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Conspiracy Bar
Around the Studio
Video, film, performance & music programs

September 27 - November 7, 2024
Opening reception: Friday, September 27, 4-7pm

Kunsthalle Tbilisi is pleased to present Around the Studio's exhibition titled 'Conspiracy Bar'. The show represents Tbilisi young dweller's imaginary apartment. Following the Georgian government’s enactment of a controversial 'foreign influence' law, massive protests ensued, followed by a violent crackdown. More recently Georgia’s parliament passed an anti-LGBTQ propaganda law, imposing severe restrictions on LGBTQ+ freedoms and rights, echoing similar laws passed in Russia. Around the Studio creates a living space with objects that reference recent demonstration history in Tbilisi. The objects and demonstration furniture, designed by the artists, serve as visual cues that narrate the story of the 2023-2024 demonstrations and the memories of the apartment owner.

The apartment exhibition is designed to portray a typical individual who participated in the protests, providing glimpses into his/her reality, accumulated experiences, and daily routines. It is intended to cultivate an atmosphere where visitors can participate in conversations about ongoing events, enhancing awareness and stimulating dialogue on civil society activism.

The exhibition 'Conspiracy Bar' offers a new gathering space located in a rented apartment. Over a span of six weeks, this space will serve as a hosting venue offering a variety of programs that include video screenings (curated by Irena Popiashvili), film screenings (curated by Salome Potskhverashvili), alternative music (curated by Nino Davadze) and experimental theater performance (presented by David Khorbaladze). The program schedule will be released separately.

Around the Studio was established by Tika Shelia (b. 1996, Tbilisi) and Ano Jishkariani (b. 1996, Tbilisi). They met at VA[A]DS Free University of Tbilisi in 2014. In their school days, the artists cultivated a strong bond through the exchange of ideas and shared visions. This connection ultimately led them to found art and design collective Around the Studio. Their previous project of a communal café, 'Café Iris,' was exhibited at the Evangelical Baptist Church, Piece Cathedral, in Tbilisi, in 2022.

The exhibition is open Thursday - Sunday, 14:00 – 19:00 and by appointment.

For further information and images please, contact info@kunsthalletbilisi.com