At the Abu Dhabi Art Fair 2024, The Why Not Gallery proudly presents a curated selection of works by Georgian contemporary artists spanning generations and diverse artistic media. From evocative oil paintings to intricate textile art and striking mosaics, the booth celebrates the rich artistic heritage and innovative spirit of Georgia. Through this presentation, the aim to showcase not only the breadth of creativity these artists embody but also the enthusiasm and commitment the gallery holds in championing bold, cutting-edge expressions.
Gvantsa Jishkariani’s oeuvre reveals a profound fascination with the visual language of Soviet propaganda and the enduring traditions of Georgian crafts. Her artistic practice involves a thoughtful dialogue with the past, exploring the cultural and historical imprints left by earlier eras while simultaneously engaging with contemporary and speculative themes. By incorporating humor into her work, she disarms the weight of these complex topics, making them accessible while retaining their emotional and intellectual depth.
One of the hallmarks of Gvantsa’s art is her extensive use of mosaic, a medium deeply intertwined with Georgia’s cultural heritage. Mosaic has been employed throughout history as a means of glorifying ideas and ideals—from antiquity’s reverence for gods to Christian iconography and, later, Soviet propaganda. During the Soviet era, mosaics became ubiquitous, serving as monumental art forms designed to idealize the collective dream of happiness and prosperity. These massive public commissions, portraying utopian visions of Soviet life, were Gvantsa's earliest encounters with art. These experiences not only shaped her understanding of art's narrative power but also ignited her journey as an artist.
What sets Gvantsa apart is how she reimagines this traditional medium. She often uses mosaics to elevate ordinary, even banal objects into something extraordinary. By working with natural stones—a material associated with permanence and craftsmanship—she bestows a sense of reverence and significance on her subjects, akin to how historical mosaics celebrated the divine or ideological. Her works often juxtapose the everyday with the grandiose, blending the mundane and the sublime in ways that feel both playful and profound.
Hailing from Djikhaishi, Georgia (1940-2002), Tamaz Nutsubidze was a celebrated Georgian artist whose profound impact extended across both his homeland and the former Soviet Union’s artistic landscape. Considered as one of the founding fathers of decorative textile art in Soviet Union, Nutsubidze was educated at the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts (1960 – 1969). After 1969 he worked as at the Department of Artistic Textiles, and was also a member of the Georgian Artists’ Union. From 1995 to 2002 he was a professor of the Academy of Arts, and held the post of Head of the Department of Artistic Textiles. In 1998 He co-founded the Tapestry and Art Textile Museum in Tbilisi.
Nutsubidze’s artistic approach was deeply impacted by his Georgian upbringing, frequently superimposing his creations with elements from the country’s rich culture and folklore. His artworks stand out for their vibrant palette and compositions that evoke strong emotions.
Throughout his career, Nutsubidze participated in various exhibitions, including the Republic ex- hibition of applied-decorative art in Tbilisi, 1967; the USSR exhibition of the Decorative Arts at Ma- nege, Moscow, 1968; the Exhibition of the Decorative Art of the Soviet Union in Berlin, 1969; and various Republic exhibitions of Georgian Tapestry in Tbilisi and across the Soviet Union. In 2000 Nutsubidze’s works took part in International Tapestry Art exhibition, From Lausanne to Beijing. Noteworthy solo exhibitions include Mziuri, Moscow, 1992; The National Gallery, Tbilisi, 2002; and Gallery Nectar, Tbilisi, 2018, LC Queisser, 2021.
Nutsubidze’s works are held in public collections at the Georgian National Museum, Djansug Kakhidze Tbilisi Center for Music & Culture, Rustavi State Theatre, Tsarytsino Museum- Reserve.
Nata Varazi (b. 1991 Tbilisi, Georgia) is a young self-taught painter whose journey into the art world is a testament to her dedication and passion. Lawyer by profession, Nata’s visual language, so prominently evident in her work, was meticulously developed through tireless effort and an unwavering commitment to her craft.
Varazi’s artistic perspective doesn’t aim to depict reality but instead crafts dreamlike compositions rooted in the fantastical and irrational. These surreal depictions capture moments of transition from the real to the unreal, often portraying recurring elements like windows or fragmented walls, illustrating the interconnection of multiple parallel realities. Symbolizing this connection are transparent pieces of fabric fluttering in the wind, evoking a weightless, fluid quality that traverses and establishes semi-visible links between spaces.
In her artworks, Nata’s deep interest in the art historical canon is evident, particularly the influences of the surrealist movement. She seamlessly fuses currently relevant themes with traditional forms of expression, creating a unique and compelling dialogue between the past and the present.
Nata Varazi’s first public presentation of her paintings was at the ‘Sorry, No Flowers Here’ show held at The Why Not Gallery in 2022. In 2024, Nata’s first solo exhibition, ‘Hiding Within The Soft Surface’, also took place at The Why Not Gallery. Varazi’s artworks are held in numerous prominent collections including the Georgian Museum of Fine Arts, Tbilisi.