EXHIBITION: Pop-Up Chess Palace - On Architecture, Ideology and Chess - in Berlin

PHOTO: Tigran Petrosian Chess House, Yerewan, Armenia @ Zhanna Mesheryakova’s personal archive

22. Juni - 26. Juni - daily open from 12:00

"Chess palace" may sound unusual in the Western European context. However, it was a common idea in the Soviet Union, where chess was widely played in its pioneer palaces, cultural houses and workers' clubs. In a few years after the October Revolution, the young Soviet Union managed to turn a "useless game of the bourgeoisie" into a sensible pastime of the working masses. After the Second World War Soviet domination in chess became an important ideological argument for the superiority of the system. In the 1970s the special palaces were created for chess - not in the centre though, but in the peripheral Soviet republics of Georgia, Armenia and Belarus. These buildings are distinguished by their striking architecture, sophisticated design and intelligent placement into the urban environment.

The exhibition Pop-Up Chess Palace focuses on Tbilisi Chess Palace and Alpine Club - architecturally the most demanding and ambitious one among these palaces. The curators of the exhibition question how to generally deal with the unique features of the modernist socialist architecture and how the ideal content of these buildings can be lived today.

Program:

∆ Thursday, June 22, 19:00
Opening of the exhibition and OPENHAUS at ZK/U

∆ Friday, June 23, 19:00
Speisekino Moabit 2017
Open Air Cinema and Georgian Food

∆ Saturday, June 24, 13:00
Open Chess Tournament.
Registration 13:00 – 13:30, end: 19:30. (Limited number of participants, pre-registration is possible at: popupchesspalace@gmail.com)

In cooperation with the Chess Club Rotation e.V. Berlin-Mitte

∆ Sunday, June 25, 13:00-17:00
Chess afternoon for children

Curated by Nini Palavandishvili and Lena Prents

Participating artists: Atu Gelovani, Lasha Kabanashvili, Aleksander Komarov, Lado Lomitashvili, Magdalena Pięta, Nino Sekhniashvili, Tatia Skhirtladze and Naili Vakhania

Chess program: Uli Huemer

For further info, please contact: popupchesspalace@gmail.com

The exhibition is funded by the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia



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Pop-Up Chess Palace
Über Architektur, Ideologie und Schach
22. Juni-26. Juni 2017, täglich ab 12 Uhr

Die Wortschöpfung "Schachpalast" mag für das westeuropäische Ohr seltsam klingen. In der Sowjetunion dagegen stellten Gebäude zum Zweck des Schachspiels keine Besonderheit dar. Die junge Sowjetunion hat es in nur wenigen Jahren nach der Oktoberrevolution geschafft, ein „nutzloses Spiel der Bourgeoisie“ in einen sinnvollen Zeitvertreib der Arbeitermassen umzuwidmen. Nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg wurde die sowjetische Dominanz im Schach zu einer wichtigen ideologischen Argumentation für die Überlegenheit des Systems. In den 1970er Jahren entstanden eigens fürs Schachspiel erbaute Paläste – jedoch nicht im Zentrum, sondern in den peripheren Sowjetrepubliken Georgien, Armenien und Belarus. Diese Gebäude zeichnen sich durch eine auffällige Architektur, ausgeklügeltes Design und eine intelligente Einfügung in den städtischen Raum aus.

Der Fokus der Ausstellung liegt auf dem georgischen Schachpalast – dem architektonisch anspruchsvollsten und ambitioniertesten. Kuratorinnen stellen die Frage, wie man generell mit den Unikaten der modernistischen sozialistischen Architektur umgehen soll und wie der ideelle Gehalt dieser Bauten heute gelebt werden kann.

Programm:

∆ Donnerstag, 22. Juni um 19 Uhr
Eröffnung der Ausstellung und des OPENHAUS des ZK/U

∆ Freitag, 23. Juni um 19 Uhr
Speisekino Moabit 2017
Open Air Kino und Georgisches Essen

∆ Samstag, 24. Juni um 13 Uhr
Offenes Schachturnier.
Anmeldung 13.00 – 13.30, Ende ca. 19.30. (Beschränkte Teilnehmerzahl. Eine Voranmeldung ist möglich unter: popupchesspalace@gmail.com)
In Kooperation mit dem Schachverein Rotation e.V. Berlin-Mitte

∆ Sonntag, 25. Juni, 13-17 Uhr
Schachnachmittag für Kinder

Kuratiert von Nini Palavandishvili und Lena Prents

Teilnehmende Künstlerinnen und Künstler: Atu Gelowani, Lascha Kabanaschwili, Aleksander Komarov, Lado Lomitaschwili, Magdalena Pięta, Nino Sekhniaschwili, Tatia Skhirtladze und Naili Vachania.

