The participants of the exhibition all share the experience of being Georgian-born inhabitants of Berlin. The artists have been asked to reflect on the ways in which Georgia remains present in their work — this presence could be very subjective or associative, with qualities that might easily be lost in translation or adaptation.

In his speech at the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2018, Georgian writer Aka Morchiladze remarked that the advantage of a small country like Georgia is connected to the fact that its writers have always translated from many languages, while their works have rarely been translated. According to Morchiladze, this fact has given the Georgians an opportunity to know a lot more about the others than the others do about them.

When a person leaves his or her home country to live abroad, an instinct to simplify one’s persona in some way in order to be understood always manifests itself. This can begin with simplifying of the names and surnames; in the case of artists, they often start by re-adjusting of their works. Migrants usually do not think of their experiences as an advantage.

This exhibition is comprised of works that might otherwise not be shown out of fear that they would not be felt and understood.

We ask the viewers to try to look at the works and feel them without necessarily grasping a predetermined meaning. And to think of the advantage they have while seeing works that otherwise might not have been exhibited.

Curated by

Sophia Tabatadze

Participating artists:

Maga Marina Agadzhanova, Mariam Aslanishvili, Tekla Aslanishvili, Vasil Berela, Lado Beroza, Zurab Bero, Petre Bobgiaschwili, Giorgi Gago Gagoshidze, Gogi Gelantia, Thea Djordjadze, George Dundua, Beka Gigauri, Ketevan Gorgiladze, Ana Gzirishvili, Ucha Janelidze, Mirian Japaridze, Elza Javakhishvili, Mariam Kalandarishvili, Mariam Kandelaki, Teona Kavelashvili, Teona Kokhodze, Tamar Magradze, Besik Maziashvili, Gela Megrelidze, David Meskhi, Liana Nakashidze, George Nebieridze, Thengis Rioni, Zurab Sheqelashvili, Tinna Siradze, Zurab Sumbadze, Ana Tabatadze, Sophia Tabatadze, Georgi Tchkhaidze, Zaza Tuschmalischvili, Elisabed Zautashvili

Photos of the exhibition: Goga Demetrashvili

Flyer Design:  Mariam Kalandarishvili

Info Flyer design: Nini Palavandishvili

Special thanks to: Anastasia Sharvashidze and Tamar Janashia

Public Program

14.11.2019 Thursday 19:00-22:00

Exhibition opening

Performance “Unfinished Poetry” by Elza Javakhishvili

Book presentation by Nini Palavandishvili “TBILISI – IT’S COMPLICATED”

16.11.2019 Saturday 19:30-23:00

“Khachapuri Kino Club” #76 – Berlin Edition by Nino Purtskhvanidze and Pieter Jan Smit

17.11.2019 Sunday 17:00-19:00

Tbilisi Architecture Biennial presentation by Tinatin Gurgenidze

24.11.2019 Sunday 17:00-19:00

Art of Animation from Georgia curated by Mariam Kandelaki

30.11.2019 Saturday 17:00-19:00 - Finnisage

“Salon Tbilisi Berlin” literary - feminist performance by Mareike Wenzel