Online Platform – Project ArtBeat presents local artists to international audience since three years. Its mission is to make Georgia a regional center of art. CBW had an interview with co-founder – Natia Bukia:

Was it difficult to reach overseas and find contacts there?

One of the major ways to reach out of borders is to participate in international art fairs. Complexity is – the gallery to join a appropriate fair with its program and participant artists to be presented next to successful artists.

It’s not easy for an amateur gallery to take part in leading art fairs when one doesn’t have contacts. We were less pretentious in choosing fairs at the beginning, in order to gain reputation. We became more ambitious after Volta Art Basel and Art Dubai achievements.

Finding contacts is as important in art field, like in any other. Although,I’d say “It’s a small world” based on three years experience.

Is local press abroad interested in Project ArtBeats when participating in Fairs?  

Even though, each art fair hasn’t been commercially successful, it has always been efficient in terms of press.

Contemporary Istanbul 2014 was our first art fair while famous edition like artnet.com published content about our gallery and artists. Art Radar,  Neue Zuricher Zeitung, La Repubblica, artsy.net, ARTnews, BLOUINARTINFO, The Art Newspaper,etc. also got interested in Project Art Beats.

Which country has shown most interest?

Art Dubai 2016 was the most successful experience commercially. It is considerable, as Art Dubai is a high class fair, which means Georgian artists are competitive. We presented Levan Mindiashvili and Konstantine Mindadze works in Dubai.

Contemporary Istanbul is also very lucrative for us, we will participate there in this year’s September for the fourth time.

Tell us about moving gallery ‘’Container’’, do you consider taking it to the regions?

With the support of Children and Youth Fund, we managed to implement 5 large exhibition project, which we had planned since few years. It means holding exhibition in our moving gallery, in 4 various cities. After exhibition in Batumi, there will be an opening in Tskaltubo on September 29, then Telavi and Gardabani. We opened an exhibition of Levan Mindiashvili in the framework of this project, in Svaneti Museum, Mestia, which is the first contemporary art exhibition there.  

Do you plan to increase the team?

We don’t plan to add new members at this stage, as we, founders are involved actively.

Could you share your opinion about activity in art field,in Georgia; Does it have any potential to become regional center of art?

It’s quite possible if we observe the development process of the country, more specifically Tbilisi and make conclusions based on that.

Tbilisi is distinguished from the capitals of neighbor countries, and the fact how it develops, makes it even more attractive for young artists. 

Despite the fact, that way much more resources are provided in Azerbaijan for contemporary art development and it has an impressive CA center (which we don’t have in Georgia), I think, political structure, society mentality and maybe even religion can be a obstruct to become a regional center. Consequently, we can achieve that goal with joint effort of people who works or is interested in this field. In any case, that’s how we see a mission of our gallery.

What are the scheduled projects?

Our artists will participate in Beijing Bienalle, in China, which has a great importance for participants.

We also rented a space, meaning we will have a permanent location, besides moving gallery. We are looking forward to its opening.