Schachprogramm: Uli Huemer

Anfragen können an popupchesspalace@gmail.com gerichtet werden.

Die Ausstellung wird vom Ministerium für Kultur und Denkmalschutz von Georgien finanziell unterstützt.


Facebook: facebook.com/events/Pop-Up Chess Palace - On Architecture, Ideology and Chess

VIDEO: SLOW WINE DOKU - Orange Wines & Natural Wines mit Egon Berger

Wollten Sie schon immer wissen wie Natural Wines & Orange Wines gemacht werden? Warum sind diese Weine so anders, sogar gesund und wie vor tausenden Jahren produziert? 7 Österreichische, biodynamische und Demeter Winzer zeigen den Anbau, biodynamische Präparate, Ernte, Verkostung und lüften Details. Die Weine wurden im Labor auf Ihre Inhaltsstoffe untersucht und der Szenewirt Paul Bodner - Glacis Beisl Wien hat die meisten Positionen an Natural Wines in Österreich auf der Karte - warum will er keine konventionellen Weine mehr an seine Gäste ausschenken? Spannende 25 min vermitteln Ihnen ein Komplettwissen, was es mit diesen trendigen Weinen auf sich hat.

Auftraggeber
Egon J. Berger / Mister Orange
www.orange-wine.net
Import & Vertrieb von Orange & Natural Wines in Österreich
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/berger.egon

Produzent, Filmproduktion, Regie, Schnitt
Pedro Hofmann
VISUAL ACT e.U.
www.visual-act.com
first assistant und unverzichtbarer Filmkollege von Pedro Hofmann
Robert Reithofer
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/robert.reithofer.3

Mitwirkende Österreichische Winzer:

Birgit Braunstein / Phurbach, Burgenland
www.weingut-braunstein.at

Andreas Gsellmann / Gols, Burgenland
www.gsellmann.at

Matthias Hager / Mollands, Kampthal
www.hagermatthias.at

Werner Michlits - MEINKLANG / Pamhagen, Burgenland
www.meinklang.at

Sepp Muster / Leutschach, Südsteiermark
www.weingutmuster.com

Georg Schmelzer - Schmelzers Weingut / Gols, Burgenland
www.schmelzer.at

Ewald Tscheppe - Weingut Werlitsch / Leutschach, Südsteiermark
www.werlitsch.com

BUCH: Herbert Maurer; Und Gott spricht armenisch. Zwischen Menschen und Sprache. (herbertmaurer.at)

(herbertmaurer.at) Die Armenier: Menschen, die stets international gelebt haben und leben, denen Grenzen relativ sind, die klug und sprachgewandt ihre Kultur, ihre Literatur über alle Katastrophen hinweg gerettet haben.

Ohne die eigene Schrift, die eigene uralte Sprache, die Passion für Geschichten und Geschichte gäbe es die Armenier, gäbe es Armenien wohl nicht mehr – immerhin hat sich eine kleine Republik im Süden des Kaukasus durch die sowjetische Zeit und die Umbrüche der Systeme gerettet, wenn auch große Teile des historischen Landes im heutigen Ostanatolien verloren scheinen. Das Jahr 2015 bedeutet 100 Jahre Völkermord, den schicksalhaften Jahrestag des ersten Holocausts im 20. Jahrhundert. Für die Armenier bedeutet diese nur von Teilen der Weltgemeinschaft anerkannte Katastrophe zweierlei: Stolz auf die eigene Kultur, Zukunft in gelebter Internationalität, Perspektive für neue, weltoffene Varianten des Eigenen, Neuerfindung einer nationalen und internationalen Identität, Verantwortung für das Leiden anderer.

Herbert Maurer weiß als Autor, Übersetzer, Reporter und Zeitzeuge des politischen und gesellschaftlichen Wandels in Armenien über alle diese Hintergründe bestens Bescheid. Er erzählt seine persönliche Geschichte einer Begegnung mit der Sprache, der Literatur, der Kultur der Armenier. 3 Jahre leben und verstehen Lernen bedeutet für ihn stets:

Wie lässt sich die Realität ins Poetische übersetzen? Wie funktioniert Widerspruch zwischen Sowjetsozialismus und uraltem Christentum heute? Wie erfindet sich ein Land, ein Volk im internationalen Kontext neu? Über viele Jahrhunderte waren die Armenier die Übersetzer schlechthin: zwischen Orient und Okzident, zwischen Mittelalter und Moderne. Wie kann man das heutige Armenien literarisch übersetzen?

