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PORTRAIT
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Musya Qeburia
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Gogi Gvakharia
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“1+ Photographe
CONCEPTUAL
Photographer Kakha Kakhiani
www.photoessay.ge to@photoessay.ge www.facebook.com/photoessaymag www.instagram.com/photoessaymagazine www.twitter.com/PhotoessayMag
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Mai Lashauri Artist, Illustrator © PHOTOESSAY Georgian Online Magazine 2014 2
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DOCUMENTARY “DISCOVER ELIAVA“ Project
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ARTISTERIUM
GUEST MAGDA GURULI Founder,curator & organizer of “ARTISTERIUM”
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+1=1“ er Giorgi Dadiani
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SIKHA
Designer CHUBIKA
MUSIC
FASHION
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PROJECT
PHOTO REPORTAGE
“ORAL” by Musya Qeburia
June-July
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COVER Qeta Gvinepadze
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EDITOR IN CHIEF Guram Muradov EDITOR Lasha Kavtaradze CREATIVE DIRECTOR Qeta Gvinepadze PHOTO EDITOR Eana Korbezashvili CONTRIBUTORS Tako Poladashvili Nata Avaliani PHOTO REPORTAGE Giorgi Metonidze Eana Korbezashvili Guram Muradov ENGLISH TRANSLATION AND EDITING Elene Kvernadze Irakli Malania GUESTS Gogi Gvakharia Magda Guruli Musya Qeburia Giorgi Dadiani Kakha Kakhiani SIKHA Nino Chubinishvili CHUBIKA Mai Lashauri
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PEOPLE (DON’T) ARGUE ABOUT TASTE
Everybody in Georgia understands football and politics, we can consider art as the third most understood topic- third pillar. Last month people talked enough about football, so they should rest. In this country it’s really hard to see the difference between politics and art, it’s really hard to differentiate which politician is artist and which artist is politician. Of course, in this case I’m not talking about art from a political view, I think that primarily political art has the value. Of course, it’s a subjective consideration. “Houston, we have a problem”- this is this year’s “Artisterium’s” main theme, which will be held in the fall and will once again bring together contemporary artists. The main topic for “Photoessay’s” new issue is also . , temporary Georgian art. We can’t talk about this topic without mentioning “Artisterium”. Therefore, curator of a new issue of our magazine and founder of “Artisterium” Magsuccessful contemporary art project and will introduce the topic better than me. Art, especially contemporary art is an area that clearly destroys the myth that “People don’t argue about taste”. So “Photoessay” team declined to draw a conclusions and tried to introduce contemporary artists from Georgia (and not just Georgian) , also give you a topic to dispute. Guest artist and illustrator Musya Keburia will tell you and show you her art. Musya Keburia is the artist who most adequately assessed 6
the Georgian drug policy, on the coast of a wall painting, which became enormously . Neither in this case we can avoid policies, but for those who are irritated with this topic can enjoy her new series called “Oral” in the magazine. Film critic Gogi Gvakharia will talk about problems in contemporary Georgian cin, and based on contemporary Romanian cinema will show how one of the worlds weakest country (in terms of cinematography) countrie. In the new issue of “Photoessay” you will also meet Russian partisan urban-activists, who tried to “discover Eliava” and conducted a small research project in Tbilisi. ,
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, other guest graphic- designer George Dadiani will explain what it means when 1+1=1. You will have a chance to meet artist- illustrator Mai Lashauri, while in the category “Fashion” you’ll see a person who just doesn’t need our introduction- Chubika. In short, we tried as much as possible to cover a wide range of topics connected with contemporary art, to let our readers to argue about their taste and decide whether Houston has a problem within contemporary Georgian art. Lasha Kavtaradze
EDITOR’S LETTER
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PORTRAIT
MUSYA QEBURIA
Illustrator, Graphic Designer “I draw, make jewelry, street Art… It’s a long time since I draw a thing, I’m more busy with something else, jewelry.”
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“Woman’s lips and stories behind them. The concept is about a real face of different . . . I was learning how to use paddy and when I had time I was drawing. Slowly the number increased and when it reached 13-14 it eventually became a series.“ 12
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“Magda Guruli offered me participate in this year’s “Artisterium”. I will show to public my pornographic series.” 14
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“I work at home. I’m an outsource designer, I have regular bookings - wall painting, graphic designs. I have a lot of free time to do what I want to do.” 17
“There are periods, when I’m constantly drawing, there are periods when I want to do nothing, or just do my job stuff, or I create sculptures, or I sew…Whatever I’m creating, it may be best to call them art. I’m in search of my inner personality.” 18
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“When I look at my old drawing, I smile a lot. Sometimes I delete them. In fact, I created most of my work when I was a “depressed child”.”
