Group Exhibition - Links კავშირები

Nathalie Karg Gallery, 291 Grand Street, New York, NY 10002

2 May - 15 June, 2024

In the heart of New York City, where creativity pulses through the streets like an electric current, Gallery Artbeat, Nathalie Karg Gallery, and John Riepenhoff present a group show: "Links." This joint effort brings together different generations of Georgian artists: Edisher Beradze, Irakli Bugiani, Elene Chantladze, Salome Chigilashvili, Mamuka Japharidze, Tamo Jugeli, Anna K.E., Giorgi Khaniashvili, Nika Kutateladze, Nino Kvrivishvili, Elene Lukhutashvili, Sergei Parajanov, and Beso Uznadze.

This exhibition isn't solely about showcasing art—it's all about collaboration, connections, and creative exchange. It lays the groundwork for new relationships, fostering artistic models and exchange practices focused on building close ties and mutual inspiration, both between Tbilisi and New York.

At the heart of “Links” lies a story of encounters and shared passions. It all began in 2018 when the founders ofGallery Artbeat, Natia Bukia, and Salome Vakhania, crossed paths with John Riepenhoff. United by a shared vision that blurred the boundaries between art and life, they embarked on a journey of collective work and exploration. Impressed by Riepenhoff’s practice of providing a platform to others and fostering cooperation, Natia Bukia and Salome Vakhania invited him to Georgia to exhibit at Gallery Artbeat.

The "Handler" exhibition evolved into a true collaboration, with Riepenhoff involving numerous figures from Georgia's art scene. This shift transformed the exhibition into a collective effort, highlighting the often overlooked support systems within the art community. Their inaugural project, the "Handler" exhibition in 2019, laid the groundwork for subsequent endeavors. Within the exhibition, one included artwork was a collaborative work of two different generation artists, one sculpture was managed by CCA - Center of Contemporary Art, who rotated the artworks over two months. Edisher Beradze, who aided John in sculptural production, contributed a written piece about the exhibition. Additionally, another gallery was invited to contribute with a historical artwork to the exhibition.

Building on this foundation, the collaboration continued in 2021 with the "Kera" exhibition, a joint effort between Riepenhoff and Mamuka Japharidze. This exhibition delved into the exploration of place, environment, and the interplay between artistic creation and natural elements. Riepenhoff and Japharidze exchanged ideas and influenced each other's work, fostering a dialogue with the natural surroundings and materials they work with.

“When I first met John in Miami in December 2018 while both of us were exhibiting at NADA Miami I was amazed how John’s practice even as an artist was focused on giving a platform to others, supporting his local surroundings and mainly collaborating. All these being very dear to me and my way of living I decided to invite John to come and do a show in Georgia at Gallery Artbeat to which he agreed to my greatest pleasure. For me, the main aim was for John to invite the artists without much knowledge of the Georgian art scene and its existing networks. I was happy to see the result of three weeks of working on the show in Tbilisi and John meeting and seeing as many in the field as possible.

Our aspiration was that this initial acquaintance and collaboration could extend beyond this two-time exhibition. And indeed, it did. We met Nathalie Karg at one of Nada Miami's editions. This introduction and exchange of ideas led to a new collaboration and project. Now, as "Links" makes its debut in the bustling metropolis of New York City, it marks a new chapter in the ongoing narrative of artistic exchange. This exhibition serves as a bridge between Georgia and the United States, transcending geographical boundaries to acknowledge the power of friendship and creative connection. We anticipate that this network will continue to expand in the future, welcoming many more participants” - Natia Bukia, Co-founder of Gallery Artbeat.

Edisher Beradze, born on March 10, 1975, is a writer and essayist. He primarily writes on issues related to contemporary visual art and has experience in curatorial work. He leads an organization that promotes research and development of creative industries in Georgia.

Irakli Bugiani (Bugianishvili) is a contemporary artist born in 1980 in Tbilisi, Georgia, who is currently based in Düsseldorf, Germany. He embarked on his artistic journey by attending the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts from 1998 to 2001, followed by further studies at the Karlsruhe State Academy of Fine Arts in Germany from 2001 to 2006. He furthered his academic pursuits with an MFA in Art History from Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf.

Elene Chantladze (b.1946, Supsa, Georgia) lives and works in Tskaltubo, Georgia. Her recent solo exhibitions include Elene Chantladze, Anton Kern Gallery, New York; Elene Chantladze, kaufmann repetto, New York; Elene Chantladze, kaufmann repetto, Milan (2024); Elene Chantladze with Rooms studio, M KHA, Museum of Contemporary Art, Antwerp; Kunsthalle Zürich, Zürich (2023); Fierman, New York (2022); Modern Art, London (2021); LC Queisser,
Tbilisi (2020); Gallery Nectar, Tbilisi (2018). Her work has been exhibited in group exhibitions at Efremidis Gallery, Berlin; LC Queisser, Tbilisi (2023); Ermes Ermes, Rome; Lismore Castle Arts; Croy Nielsen, Vienna (2022); ADZ Gallery, Lisbon; Conceptual Fine Arts, Milan (2021); Gallery Nectar, Tbilisi; Ausstellungsraum Klingental, Basel (2015).

Salome Chigilashvili is Georgian visual artist, born in 1996 in Tbilisi, Georgia. She graduated from Visual Arts, Architecture & Design School – VA[A]DS of Free University of Tbilisi. She is a multimedia artist, works in different mediums including sculpture, painting, found objects. As a material she often uses threads and plaster.