Herbert Maurer versucht in diesem Buch, Armenien zu interpretieren, die einzigartige Mentalität der Menschen verständlich zu machen, mit dem Leser durch die Straßen, durchs Land zu gehen.

Ein Erzählen, um vertraut zu machen: Mit einer Sprache, mit Kultur und Literatur, mit der Chance, das komplizierte Armenisch einfach und charmant zu verstehen. Damit wird die Lektüre zur Reise, zum Abenteuer zwischen dem biblischen Berg Ararat und den Kaffeehäusern des modernen Yerevan in der Sonne, zwischen den Geheimnissen des Mittelalters mit seinen Klöstern und der jungen Generation mit Kompetenz und Neugier, zwischen Kriegsalltag in Nagorny Karabach und der schillernden Welt der Jazz- und Film – Festivals, zwischen der Not eines Landes, das von den Nachbarn isoliert ist und der Hoffnung, eine neue Zukunft mit Literatur und guten Kompositionen zu konstruieren – Armenien ist mitten in der Welt, das Abenteuer lebt auch im

Auf all diese erzählerischen Reisen nimmt Herbert Maurer uns mit, denn der lesende Mensch ist vor allem in Armenien mitten in der Zukunft und ein Wanderer zwischen den Welten.


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#GEORGIANWINE: New Wine Festival 2017 Welcomes Participants - May 13; Tbilisi, Georgia (en.vinoge.com)

(en.vinoge.com) Wine Club Georgia proudly hosts its eighth New Wine Festival, held with the goals of promoting Georgian wine internationally, increasing wine awareness in Georgia and helping improve the overall consumption culture.

Venue:

The New Wine Festival will be pleased to open its doors for visitors on Saturday, May 13 in the open space of Mtatsminda Park. Small/family-owned, medium and large wineries from various parts of Georgia will be happy to present their wines of 2016 harvest from 11 AM to 6 PM. Visitors are welcome to enjoy the ambience of the wine gala and taste some of the nation’s best wines. Attendance for visitors is free of charge.

Participants:

This year’s New Wine Festival gathers 113 wine companies, including large, medium and small wineries, associations, government agencies, wine bars and small business owners.

The 2017 New Wine Festival participants are as follows:

Agricultural University

Akhmeta Wine House

Alapiani's Marani

Alexander Distillery

Amiran Vefkhvadze Wine Cellar

Ancestral Wine Cellar

Archil Guniava Wine Cellar

Askaneli Brothers

Atenuri

Babaneuris Marani

Bina N37

Brothers Winery

Bruale

Chateau Khashmi

Cellar in old district

Charitable Union Temi

Corporation Kindzmarauli

Cradle of Wine

Dasabami

Doremi

Enek Peterson

Ethno

Eristavi

Gaioz Sopromadze Wine Cellar

Georgian Wines

Georgian Wine Heritage

Ghvardzelashvili’s Marani

Gotsa Wines

Goderdzishvili Cellar

Giuaani

GUDA WINERY

G.WINE

Iberieli

Imeretian Wine Company

Jakeli Organic Vineyard and Wines

Kakhaber Berishvili Wine Cellar (Artanuli Wine)

Kakhelebi

Kakhuri

Kakhetian Traditional Winemaking

Katchiuri Vineyards

Kidev erti

Kindzmarauli Marani

Kortavebis marani

Kvareli Eden

Kvevri Amoris

Kvibari (Burjanadze-Shanidze’s winery)

Lagazi

Lekso’s Marani

LEPL Scientific-Research Center of Agriculture

Loladze Family Winery

Lukasi

Makaridze Wine cellar

Managadze Wine Company

Marani Sanavardo

Matiashvili’s Cellar

Naotari

Naotrebi

Natural Wine Association

Nikalas Marani

Nika Vacheishvili’s Marani

Niki Antadze

NIKA WINERY

Nikoladze Wine Cellar

Nodar Baghashvili Wine Cellar

ODA Family Winery

Okroswine

Okureshi Wine Cellar

Our Wine

Pheasant’s Tears

Papari Valley

Royal Khvanchkara

Shalvino

SATSNAKHELI

Simon Chkheidze Cellar

Shumi

Tanini

Tbilvino

Tela

Teliani Valley

The Spirit of Georgia

Tifliski Vini Pogreb

Tibaani

Togonidze Wine

Tsikhelishvili Wine Cellar

VAKHTANG BERUASHVILI FAMILY MARANI „ VAKHTANGURI“

Vartsikhe Marani

Vaziani Company

Vino martville

Winery “Misho papa”

