Ukrainian queer artists have been called to submit their works for a display set to open at downtown Tbilisi's Untitled Gallery space on May 1, with the exhibition set to explore the experiences of queer people and creatives in times of armed conflict.
Works of five artists will be showcased on themes of “mutation and solidarity”, the Gallery said, following 10 days of a residency programme between April 20-30, organised by the gallery in partnership with Project Fungus, an art platform for queer people from Caucasus, and Ria Keburia Foundation.
The selected artists will display their works, created at the foundation’s residency, in the eastern Georgian village of Kachreti, with a follow-up public discussion at the Tbilisi venue, and the drafting and printing of a publication detailing the entire programme.
[The queer community is] not only subject to forced relocation and loss of the familiar places, [but] they are also confronting themselves with discovering what it means to be queer in the specific context of a military invasion and with hopes and fears towards the future, about [...] what could happen to the recognition and protection of their basic human rights in connection to who will win the war”
- Untitled Gallery
Organisers of the call said they aimed to support Ukrainian artists affected by the ongoing war in their country, raise awareness on the “humanitarian catastrophe” caused by the Russian invasion, and assist creatives to complete or create works disrupted or destroyed due to the war.
Calls for participation in the programme will be open until April 1, with registration available online and costs including accommodation, food and transportation from Tbilisi to Kachreti and back covered by organisers.
Untitled Gallery is a contemporary art and community space bringing together artists from the South Caucasus region around the issues of social justice, sexual minorities and women's rights.