Batumi Photo Days Festival to open with notable artist shows, workshops

A three-day celebration of the art of photography is launching in the Black Sea city of Batumi this Friday with the Batumi Photo Days Festival.

From candid photographs by Berlin-based Georgian artist George Nebieridze, to “se@ experience” — the focus theme of the event, and a Photo Lab workshop for professionals, the festival will offer a range of activities and shows.

Nebieridze’s new photo series, titled ‘17, will be the first display after the Photo Days opens on Friday.

In it the young artist’s central theme of marginalised youth and their social experiences at parties and in urban environment is once again explored.

The dichotomy and abrupt nature of his work offers a critique of the visual culture of modernity, calling to mind a host of concerns: youth, sexuality, freedom, violence, technology, connections between physical and intellectual spheres examined in life’s everyday events and objects”, said a preview for the show.

The display of ‘17 will be followed with a presentation of Nebieridze’s photo book ‘16, with both events to be hosted at Contemporary Art Space Batumi.

The first of three night screenings of the festival will then focus on Georgia and the South Caucasus region.

George Nebieridze has been recognised for his work on detailing personal and social experiences of youth in Berlin. Photo: Batumi Photo Days.

On day two, the major display of the festival will be open for visitors in the Batumi Boulevard space, and present the concept of "sea as a symbol of substance, environment, or your personal horizon”.

In the principal showcase, 26 participants will be selected with a single work each, with their exhibits displayed on benches along the Black Sea coastline boulevard in the city.

“The exhibition is dedicated to individuals that affected and changed the history and those who will be in future. Remembering that one word, a small image has a power to change a lot”, noted a preview from organisers.

With the Photo Lab workshop and the second night screening — this time centred around Eastern Europe — the second day will also host a meeting with artist Koka Ramishvili under the event titled From Document to Image.

German-based artist Koka Ramishvili will have a meeting with visitors of the festival and mentor participants of the Photo Lab workshop. Photo: Batumi Photo Days.

Winners of the Photo Lab will be revealed by organisers on the final day of the festival, followed by MADE IN PHOTO, a show by the Foto Gen gallery of Wroclaw, Poland.

The latter will explore the phenomenon of a multitude of media formats in art, its perception by viewers, and “ways of affiliation” and presentation of works of art.

The day three night screening is scheduled to present a theme of Asia, Africa and Middle East at the Contemporary Art Space venue.

Established in 2016, Batumi Photo Days Festival was formed as part of the Odessa/Batumi Photo Days project that brought the Ukrainian and Georgian seaside cities together in an appreciation of photographic art.

The Georgian part of the event is hosted in the autumn, while Odessa hosts the Ukrainian part of the festival in the spring.