Winery Khareba

Wine Thieves

Your Wine

Zekari

Other participating companies:

Tabla Nova

Color pack

Enogrup

Glassgo Georgia

Culinarium Khasheria

Amber Bar

Wine Land

Georgian Wine Club

Tiki

Keiko&Maika

Zanduri

Exhibition of traditional and modern handicrafts at the Festival:

Georgian Blue Tablecloth by Nikoloz Nutsubidze

Traditional Fashion House

Fotia

Nukriani Workshops

Woodson

Nenem Accessories

Lorina Art

IrenDesign Handmade

Gogoladze's clay and wood artworks

Agenda/Special Features:

The New Wine Festival 2017 will traditionally commence with the Qvevri opening ceremony. The Rezo Kiknadze jazz band, the Nali band, the Didgori folklore company along with Khoni People’s Orchestra will perform their selected musical pieces.

Added to the overall excitement, the Wine Club will offer 8 10-liter barrels full of the best Saperavi wine for lottery winners. Visitors will be invited to buy wine-tasting glasses, in return for which they will receive the lottery tickets. These will be collected in the Qvevri designated for the lottery. The winners will be randomly revealed by taking the tickets out of the Qvevri at 1, 2 and 3 PM. Elibo, the prize from the Wine Club, will be solemnly delivered to the wine companies.

The Giffer stands will be available for the visitors to take motion photos and share them instantly from the festival location.

The exhibition of the traditional and modern handicrafts will be interactive, with visitors being able to create things from clay with their own hands.

Partners:

The supporters of the New Wine Festival 2017 are the National Wine Agency, the Tbilisi City Hall and the National Tourism Administration. Its media partners include radio stations: Utsnobi, JAKO FM, Marani (vinoge.com) and Wine Information Center. The event appreciates the partnership with the Mtatsminda Park and the National Parliamentary Library of Georgia. Special thanks to Caucasus Journey and Giffer.

© Wine Club Georgia, National Wine Agency, Wine Information Center, 2017

#GEORGIANWINE: Great Map from Wine Regions in Georgia. By Malkhaz Kharbedia

Source: en.vinoge.com


More Links to Malkhaz Kharbedia:
facebook.com/malkhaz.kharbedia
Malkhaz Kharbedia's blog
Malkhaz Kharbedia: Nostalgic image of Georgian wines of soviet era should come to an end in Russia
Sommelier Malkhaz Kharbedia

#GEORGIANWINE: The National Wine Agency is a legal entity of public law under the Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia (georgianwine.gov.ge/eng)

(georgianwine.gov.ge/eng) Main directions of activity: Popularizing and raising awareness of Georgian wine; Promotion of the growth of export potential; Popularization of Georgian vine origination; Restoration of the unique and rare Georgian grape varieties; Creation of a vineyard register; Popularization of the oldest Georgian traditional methods of qvevri wine making; Supporting the development of wine tourism

Georgia has an 8,000 year history of continuous wine making tradition, which is evidenced numerous archaeological discoveries. Georgians have shared the love for the grape the time immemorial and remains loyal to it through to modernity. Numerous displays related to wine making practices dating to millennia have been kept in Georgian museums.

Archaeologists discovered several grape pips of ancient millennia in Kvemo Kartli, to the south of Tbilisi, in the Marneuli Valley, in the ruins of the Dangreuli Gora. In accordance with morphological and ampelographic features, they then assigned the pips to a cultivated variety of grapevine, Vitis Vinifera Sativa.

The earliest traces of viticulture and wine were found in the ancient Neolithic settlements in the neighborhood of Dangreuli Gora (Shulaveri Hill, Cut Hill, Khrami Big Hill, Arukhlo Hill, Khizanaant Hill and others). Besides grape seeds, archaeologists have unearthed the remains of cultural wheat and legumes, agricultural implements and pottery, proving that in the Neolithic period, the inhabited humans developed agricultural activities including viticulture and wheat growing.

