Inaugural Tbilisi Online Biennale opening with questions on transformation

Questions of sudden transformation of reality, of notions of "normality" and an idea of returning to the normal will be at the core of the first edition of Tbilisi Online Biennale, opening in the digital realm later today.

Originally conceived as a digital display of contemporary works well before the COVID-19 pandemic radically transformed circumstances for art events, the exposition will now be going ahead in the unconventional reality.

Organisers, curators and artists making the biennale happen will ask questions raised by the outbreak but going deeper in social, cultural and political aspects of individual and public realms.

[The display] aims at researching the kind of knowledge and experience that is necessary for survival in different crisis situations."

How necessary or possible is it to go back to exactly where we were? What should we forget from the old experience and what may be helpful as crucial knowledge in the future new 'normality'?," a biennale preview said.

Segmented into three parts, the exposition's tackling of the questions was initiated via a showcase of works created for the display, using the #tbilisionlinebiennale hashtag on social media.

[This first part] conceptually reiterates the post-gallery beyond 'white cube' exhibition practices in the analog world" - biennale preview

Following the first segment, the principal biennale exhibition - presented in a videogame form, similarly to the organisers' project of contemporary works in April - takes over starting at 7pm Georgian local time today, on the official event website.

Finally, a programme of talks on "philosophical, architectural, social and medical issues" will round up the inaugural biennale.

Organised by Mariam Natroshvili and Magda Guruli, Tbilisi Online Biennale showcases works by dozens of contemporary creatives, with the full roster of artists available on the website.

The digital show is supported by the Tbilisi City Hall’s Municipal Department of Culture, Education, Sports and Youth Affairs.