘Active for Culture’ and created Georgian video art archive. With Tetsi Group he is working on various projects in Georgia and on creation of open contemporary art space in Rustavi city.
1-4: © Erik Betshammar