Following last year’s VIENNAFAIR The New Contemporary kick-off with a curated section of the VIENNA Quintet program in which Georgia played an important role and many artists came to Vienna, we promised to visit Tibilisi. By the end of May everything was set up for the visit!
Marine Mizandari, power woman in furthering contemporary Georgian art.

With Marine Mizandari (First Deputy Cultural Minister Georgia) at the opening of the Georgian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale.
After a long layover flight and arrival at 5:00 am at the hotel, I was happy to look out of the hotel window and find a beautiful green landscape surrounding Tbilisi.

Nana Kipiani, art historian
Nana, art historian and advisor to the Georgian Pavilion this year, invited me for tea and fresh strawberries at her apartment, which contains a fascinating collection of her husband’s work.

An artwork by Nana’s husband, Levan Tchogoshvili

Gala Gallery founder and owner Dedika Bulia, art dealer for 20 years
Women definitely rule the Georgian art scene. Dedika filled me in on the history of her gallery and local collector habits. End of May she organized exhibitions at the former Museum of Medicine, where she invited me along for a visit.

Gala Gallery

At the former Museum of Medicine

A place that feels like home. An outstanding day full of art, discussion, and friends… Nana Machavariani & Kote Kubaneishvili (poet, writer, gay right supporter)
Kote is a widely traveled scholar who raised his voice loudly in support of gay rights. We had a cup of tea and read some poetry…

Artist and GeoAIR founder Sophia Tabatadze
On the next day, Sophia showed me around her GeoAir office and library, which she established over the years about the region. In 2007 she presented at the Georgian pavilion in Venice. Sophia talked me through her recent projects, largely inspired by the wild architecture and construction mushrooming in the city.

View from GeoAIR office and Sophia’s home

Sophia lives between Berlin and Tbilisi

Curator and art historian Irena Popiashvili next to an artwork by Levan Chelidze.
Irena invited me over to see part of her collection and explore new artists. She took me around the city to some treasures.

Artwork by Levan Chelidze

Sculpture by Giorgi Xaniashvili

Designer and creative mind Guga Kotetishvili
Entering Guga’s home, a similar experience as in many houses before. I saw three levels from outside but was amazed to walk through six. Guga designed most of the cafés and restaurants filled by the art crowd in the city.

In the studio and home of Guga Kotetishvili
Guga showed me around his collection of hand-painted film posters from the 80s, interpretations of the original American version.

Photographer Marika Asatiani in her studio
Located in the heart of the city, the National Gallery showcased an outstanding exhibition of David Kakabadze.

David Kakabadze’s granddaughter Mariam, the curator of his major retrospective, in front of his self-portrait

Artwork by David Kakabadze at the National Gallery

Outside of the National Gallery
I was happy to meet the artists group Bouillon just a couple of hours before their departure to Venice!

Artists group Bouillon, participants of the Georgian pavilion at the 55th Venice Biennale 2013 in their studio (4 out of 6 members)

Artist Oleg Timchenko at Gamrekeli Gallery

Owner of Gamrekeli Gallery Xatuna Melikishvili
Xatuna, another example of strong women in the city, introduced me to her artist list.

Painting from Oleg’s car series

Artist Vakho Bugadze

Expo Georgia from outside
The headquarters of the Bank of Georgia is an 18-story building on the outskirts of Georgia’s capital city Tbilisi. It opened in 1975 as the Ministry of Highway Construction of the Georgian SSR. After Georgia’s independence, the building was left temporarily unused before being acquired by the Bank of Georgia in 2007, which carried out extensive renovation work on the exterior and interior of the building.

The headquarters of the Bank of Georgia by architect George Chakhava

Gallerist and the owner of the Art-Cafe 144 Stairs Rusiko Oat on the terrace of her café organized a drink for artists

View from Art-Café 144 Stairs

General manager of VIENNAFAIR Renger Van den Heuvel with artist Konstantin Mindadze discussing his new book project

Artist Mamuka Samkharadze

Illustrator Dato Machavariani, artist Rocko Iremashvili, and designer Niño Babukhadia at Rocko’s studio

Niño Babukhadia with actress Nato Murvanidze
A typical Georgian dinner with Niño and Nato at another restaurant designed by Goga. Borjomi is the perfect medicine for all sorts of problems.

Baia Gallery owner Baia Tsikoridze, art dealer for 20 years

Owner of an artist run space Nectar Nino Sekhniashvili preparing to open her first show on June 1st

Students at the Center of Contemporary Art run by Wato Tsereteli and Katharina Stadler

Artist and educational programs curator at CCA-Tbilisi Katharina Stadler

Director of CCA Tbilisi Wato Tsereteli and Renger at the home of Mamuka Japhavidze

Artist Mamuka Japaridze at his home/art residence and art and agriculture project space Shindisi

Renger outside the Shindisi

Artist Lia Bagrationi at her ceramic studio

View into the yard of Zurab Tsereteli Museum of Modern Art in Tbilisi
At the Venice Biennale I finally got to see the performance by Bouillon.
They perform seven times a week till complete exhaustion. You’ve got to love them!