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ე აუბრა: ნატა ავალიანი ფოტო: გურა
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ურა ოვი
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DOCUMENTARY
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DISCOVER ELIAVA Photographer Eana Korbezashvili Contributor Tako Poladashvili
“Disover Eliava” is a long- term project, which is still going on since 2012 and is designed to appeal to the public attention to environmental issues, effective use of resources. Within the project “Disover Eliava” GeoAIR cooperates with the laboratory of culture and management. The is an initiative of GALA (Green Art Lab Alliance) and works under the EU Culture program. Residence accommodation to group “Partizaning” was provided by CEC ArtsLink and by the fund Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation. 25
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At Zubalashvili street the door of the Residence is placed between two buildings. I’m here for , . They are Urban-Activists from Moscow and they are participating in the project called “Discover Eliava”. 27
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On the way Eana told me how aggressively a man treated them in the open market. Later, the guys told me the same story. To neutralize the situation, they were also telling me about nice and kind people that they met in Eliava open market. For example, a woman who prepares the most delicious coffee. Anton is saying that he wants to open a cafe for the young people. 29
Igor and Antony are Partizaning Organized activists. They are conducting a research at Eliava open market.
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Partizaning Organized- This is a team, movement and web-page, which carries the art-based activism, urban planning interventions and changes taking place in different parts of the documented examples.
art and social activism in the city modernization process. It analysis and builds a documentary base capturing world’s public spaces, cities and the role of art in human relationships.
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When asking what they like in Tbilisi, the answer is always honest. Of course, a lot of cars, polluted air, and plenty of “Jeep� as a status indicator. 34
After walking and seeing Eliava Igor and Anton can clearly see how people :
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Under the project the guerrilla activists delivered a lecture at the Museum of Literature, made posters and hang side by side with political parties election posters. Their slogans : . 39
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After Tbilisi, Igor went to New York city, Anton traveled to Helsinki. The project “Discover Eliava� is waiting for a new and interesting people. 42
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ფოტო: იანა ორბე ა ვილი ე აუბრა: თა ო ფოლა ა ვილი
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The first professional multimedia network in South Caucasus www.myangle.org
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ფოტო: ქაბული, ავღანეთი 2013. ფოტოგრაფი: გიორგი გოგუა.
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ARTISTERIUM 2014
MAGDA GURULI Founder of “Artisterium”, curator/ organizer.
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“HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM” “Artisterium” is an international exhibition of , 200 . At this point Georgia already had an experience in organizing contemporary art exhibitions, also the making contacts. Because it’s a problem in Georgia to periodically organize exhibitions, we thought it would be a good idea to create a new event, which will promote contemporary art and contemporary art show in the world. We weren’t able to organize show really often, because it , managed to keep periodicity and despite the fact that it’s being held for the seventh time, we ence on emerging and evolving art platform. This year’s “Artisterium” theme is “Houston, we have a problem”, I think it’s interesting and ironic. The phrase is taken from the 1995 American movie “Apollo 13”, which is based on real history. On April 13, 1970, the crew of the manned lunar mission, American spacecraft “Apollo 13” said this phrase to NASA- management center. Post was related to the oxygen tank explosion on board, causing the ship’s electrical system to go down and the engine damage caused by oxygen leakage. The leak was caused by the added impetus and crush due to the deviation from the ship, landing on the moon was impossible, the crew’s lives were in danger. “Houston, we have a problem” is a famous phrase, it may be a little worn out, even though the content is quite transparent, we thought that this way would be easier to deliver a exact message to public.
Based on my experience I can tell that if topic is based on the popular context, viewers are . : “Popular culture keeps repressed dreams of our freedom”- I like this quote very much. Popculture not only stores, but also cultivates this kind of dreams, it reaches to everyone. High quality pop-culture always carries a message, which may remember or make you think about something forgotten a long time ago. Even in , a phrase- very funny, very clever, and almost always easy to remember. One think that I would like to see in Georgia is wider public interested in contemporary art. Despite the grassroots opinion, modern art isn’t an . , international market for contemporary art and which isn’t a sole manifestation of today’s art. There are artists who don’t create a three- dimensional selling products. That’s the reason it’s not a subject of trade. That’s the exact meaning of a British artist Jeremy Deller’s : things, to being an artist who makes things happen”. When people, which from a glance don’t have anything to do with art comes to see the “Ar, a large stone in the development process of contemporary Georgian art”.
