My constant interest and observation lie in universal taste and its origins, the paths, and stories that are trending in contemporary times and may turn into myths or traditions in the future. Emotions that stem from extremely personal stories yet represent a common experience for an entire generation. The main motivator for creating my art is the discomforts and fears of my generation, the traumas, and the attempts at self-growth and development. The primary goal is almost always to give a physical form to my fears, to manipulate traditional imagery and ancient techniques, to establish control over them, and to create contemporary images that are understandable to my generation and speak in our language.

I enjoy disturbing existing craft techniques and the aesthetics historically attached to them, to create my own fantastical worlds. In my tapestry series, I achieve the final image through destruction and adornment; similarly, through destruction—this time by forgetting the rules and aesthetics ingrained in my memory—I create mosaics and felt works. In contrast, in my video works, I aim to intensify the hysterical reality of modern life with fast, elusive, overwhelming dynamic of shots and occasionally, melancholic elements. It is worth noting that almost every piece starts as a digital collage—whether it is a painting, mosaic, felt work, or video, all are, in some way, collages. As a result, any arrangement - works, and any combination - is valid.

The main narrative of these works is the observation of common fears of my generation, caused by economic or class conditions, the institution of parenthood, social media, fear of failure, long-distance relationships, feelings of alienation and occasional tries of escapism to fantastical gardens.

What i do in art is trying to do the most. My second biggest passion, apart from my own art, is creating a platform for other artists and contribute to their growth, thus contributing to the cultural life at large. Both in my art, in the magazine, (Gar-gar Magazine 2014-18), the two galleries (Patara gallery 2017, The Why Not gallery 2018) I founded,  I had no security cushion or financial backing. The main motivator is always the belief that if we lack something, we can create it ourselves, build it from scratch, not waiting for others do do it for us. I do consider “Patara Gallery” as my artwork, artwork as a platform for others to shine, Patara was the first artist run in Tbilisi and created the first exhibitions of about 30 artists.

It is through these exhibitions that I see the power of art the most, because unlike my practice, in gallery work I can observe without subjectivity -  the effect that both galleries have not only for the artists, but also for the cultural life in general. And knowing that I was able to do all of this with my own passionate work, dedication and uncompromising, selfless hard work - is so motivating! , and that the love and gratitude felt  the artists is an invaluable, great force - It makes everything possible.

Gvantsa Jishkariani (b.1991, Rustavi) is a multimedia artist and curator. She graduated from the Faculty of Architecture of the Tbilisi State Academy of the Fine Arts (2013), then completed her master program in Creative Mediation at the CCA-Tbilisi (2015).

Gvantsa is fascinated by Soviet-propagandistic arts and techniques of traditional crafts. She investigates imprints left from the past and plays with the images and influences of today and tomorrow. The artist often employs humor to address these deeply personal and highly relevant topics. Born in the same year as the country achieved its independence, she grew up in a highly turbulent environment, characterized by chaos and hardships of all kinds. As an artist, she frequently explores these experiences, which have not only shaped her personal journey but also the collective narrative of her homeland. In her artwork, Gvantsa delves into precarious situations and extreme vulnerability, while simultaneously demonstrating remarkable resilience in navigating these sensitivities.

Jishkariani is widely exhibited in Georgia as well as abroad including New York, Munich, Brussels, Vienna, Prague, Zurich, Munich, Naples among others. In 2021 she received Prince Claus Foundation Seed Awards. In 2020 she was selected for the Forbes 30 under 30 list, in 2019 she won the NARS Foundation Studio Grant, New York and in 2017 the artist received the Tsinandali Award in Visual Arts.

Apart from her artistic practice, Jishkariani has an equally vibrant curatorial career. She is a co-founder of Tbilisi-based galleries PATARA Gallery (2017) and The Why Not Gallery (2018), dedicated to supporting young artists. She curated Tbilisi Photo Festival Night of Photography (2017, 2018, 2019). Jishkariani was the founder of the first contemporary Georgian magazine Gar-Gar on art and fashion (2013-18).

Her works are part of numerous prominent private and public contemporary art collections internationally and in Georgian Including: Alain Servais Collection, Collezione Taurisano, Royal family of UAE collection, TBC Bank Collection, Vasili Tsereteli Collection, The State Silk Museum, Georgia, among others.

CV

• Dress of a Thousand Oceans - CH64 gallery, Tbilisi, Georgia
• I Hate Poetry - The Why Not Gallery, Tbilisi, Georgia

• I Dream of Fire - The why not gallery

• Together Forever - Solo Show at Open Space, Tbilisi Georgia
• Permanent Adolescence - Solo show in Ballon Rouge Club, Brussels, Belgium

• Who will record History? solo show at Project Artbeat, Tbilisi, Georgia

• a Tree.ხე at A01 gallery, Naples, Italy
• REPTILIANS WITH WINGS at Template Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
• GOODS ARE LEFT ON THE SHELVES-Performance at Nectar Gallery

• SAVANNA SAVAGE at Project ArtBeat, Batumi, Georgia

• Whales are Lonely at State silk museum, Tbilisi, Georgia
• WITCHCRAFT AND CURIOSITY at A01 gallery, Naples, Italy
• COUNTERFEIT GOODS at Yarat, Baku, Azerbaijan

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS:

• Nothing New in The East - AKT Pforzheim, Germany
• Ring, Ring, Ring, - Pal Project, Paris, France
• Forced Neighbourhood- Munich, Germany
• Temple of Stray Cats - Catbox Contemporary, Ny,USA
• Stories I Tell Myself- The Why Not Gallery, Tbilisi, Georgia

• I've seen the future baby, It's sexy- at Skuc gallery, Ljubljana, Slovenia
• I am Nobody, who are you?, at Rhizome, Kortrijk, Belgium
• Soft opening, Halle13, Vienna, Austria
• Sorry, No Flowers Here, The why not gallery, Tbilisi, Georgia

2021

• ALL YOUR FAVOURITE BITCHES & WITCHES at CAS Batumi, Georgia
• TWO SHAPES OF LEAF ON TREE at KAIR, Kosice, Slovakia
• PUNK IS IN THE HEAD at A01 gallery, Naples, Italy

• Prince Claus Fund x Tbilisi Multimedia Museum - Exhibition Grant

• Lottozero Textile Labs - Residency grant, Prato, Italy

• Prince Claus Foundation - Seed Awards recipient

• Ministry of Culture Georgia - Exhibition Grant
• Forbes 30 under 30 - Culture

• Studio grant at Fotograf Gallery, Prague, Czechia
• Studio grant at NARS foundation, NY, USA

• RESIDENCY GRANT at BINZ39, Zurich, Switzerland

• Tsinandali award in Visual Art
• Frauenkulturburo NRW e.V., - RESIDENCY GRANT, Dusseldorf, Germany

• Yarat, Contemporary Art Center- RESIDENCY GRANT, Baku, Azerbaijan
• Batumi Back Yard Stories- RESIDENCY GRANT, Batumi, Georgia