HERITAGE

HERITAGE an international multimedia project was held at The Georgian National Museum and was showcasing the works of Georgian artists based in the US and Europe; in dialogue with the special guest from Buenos Aires and a local artist from Tbilisi.Since early 90’s, alike any post-soviet country, a main concern of Georgian society has been re-defining and re-constructing its own historical identity. The reference for these attempts are idealized ancient history and mythological “traditions”, but a recent past or current experiences.Our project intends to raise awareness of the importance of cultural, social and personal heritage as a continuous living experience; as well as critical, demythologized, analyses of glorious past. We strongly believe that a dialogue among varied cultural experiences and different points of views regarding these matters serves for wider exploration of the concept and enriches its enormous output. Levan Mindiashvili (working between Buenos Aires and New York City), Uta Bekaia (based in New York City), Irakli Bugiani (based in Dusseldorf), and Tato Akhalkatsishvili (working in Tbilisi) belong to the generation of artists born in the late years of the soviet regime who have personally experienced intense transitions among several mentalities and political structures. Artistic research of these artists is influenced by an inevitable merge to proceed contrasting experiences of these last three decades. Every one of them is exploring identity issues through a very personal and unique point of view and expanding their local, regional socio/cultural background to the global experience. Cristian Tonhaiser,multimedia artist born in Buenos Aires, a child of immigrant family from Italy and Slovakia is exploring the influence of the western culture and religion in his complex, multilayered photographic and video works. Almost genetically transferred religious beliefs serve him as a metaphor for contemporary understanding of construction of identity.Important part of this project is the educational program. During the exhibition will be held open talks with participating artists, scholars and experts. Artists themselves will prepare special guided tours for schools.
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