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Bruno Fournier 2007
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Khaled Khafez ‘Unity‘, 2007
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Beso Uznadze 53
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Marius Abramavicius Neboisia Free to Create, 2009-2011
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Juha van Ingen X / Z and Z / X, 2013
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Sitki Kosemen Invisible, 2011
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GOGI GVAKHARIA FILM CRITIC Georgian cinema is in a much better position today than even 5-10 years ago. National cin, shot with help of this center, they had a good criticism, today nobody is talking about “crisis . , , , is an image, a sense of time and texture, background, feeling, drama, and actor or actress, who at least didn’t have to play as in advertisement or especially in the comedy TV show. Not , , regular people. The main problem with movies in Georgia isn’t a lack of money or shortage of creativity, the . , young people, are still wary of “artistic radicalism” and most importantly, they don’t have the courage to work on topics, that may cause sharp (even negative) reaction in public. 60
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The problem with Georgian directors is that they don’t like watching other people’s movies. Ether they are trying to “invent a bicycle”, or too often lag behind the current trends in cinema. Although in this regard the situation has improved, but education and professionalism is still the main issue. 63
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At the time, the Romanian National Film Center announced competitions and offered ideas to directors. Thus was born the modern Romanian cinema. In my opinion, the best of today’s world. The Romanian cinema has always been considered the weakest in Eastern Europe. In order for Georgian cinema to move forward we need to create a program, which will help to break the ice with a layer of engaging a wider public. Second- there must be a magazine , . , need a platform and support.
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GEORGIAN-EUROPEAN CUISINE. PLEASANT MUSIC AND COSY INTERIOR.
Tbilisi, Abesadze St. 2 Leselidze (Kote Abkhazi St.) Tel: 032 293 36 51 https://www.facebook.com/Linville.Cafe 67
CONCEPTUAL
KAKHA KAKHIANI PHOTOGRAPHER
ALCOHOL FILTER We can travel. However, not accompanied by a knapsack and tent. We can take pictures while traveling, then get them through alcohol filter and we get reality as it was when we were drunk. Kakha Kakhiani photo project was shoot in this way. He got the idea while he was drunk. He picked up iPhone and started photographing. Colors come unconsciously, he takes pictures of things that he likes when he’s drunk. The photo shoot continues while he’s drunk and traveling in this condition.
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GUEST
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GIORGI DADIANI
Photographer / Graphic Designer
1+1=1
Documentary photo series 1+1=1 is a kind of visual diary, which depicts perceived information and remembered locations. The geometry, and compositional structure of the pictures are a direct and proportional visual translation of internal states. The diary is a theme which is created throughout a lifetime, in different forms, such as text diary, video diary, photo diary, etc. What differentiates the photo diary from other types of archives is the proportion of truth and reality, where a handwritten diary is often overly romanticized, and a video diary is overly realistic, a photo diary was a golden medium for me, which most accurately conveys the emotions and the perceived or felt information of that time.
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SIKHA MUSICIAN
“I think I have some kind of duality. Mostly, I’m busy with music and other alternative is medicine. More theoretical medicine- I’m a tutor. This happened unconsciously. Music from an early age intruded into my life, medicine was the standard choice for me. I’ve never tried to quit playing music, I can’t quit. , , . I had a really interesting band, which was called “Afternoon Version”. They still exist, but in a virtual and semi- comatose condition. For a long time I had a complex, am I a musician or not. Medicine has a really strict educational system with all the titles and diplomas, so I always thought that in music or generally . , and professional musician told me that I was thinking in a wrong direction, because no one really determines if you are an artist or not.
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Contemporary is an English word, which in Georgian means “modern”, but that’s not enough, because it means something current and even something else. The new track, on which I am working right now and everything that we did from the beginning was meant to be a , . isn’t carrying a negative meaning, because almost all the artists that we knew, we knew, because they were popular. But every time when I do the music, I always try to experiment with it. Technological developments have greatly contributed to the music creation process. In 90s and then it was almost impossible for us to create a high-quality product at home. Today you can make a big statement even with your own laptop. 115
I created this contradictory dichotomy of my own life. Finally, I think as a p . musician than a doctor. Somewhere I came across with such a formulaic my hobby, it’s my passion.” In my case it was- “my education is medicine passion is music”- chaos.
