Tbilisi exhibition allows artists to reclaim conceptual art

Local artists are banding together to celebrate conceptual art by presenting a collection of works in an exhibition in Georgia's capital.

From this Friday works by 19 artists and creative teams will present their pieces at Europe House in Tbilisi within an exhibition named Painting with Colour II. The event was a continuation of a 2011 display by the Centre of Contemporary Art (CCA).

The exhibition, spanning from May 27 until June 15, aimed to illustrate the tradition of visual art based on ideas – this idea struggled to survive during the 70 years of Soviet Georgia.

The exhibition aimed to present visual artwork illustrating the idea of conceptual art. Photo from the CCA/Facebook.

In a preview of the event, organisers referred to the history behind the exhibition, noting how the Soviet regime's censure and control over artistic creations resulted in disappearance of essence in favour of facade in art.

In art, apart from the social realism, any other content was not accepted. As a result, some courageous artists tried to practice abstract art ignoring social-realism and it finally turned into fetishism of expressiveness and transformation of art as a decorative surface," said the CCA in its preview.

Curated by CCA founder Wato Tsereteli, the exhibition will present works illustrating the "recovery" of the idea of essential concept in art in Georgia since the country’s restoration of independent and free artistic culture.

The exhibition is organised by Tbilisi-based Centre of Contemporary Art. Photo from the CCA/Facebook.

Involving Georgian artists from different generations, the exhibition will also include an audio element presented by Dima Dadiani.

Painters whose works will be presented in the exhibition include Gio Sumbadze, Tea Gvetadze and the creative project Sadarismelia.

Since its inception in 2010, the CCA has hosted numerous exhibitions and displays, including the annual Tbilisi Triennial of contemporary art in Georgia's capital.