Mamuka Japharidze (born 1962) is an artist from Tbilisi, Georgia. He is especially known for representing Georgia in the 48th Venice Biennale. He currently lives in Tbilisi and produces his art there.
Early life
Japharidze was born in 1962 and raised in Tbilisi with his sister. His career was encouraged by his father, Jemali Japaridze, also an artist. He often collaborates with his artist and writer partner, Anthea Nicholson. He spends much of his time in England.
Collaborations/works
- 1998 ôRubens Performanceô, video projection, with Several Dancers Core, Atlanta, USA & Tbilisi
- 1995 ôRamses Lookingô, live action with fire, with Anthea Nicholson, Ramsey, Isle of Man & King Street Gallery, Bristol, UK
- 1994 ôI Walked Here, Chagallô, live action with handmade paper, with Martyn Grimmer, Vitepsk, Belarus.
Organiser/curator
- 2003 ôRevive Timeô, Kaki Tree project in Georgia, community and children's action.
- 1998 ôBy Handô, UK and Georgian artists exhibition, Caravanserei, Tbilisi
- 1998 Mirzaani International Artists Workshop: 21 artists for 3 weeks.
- 1998 ôDejeuner sur lôherbeô, city actions, Tbilisi
- 1994 ôSilk Roadô, Bristol, UK & Tbilisi artists exchange
- 1991/92 ôBlack Marketô, Georgian artists gallery show
Group exhibitions
- 2003 ôOpti-mystic Transportation Taxiô, travelling camera obscura, Appendix International Artists event, Tbilisi
- 2002 ôTable for Insectsô, live action with insects, Gyumri Biennale, Armenia
- 2001 ôtableô, public event, collaborative project for Year of the Artist, Bristol, UK
- 2001 ôEast of Edenô, video project, Spacex Gallery, Exeter, UK; Gyumri Biennale, Armenia
- 2000 ôGeorgian Nights, Australian Morningsô, live event, Camaflauge, Geneva, Switzerland
- 1999 ôFrom Tartarus Experienceô, wall painting, Georgian Pavilion, Venice Biennale
- 1998 International Artists Symposium, wallpaper prints, Spike Island, Bristol, UK
- 1998 ôTransformationô, UNESCO, Paris
- 1996 ôIcon and Perceptionô, National Art Gallery, Tbilisi
- 1992 ôHeat and Conductô, hand knitted jersey with floor piece, Mappin Gallery, Sheffield & Arnolfini, Bristol, UK
Solo exhibitions
- 2002 ôOn the Skinô, public action with body prints, punch bag and sound design, Club 22 Tbilisi
- 2001 ôdopple eyeô, video projection, Foundry, London
- 2000 ôIn a Mirrorô, video project, Rail Road Earth, Atlanta, USA
- 1994 ôRolexô, painting and drawing series, Ethnographic Museum, Caravanserei, Georgia
- 1992 ôWhat is Whatô, performance, Ethnographic Museum, Caravanserei, Tbilisi
Philosophy and targets
In 2003, he said: <blockquote> "Since 1987 I have been working in an international arena; working with language; using language frame as the basic construction and conceptual base of a work. Often using bi-lingual sound-play to find new trans-cultural subjective meanings. The poetic language sound-play can be manifested as sound vibration, concrete text and also the actual object/event itself.<br>
I am investigating the way that objects exist in a separate time/world beyond humanôs utilitarian interpretation of time/object. The state of potential before objects/things are manifested is for me a real metaphysical state of existence. The idea of the object exists in ancient mythological dialogue and drama, which for me is still present. When the utilitarian conception of an object is cleared away, the deep metaphysical meaning is revealed.<br>
One basic principle is an investigation of the threshold between an art event and ônon artô. And how the four-dimensional (space, time/metaphysical) aspects of the work in the actual moment of the event, are for me the deep points of realisation.<br>
My target is the actual moment of an event and not towards building a product.<br>
The medium is changeable and includes: media production, e.g. posters, cards (as part of an art work/event); happenings/public events; collecting and archiving images over long periods of time; video projection; photography; printmaking; texts; drawing; sound works."</blockquote>
References
External links
- http://www.culturebase.net/artist.php?839