Artisterium ‘08 – Tbilisi

“Artisterium ‘08” Tbilisi, Georgia “International Exhibition of Contemporary Art”

In the beginning of november 2008 Sitki Kösemen travelled to Tblisi in Georgia. He went there for the ARTISTEIRUM I, which is Tbilisi’s Annual Contemporary Art Exhibition. The event is comprised of international art exhibitions, individual art projects, panel discussion, educational and cultural programs.

The name of the event restores the connections of contemporary art in Georgia to the Tbilisian modernism, thus to its roots. Georgia’s natural development has often been interrupted in consequence of its geo-political location, which always determined the cultural, political and historical characteristics of the country. The processes taking place in Georgia now, its political, social and cultural environment, make it necessary to present Georgian art extensively at the cultural and artistic space of the world, and to bring this space closer to Georgia.

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Photos by Sitki Kösemen

Georgia as well as the whole of the South Caucasus is in the process of defining its place on the world contemporary art map. Therefore the “Artisterium” aims at elaboration of such a platform that assists a development of open and straight dialogue, an establishment of long-term contacts and a popularisation of Tbilisi art scene.

On the basis of meetings and exchange amongst artists and curators from various countries one of the main goals of the event is to search for those differences and commonalities that define one’s place and an identity in art. Sitki Kösemen, as a photographer, took part in the “Caravansarai dans/in Karvasla”, curated by Shalva Khakhanashvili from France.