The fragments of clay wine vessels found during excavations of the settlements testify to the fact that as early as the Neolithic period there was not a fledgling, but rather an already well-developed stage of agriculture, indicating that people started the domestication of the vine on the territory of Georgia an even earlier period.

The qvevri vessels dating the Neolithic era were discovered during different archaeological excavations, as were cultural vine fossil seeds, tartaric acid sediment on the fragments of earthenware vessels for wine and resin the domesticated grapevine. The diversity of the wild and indigenous grape varieties, the unique wine vessel (the qvevri) and the oldest technologies of making wine by qvevri all confirm that Georgia is truly an ancient wine making country.

Of the artifacts the Shulaveri-Shomu Tepe period, a ceramic vessel for wine found in Didi Gora (Khrami Big Hill), believed by scientists to be an ancestor of the qvevri which deserves the greatest attention. Currently, it is exhibited in the National Museum of Georgia and is considered the world’s oldest wine vessels.

Since the pagan period, wine has had a ritual and mystical destination. In Georgian folk belief, the Aguna, or Angura, is considered a patron saint of viticulture. In Guria, the sacrifice ritual to Aguna is still well preserved as a theatrical performance.

With the spread of Christianity and wine’s association with the blood of Christ, vineyards and wine in Georgia gained even greater importance. A disseminator of Christianity named St. Nino appeared in Georgia with a cross tied with vine branches. Holy wine has always been made in large quantities in monasteries and old cellars (Marani) still remain in many monasteries. Georgians considered the wine a holy drink and often donated it to the saints and the church. This wine is called Zedashe.

The majority of linguists agree that semantic meaning of the word “wine” is rooted only in Georgian language, and supposedly it is derived the verb “Ghvivili”. The root of the word, “ghv,” is purely Georgian and is found in many Georgian words.

Wild sorts of vine are still spread throughout Georgian territory. the 1980s, the forest vine has been included on Georgia’s the red list as an object of state protection. Along with the wild vine, over 500 Georgian domesticated vine types are described in Georgia. Of those, around four hundred thirty are protected in various state and private collection vineyards.

Development

Georgians have been engaged in viticulture and wine making for almost eighty centuries. During this period, a rich culture of grapevine and wine developed using a diversity of grape varieties. This was also the period during which the domestication of wild grapes was realized, systems of vineyard plantation and care were elaborated, wine vessels were improved and the establishment of the culture of Qvevri occurred. Kakhetian and Imeretian technologies of wine making were also established in this period.

The 19th century is considered one of the most important periods in the history of Georgian wine. During this period, Georgian poet and public man Aleksandre Chavchavadze made great efforts to get Georgian wine closer to European wine. Since the 1830s, some places of origin wines, which are still very popular today, have been made on Chavchavadze’s estate. In the beginning of the 1890s, Tsinandali, Mukuzani, Napareuli and Teliani wines were produced on regular basis. In the same period, in the village of Ruispiri, a well known German wine expert Lenz created a wine cellar Georgian and foreign sorts were cultivated. Viticulture was also developed in Tbilisi after the German colonists settled in the city suburbs and imported foreign sorts into the country.

In the 1870s, Georgian wine Ivan Mukhran–Batoni’s cellar was exported Georgia. In the mid-19th century, scientific studies of Georgian grapevine varieties began. In the 1870s, characteristics of the Georgian grape varieties appeared for the first time in descriptions published in Paris and London.

In the 19th century, Georgia participated in multiple wine exhibitions. At that time Europe became acquainted with Georgian wines and brands. In the Paris exhibition of 1900, Georgian wine making already held a respectable place in European culture, as reported by the newspapers of that time. Georgia’s success at this time was also supported by pictures of the wine cellar “Kakhetian Princely Viniyards,” manuscripts describing rather large collections of grape clusters (Rkatsiteli, Saperavi, Tavkveri, Tita, etc), as well as wine samples in bottles, small casks (tikebi), etc. During this period, Georgian wine paved the road to international arena and has since reached great success.

MUSIC: Georgian Band GeoTRAIN mit Zurab J. Gagnidze, Mamuka Ghaghanidze & Paata Demurishvili (geotrain.eu)

Heidelberg, Ziegler, April 2016: JAZZ am NECKAR 50. Jubileum

(geotrain.eu) September 2015 wurde die Gruppe in Deutschland von Zurab J. Gagnidze und Mamuka Ghaghanidze gegründet, die beide seit 2002 in Deutschland zusammen mit Bekannte Formation The Shin arbeiten. Die in Deutschland lebenden Musiker gehören mehrheitlich zur künstlerischen Elite Georgiens, haben mit internationalen Größen wie Randy Brecker, Giora Feidman, Gia Kancheli, Jorge Pardo, Chaka Khan, Okay Temiz, Fuat Saka zusammengearbeitet, mehrere Workshops in Polyrhythmik, Improvisationstheorie und georgischer Mehrstimmigkeit abgehalten, sowie bei zahlreichen internationalen Festivals aufgetreten.

