Tbilisi exhibition to show 1990s Georgia through eyes of local artists

A Tbilisi exhibition will seek to explore the conflict-ridden early 1990s in Georgia through the lens of contemporary artists working in the country starting this Wednesday.

Works by 15 Georgian creators including Gio Sumbadze, Guram Tsibakhashvili and Oleg Timchenko will go on display at the Writers' House of Georgia.

Titled War from my window, the event will feature their works in an attempt to understand the years of intermittent war and peace during the turbulent period following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

In war or post-war works, artists observe, record and describe the everydayness. They try to understand and forget the war. Ask the yet unanswered questions”, said organisers in a preview of the exhibition.

Their preview also described the precarious conditions for local artists during the period, recalling how some creators had to leave the country to continue working abroad.

For those choosing to continue working in Georgia, "exhibitions, performances and other art actions” were still held despite the economic and social hardships of the first half of the 1990s. It is their experience of living and creating in times of war that will be the focus of the display.

The title of the exhibition was adopted from a 1991-1992 work by painter Koka Ramishvili, one of the featured artists.

The exhibition will be held in the framework of the Writers’ House series Discussions on Art. The exhibits will be selected by curators Mariam Natroshvili and Natuka Vatsadze.

War from my window will be open for visitors through March 29.