GeoAIR in the framework of "Atlantis 11“ at the Venice Biennale 2011

Exhibition: 1 – 5 June 2011, 10 am – 6 pm

Panel discussions: 2 – 3 June 2011, 7 pm

Opening: 1 June 2011, 7 pm

Adress: Collegio Armeno Moorat-Raphael, Palazzo Zenobio, Dorsoduro 2596, Venezia

The ATLANTIS network connects seven European cities from Berlin to Yerevan through cultural exchange and cooperation between seven institutions working in the field of contemporary art.

During the preview days of the 54th Venice Biennial the ATLANTIS network will be presented through the exhibition ATLANTIS '11 and a series of panel discussions all focusing on the theme of “Power and contemporary art”.

The ATLANTIS '11 event is organized as part of the HEICO project - Heritage, Identity and Communication in European Contemporary Art Practices, which aims to promote the cultural reflection of the identity in the countries involved in the partnership. The further development of the of the Atlantis project is planed as series of workshops and conferences hosted by the participating countries as well as through artists exchange residency programs in Plovdiv (Bulgaria), Yerevan (Armenia), Tbilisi (Georgia), Bratislava (Slovak Republic) and Chisinau (Moldova).

From 1 to 5 June, the ATLANTIS '11 exhibition at the Collegio Armeno Moorat-Raphael, Palazzo Zenobio, will work as a platform for presentation and discussion of projects originating in these countries.

Within the network, Georgia is represented by GeoAIR from Tbilisi, Georgia. GeoAIR organizes and supports international exchange projects with the goal of strengthening the Georgian and Caucasian art world, bringing together artists from different cultural backgrounds.

Project "2nd chance" by GeoAIR curator Nini Palavandishvili presents 5 projects submitted by different artists / curators in response to an open call for participation in the 54th International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale announced by Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia in November 2010. Till November 22, 2010, a short concept and portfolio should have been sent to the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia.

On display will be 4 projects:

Natalia Amirejibi de Pita, Gia Bugadze, Oleg Timchenko

Konstantin Mindadze

Levan Mindiashvili

Iliko Zautashvili

One project by Levan Chogoshvili was not provided by artist himself.

None of these five projects have been reviewed. This Year Georgia is represented by Tamara Kvesitadze, artist who has already represented Georgia with two other participants (Sophia Tabatadze, Eteri Chkadua) on the 52nd Venice Biennale.

Bulgaria is represented by Art Today Association – Center for Contemporary Art in Plovdiv with the mission to present and document alternative and experimental forms of contemporary art. SPACE is a project situated in the Slovak Republic. It is a non-profit gallery, covering several independent projects focusing on presentation of contemporary art, residency programmes, public art projects and publication activities. ACSL – Art and Cultural Studies Laboratory is an independent, non-governmental organization inArmenia. It provides a stable platform for critical analysis, information exchange and interactive communication, which contributes to the development of contemporary creative processes. KSA:K – Center for Contemporary Art wants to contribute to the accreditation of the contemporary art practices in the Republic of Moldova by encouragement of the new forms of artistic and cultural expression. The German project partners are the Heinrich-Böll-Foundation Brandenburg andRohkunstbau. The Heinrich-Böll-Foundation Brandenburg is an educational institution affiliated with the Green Party. The foundation organizes and promotes events of political and cultural education. Rohkunstbau has established itself over the past 17 years as an extraordinary exhibition and an art festival known for its site-specific contemporary art in Brandenburg.

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.This press release reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.