Für das neue Projekt „GeoTRAIN“ konnten die beiden Paata Demurishvili aus Mannheim gewinnen, den das Jazz Podium als einen „der besten Pianisten Europas“ bezeichnet hat.

Der Klangteppich der GeoTRAIN entsteht durch die Begegnung des musischen Georgien mit der Musik Verschiedener Länder und Kulturen. Berühmte georgische Mehrstimmigkeit und instrumentale Virtuosität entfalten sich im Austausch mit Jazz Scat, Funk und Fusion, Indien, Ravel... Wie klingt es? Raffiniert, überraschend, modern, witzig, heiter und einfühlsam.


Mehr in Facebook: www.facebook.com/GeoTrain/

BOOK: Georgian Portraits. Essays on the Afterlives of a Revolution. By Katrine Gotfredsen, Martin Demant Frederiksen (zero-books.net)

(zero-books.net) The ethnographic portraits telling the story of the social and political aftermaths of revolution.

Georgian Portraits chronicles everyday life in the Republic of Georgia in the decade that followed the Rose Revolution of 2003. Recent anthropological developments argue for the use of “afterlives” as an analytical notion through which to understand processes of socio-political change. Based on a series of portraits, Martin Demant Frederiksen and Katrine Bendtsen Gotfredsen employ the theory of social afterlives to examine the role of revolution in the formation of a modern Georgia. The book contributes to a deeper understanding of life in the aftermath of political reform, depicting the hopefulness of the Georgian population, but also the subsequent return to political disillusionment which lead them to a revolution in the first place.

REVIEWS & ENDORSEMENTS

What happens after a revolution, when the bright and shiny finish has worn off its ideals? Capturing the weirdness and the wonder of post-revolutionary Georgia, Frederiksen and Gotfredsen also capture people's very real struggles to get by, their fears of war and their dreams of a "European" future. Beautifully and hauntingly written, this book captures not only Georgia's politics, but its soul. ~ Elizabeth Cullen Dunn, author of Privatizing Poland: Baby Food, Big Business and the Remaking of Labor

Revolutions are as much made of dreams as real events, and these dreams have afterlives as ghosts as the revolutionary hope fades into disappointment or despair. Writing the history of a revolutionary period is difficult, especially writing one that deals with the fundamentally emergent nature of a revolutionary period, as this one does, embracing the confusion of tenses in which the present is pregnant with the future and the future becomes a past as a condition of narration. This book tracks the lively history of Rose Revolutionary Georgia in a lovely and vivid manner, an engaging narrative full of lively characters, beginning always from small things and local perspectives that show the Rose Revolutionary period as a series of hopes and dreams, programs and disappointments. Misha Saakashvili appears throughout, sometimes as a real historical person, sometimes also an imagined demiurge, sometimes a fraudulent trickster. The ways a revolution changes a society are here portrayed from many perspectives, and the way the revolutionary dreams sometimes became haunting ghosts shows how a single moment can become a whole period of social life. ~ Paul Manning, author of Love Stories: Private Love and Public Romance in Georgia

This book is crafted as a compendium of tacit knowledge about Georgia, harboring an array of insights that capture the tensions and ambiguities of a country that finds itself back from the future and poised between assembly and disassembly. The image of the portrait is therefore very accurate, reflecting the make-believe realities and re-enactments faced by the authors. Thumbing through its pages, I discovered how anthropological variations can be interwoven through biographies, social affects and political afterlives. This type of scholarship is not only inspiring and informative, but also pleasure to read. Georgia is a country for storytellers and vernacular Sisyphus of life, being Martin Demant Frederiksen and Katrine Bendtsen Gotfredsen the perfect example of this contagious ardor. The intimate and sharp look achieved by the authors makes this collection an important milestone in the discussion of contemporary social dynamics in Eastern Europe and the understanding of human condition overall. ~ Francisco Martínez, author of Playgrounds and Battlefields: Critical Perspectives of Social Engagement