Mamuka Japharidze (born in 1962, in Tbilisi) lives and works in Tbilisi and UK. The medium of his works changes according to the context and environment and includes: happenings, collections of objects and images, video projections, photography, linguistic games, drawings, sound design, prints, photo archives collected over a long period of time…

Tamo Jugeli (b. in 1994 in Tbilisi, Georgia) is an emerging self-taught artist from Georgia. After studying Journalism at David Aghmashenebeli University of Georgia from 2013-2017, she shifted her focus to painting. Guided by the mentorship of the renowned artist and writer, Gia Edzgveradze, Jugeli's work delves into unconscious impulses, evident in her distinct linear and color structures. Her art presents a blend of abstract and figurative elements, creating complex networks that challenge traditional boundaries. With dynamic spatial dimensions and a balance
between rationality and irrationality, Jugeli's pieces can be seen as vibrant topographic maps of energetic and unconventional motion.

Anna K.E. (b. in 1986 in Tbilisi, Georgia) is a Queens-based interdisciplinary artist known for her exploration of the body's role in technologically and physically mediated landscapes, as well as the absurdities inherent in the creative process. Working across painting, sculpture, performance, and photography, K.E. delves into the tension and humor of the body in space and the ironies of social relationships. She has had solo exhibitions at notable venues such as
Haus Esters in Krefeld and the Kestner Gesellschaft in Hannover (both in 2024), Galerie Barbara Thumm in Berlin, the National Georgian Museum in Tbilisi, and the Georgian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale (2019), among others. K.E. represented Georgia at the 2019 Venice Biennale with her work ‘REARMIRRORVIEW, Simulation is Simulation, is Simulation, is Simulation’. Her work is included in public collections like Stadtsparkasse Düsseldorf im Museum Kunstpalast in Düsseldorf, Muzeum Współczesne Wrocław in Poland, and the Philara Collection in Düsseldorf, among others.

Giorgi Khaniashvili is a visual artist and sculptor. He was born in Tbilisi in 1982. From 1997 to 2002 he studied in the Painting Department at Nikoladze Art College (Tbilisi, Georgia). Between 2002 and 2007 Khaniashvili undertook BA studies in Painting and Visual Arts at the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts. The artist’s works are preserved in the Public Collection of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Krakow (MOCAK). He has participated in group exhibitions in Poland, Slovenia, and Georgia (the Dimitri Shevardnadze National Gallery, Tbilisi).

Nika Kutateladze is a Georgian contemporary artist born in 1989 in Tbilisi, Georgia. He currently resides and works in both Georgia and France. With a profound passion for artistic expression, he embarked on his creative journey by enrolling on the faculty of Architecture at the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts in 2007. Deepening his artistic education, Kutateladze pursued an informal master's course at the Centre of Contemporary Art in Tbilisi (CCA-T) in 2013.

Nino Kvrivishvili is a young Georgian artist living and working in Tbilisi, Georgia. She studied Textile Design at Tbilisi State Academy of Art ( 2001-20017). She has exhibited extensively in Georgia and abroad. Her recent shows include the artist’s solo exhibitions at Oxygen_Tbilisi_No_Fair, Tbilisi, Georgia; Binz39, Zurich, Switzerland; State Silk Museum, Tbilisi, Georgia; Gallery MelikeBilir, Hamburg, Germany and KKKC, Klaipeda, Lithuania.

Elene Lukhutashvili (1929-2019) was born in Telavi. She was fascinated by painting since childhood however, due to poverty, the family could not afford to buy pencils, so Elene created initial works with broken glass and pebbles. The most vivid images were created using glass bottles, pottery, clay shards, stones, cement, sand, and candy wrappers. Her paintings depicted the kings of Georgia, biblical stories, animals, and naked women in nature. In the 1990s, she
twice participated in group exhibitions held in France. About 500 works were created, which, in addition to Georgia, were exhibited in Paris and St. Petersburg. In 2016, a personal exhibition of Elene Lukhutashvili was organized in the Library of Georgia. She was a self-taught artist.

Sergei Parajanov, one of the 20th century's greatest masters of cinema Sergei Parajanov was born in Georgia to Armenian parents and it was always unlikely that his work would conform to the strict socialist realism that Soviet authorities preferred. His work mainly depicts the ethnic diversity of the Caucasus.After studying film and music, Parajanov became an assistant director at the Dovzhenko studios in Kiev, making his directorial debut in 1954. However, in 1964 he was able to make Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors (1964), a rhapsodic celebration of Ukrainian
folk culture, and the world discovered a startling and idiosyncratic new talent. He followed this up with the even more innovative The Color of Pomegranates (1969) (which explored the art and poetry of his native Armenia in a series of stunningly beautiful tableaux), but by this stage the authorities had had enough, and Paradjanov spent most of the 1970s in prison. However, with the coming of perestroika, he was able to make The Legend of Suram Fortress (1985), Ashik Kerib (1988) and The Confession, which survives as Parajanov: The Last Spring (1992).

Beso Uznadze (1968, Tbilisi, Georgia) lives and works in London, UK. Beso Uznadze’s artistic oeuvre started as a portrait photographer. With his photos the artist managed to depict personalities of his sitters, showing both their vulnerability and strength. The viewer was able to sense the invisible connection between him and his models and become part of the dialogue, which occurred during the photo shoot.