I found myself a victim of the realities in which I lived. In Georgia market d now. I wanted to study music and start thinking about my future career fro not many choices available for me at that time. Also I wasn’t able to win th ents, I guess I didn’t have enough courage.
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professional I’m not phrase- “music is not and my
doesn’t exist, not even om there, but there was he battle with my par-
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Then I emigrated for 12 years. Going with immigrant status creates a lot of barriers. I’m not . , . If you know what you want to do, then you surely start doing that. If you don’t know or care, then you may think pragmatically. I really want to have a several years long contract with la, er concern. In effect, this means to create a product that will be in demand at such a level that I don’t have to think about doing something different, other than just writing a music.
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FASHION
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CHUBIKA NINO CHUBINISHVILI DESIGNER 2 , .
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, . I had the opportunity to just work. Now my life is divided into two parts.�
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“I look at my profession in the context of creativity, rather than just consumer. There are designers whose clothes are uniform and there are other types of professionals, who are creating art, telling stories through their shows. Each costume opens a new vision, a new perception of the world. I agree with their philosophy. There are some interesting aspects to consumer designers, but that’s not my way. So, there I can’t do my work properly. In developed countries, every employee at fashion house is professional. It’s easy to do shows there. Here there is no demand to study this kind of things. Despite the fact, that I had a really good show, I still think that it has never been as good as I’d like it to be. Because we don’t have enough knowledge and experience.” 129
“I don’t thrust color and fabric. I create them for the environment where I think my show can be done. I consider music, location, I want it to be a something whole, like a movie or a play.” 130
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“Unfortunately, I was born in a wrong place. In this country there is nobody who wears my cloth. I think my work is future fashion, individuals fashion and not an uniform. Individuals are really few and a small part of them likes to wear a fashion clothes. : 132
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“I love my job. Even If I was hungry, I still do what I’m doing right now. I will never agree with the demands of reality, no matter what they offer me. I’m on my way and I’m sure of it. It’s my strong point.” 134
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MAI LASHAURI Artist, Illustrator “I’m Mai- Nata Lashauri. I have two names, because of my father’s ex-girlfriend. In short, . , year, otherwise I won’t get married. I don’t want to only talk about myself, so I’m going to tell you about my grandmother- she was Greek, she like embroidery, painting and sculptures. My mother is from Ossetia and she doesn’t paint. My father is Georgian, he love big toasts. In short, I want to say that I have three different blood in my heart. I love to paint. I draw from my childhood and I’m happy with that. I have never thought about selling my paintings, but now I think I will. I always give them away for free, as presents. Sometimes I’m really sorry about them and I draw the exactly the same painting just for myself. I had two exhibitions, both on the 13th, so 13th is not a unlucky number. If I’ll have other exhibitions, I’ll make sure the date would be on 13th. I want to have my own house, just one room and live alone. Then I won’t have to put away my drawing supplies. I want everybody to start smiling, I’m not trying to be nice and I’m not in a beauty contest, but I really want everybody to be happy. 136
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EASY DIFFICULTY 139
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THE ILLUSION OF REALITY 141
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IT’S RAINING, I CAN’T FLY 143
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‘ORAL’ , . , , , gums… Red, pink, orange colors. The performance technique gets as close as hyper . and tempting. You can see a character in every mouth- a complete, robust femininity. She believes in her own abilities. She is proud of her own individuality. The basic concept is , , , , , courage and independence. Her lips aren’t only for a decorative purposes. A delicious, juicy, fragrant- the starting point of singularity, speech apparatus makes its own decisions, be who she wants to be.
MUSYA QEBURIA
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PHOTO REPORTAGE
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Celebrating Association Agreement with EU in Tbilisi . June 27, Tbilisi : 171
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Local governmental ecelctions. June 15, Tbilisi :
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Celebrating Association Agreement with EU in Tbilisi. June 27, Tbilisi :
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FIFA World Cup 2014. :
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“STOP VIOLENCE ON WOMEN!“ July 15, Bakuriani. :
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Manifestation against violence against women. 29 July, Tbilisi. :
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