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Katrine Bendtsen Gotfredsen holds a PhD in anthropology from the University of Copenhagen. She has done extensive fieldwork in the Republic of Georgia focusing on subjects such as history, identity, morality, and uncertainty in the context of social and political transformation. Works include her PhD dissertation, “Evasive politics: Paradoxes of history, nation, and everyday communication in the Republic of Georgia” (2013) and the journal articles “Void pasts and marginal presents: On nostalgia and obsolete futures in the Republic of Georgia” (Slavic Review, 2014) and “Enemies of the people: Theorizing dispossession and mirroring conspiracy in the Republic of Georgia” (Focaal, 2016). She is currently lecturer in Caucasus Studies at Malmö University and Programme Manager for Eastern Europe and the Caucasus in the Danish NGO Cross Cultures.

Martin Demant Frederiksen is assistant professor at the Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. He holds a PhD in anthropology and has conducted a total of 22 months of ethnographic fieldwork in the Republic of Georgia since 2006 in the cities Tbilisi, Batumi and Ambrolauri. His work focuses on subcultures (such as youth criminals and declared nihilists), urban development, temporality and socio-political change. He is author of the monograph "Young Men, Time, and Boredom in the Republic of Georgia" (2013) and co-editor of the anthology "Ethnographies of Grey Zones in Eastern Europe" (2015). Aside from research and teaching, he is co-founder and co-editor of the independent art-zine "a...issue".

#GEORGIANWINE: "Zero Compromise" will be a tasting of natural wines in Tbilisi on May 12. (hvino.com) via @Wine_of_Georgia

(hvino.com) "Zero Compromise" will be a tasting of natural wines in Tbilisi presented by the growers themselves, kicking off at 11 AM on the 12-th of May and continuing to 5 PM.

The wine show will be hosted by 3 natural wine venues - Ghvino Underground   ▼Map, Poliphonia ▼Map , and Azarphesha ▼Map - all within walking distance from one another. Small snacks will be served by all three of these unique restaurants.

"It's the best opportunity for both professionals and the public to get acquainted with the people, traditions, and flavours of Georgian natural wine", - explained John Wurdeman, well-known winemaker and one of the event's organizers. "The cost is 25 lari and for this you get a map of how to find the venues, list of which growers are where, a glass with "Zero Compromise" logo, access to all the wines, and small bites of food from some of the best kitchens in Tbilisi", - said Mr. Wurdeman.

To see the full list of participating winemakers, click on the event's poster to enlarge.

25 gel includes: a wine glass, light Food, loads of wine and an opportunity to meet the growers

Mit Pheasant's Tears Winery, ალექსი ციხელიშვილი,  Iago Bitarishvili, ოქროღვინო - OKRO's Wines ოქროსთან, კორტავების მარანი kortavebis marani, Kerovani Winery, Vino Martville / ვინო მარტვილე, Keti Ninidze, Gogita Makaridze, Amiran Vefxvadze, Simon Chkheidze Wine Cellar/სიმონ ჩხეიძის მარანი, Mariam Iosebidze, Nebi - Aslanishvili Winery, Mzis Tvali, Fredericus Secundus, Do Re Mi, Gotsa Wines, Gotsa Wines, Lagazi Wine Cellar, ლაგაზიძე შოთა, Guja Goderdzishvili, ღვინო ნაოტარი • Naotari Wines, Papari Valley, Giorgi Ghvardzelashvili, Archil Guniava Wine Cellar, Giorgi Kemertelidze, Gaioz Sopromadze Wine Cellar გაიოზ სოფრომაძის მარანი, Gaioz Sopromadze, Mamuka Kikvadze, Dasabami Dasabami, Antadze wines ანთაძეების მარანი, Riravo • რირავო, Nikalas Marani - ნიკალას მარანი, Jakeli Wines, Kakha Berishvili, Chvenigvino Our Wine, Merab Matiashvili, Alapiani's Marani / ალაფიანის მარანი, Nika Bakhia, Junior Marani, Ének Peterson, Ramaz Nikoladze, Iberieli Wine Cellar, Zurab Topuridze, Nika Vacheishvili's Marani, Wine Thieves • • ღვინის ქურდები, Armazi Winery,არმაზის საღვინე, Armazi Distillery არმაზის სახდელი, Paata Bolotashvili, Georgien Wein,

MUSIC: Trio InCanto mit der georgischen Flötistin & Sängerin Leliko Gokieli

TBILISI PHOTO FESTIVAL: Original Masterclass with Yuri Kozyrev / Noor Images & Justyna Mielnikiewicz - in villages Shenako, Tusheti, Georgia

For its 8th edition, Tbilisi Photo Festival partners with AtlasGlobal air company to hold in July its Original Masterclass workshops with Yuri Kozyrev/Noor and Justyna Mielnikiewicz - two internationally-acclaimed photographers! Both of them share keen ability to communicate the profound knowledge of photography and are intimately familiar with Georgia.

© Justyna Mielnikiewicz. Women with a Monkey at a beauty trade show. Tbilisi, 2001.

The masterclasses will be held in the remote village of Shenako, 2000 meters high in the Greater Caucasus mountain range. This awe-inspiring hamlet of shepherds and horsemen was chosen for its breathtaking landscape and its photographic legacy in the name of Shalva Alkhanaidze, whose brilliant mid-20th century images of Tushetian life reveal a world of raw passion and somber frankness.

The Masterclass aims both to help photographers develop a personal photographic language and to discover Georgia by exploring one of its most enchanting regions.

In the frame of partnership with Atlasglobal the participants flying from European cities will get - 30% disscount on air tickets!

-10% discount on masterclass price for participants that register before May 15th!

To register, please check the details here and send an email to: masterclass@tbilisiphotofestival.com

tbilisiphotofestival.com/en/masterclass-post/visual-storytelling-/Yuri Kozyrev/Noor
tbilisiphotofestival.com/en/masterclass-post/visual-storytelling-/Justyna Mielnikiewicz


More information ask Elina Valaite:

Masterclass coordinator (she speaks English, Russian and Georgian).

email: masterclass@tbilisiphotofestival.com



We hope to host you in Shenako!

Tbilisi Photo Festival 2017
Opening Week September 14 - 19
Tbilisi Night of Photography on September 16

Elina Valaite
Assistant of Artistic Director

www.tbilisiphotofestival.com
www.facebook.com/tbilisiphotofestival

MUSIC: Reso Kiknadze Quintet feat Irakli Sanadiradze ~ Movement Theatre

With Lasha Sakvarelidze, Nika Gabadze, Luka Topuria, Misha Japaridze Movement Theatre, April 26, 2017

AUSSTELLUNG: "Vom Zauber der Realität" eröffnet - Kunstwerke von Rusudan Khizanishvili und Brigitte J. Schaider im Kunsthaus Summerau. Von Olaf E. Jahnke (schwaebische.de)

(schwaebische.de) Rusudan Khizanishvili, und Brigitte J. Schaider haben am Freitag zur Vernissage nach Summerau geladen und etliche Kunstinteressierte sind gekommen. Sie haben sich mit Zauberei und Musik eingestimmt, ein humorvolles Grußwort gab’s von Hans Peter Vollmer.

Khizanishvili ist aus New York angereist und sagt zu ihrer Kunst: „Die Leinwand ist eine Verbindung zu einer phantastischen Welt, in der alle Menschen, Tiere, Pflanzen und Gegenstände Wesen sind.“ Die Georgierin hat 21 Gemälde mitgebracht, die mit kräftigen Farben, vielschichtiger Darstellung, fabelhaften Tierwesen und abstrakter Realität beeindrucken. „Ob Venedig, Wien, New York – oder Summerau, ich schätze die unterschiedlichen Begegnungen, das Interesse an meiner Kunst.“ Zuhause in Tiflis heiße es dann wieder malen, malen, malen. Sehenswert ist nicht nur die Kunst der Georgierin – auch Schaider, die inzwischen ebenfalls international ausstellt, zeigt vielschichtige Darstellungen zum Thema Realität ganz unterschiedlicher künstlerischer Genres.

Die Ausstellung ist bis zum 5. Juni zu sehen und ist samstags, sonn- und feiertags von 11 bis 16 Uhr geöffnet.

Links:
rusudan-khizanishvili.com
instagram.com/rusudan khizanishvili
facebook.com/Rusudans-Art-Studio
www.saatchiart.com/rusa
canvas.saatchiart.com/one-to-watch/rusudan-khizanishvili

Mehr zu dieser Ausstellung von Olaf E. Jahnke: schwaebische.de/Vom Zauber der Realität

Infos zum Kunsthaus Summerau gibt’s unter www.summerau.eu


Zur Zeit auch noch bis zum 17. Mai: Anatoly Burykin & Rusudan Khizanishvili in der Galerie am Roten Hof in Wien