ECHOLOT
Frances Belser, Lisa Biedlingmaier, Vajiko Chachkhiani, Thomas Haemmerli & Alena Boika, Koka Ramishvili, Ana Roldan, Monika Schori & Franziska Koch, Monika Stalder, Koka Vashakidze
3.10. – 1.11.2014

Kuratiert von Ana Gabelaia und Irene Grillo

In autumn 2011, the BINZ39 Foundation and the Center for Contemporary Art (CCA) in Tbilisi started an artistic-cultural exchange between Switzerland and Georgia. They offered residencies for the fine and visual arts in Zurich and Tbilisi. Twice a year this allows two Georgian artists/curators to stay in Zurich for 4 months. The scholarship holders are involved in the program and activities of the BINZ39 Foundation. During their residency they have the possibility to meet and get to know Swiss artists and professionals in order to come in contact with the Swiss art scene. Since 2011 Nino Sekhniashvili, Vajiko Chachkhiani, Koka Vashakidze and Mariam Natroshvili were scholarship holders at BINZ39. Monica Stalder (Swiss artist based in Zurich) had in Summer 2013 a residency at CCA in Tbilisi.

Taking the opportunity of the current residency of young Georgian curator Ana Gabelaia in Zurich, BINZ39 Foundation looks back at the last three years and present the exhibition Echolot (sonar), which takes the on going and lively exchange between the two countries as subject. As the title suggests the show is a chance to reflect where we are situated with our exchange program and how we should develop it in the future.

Artists from Switzerland and Georgia linked with both countries through their creative work and personal experiences are involved in the exhibition. The goal is to show and reflect how artists are responding to the social and political circumstances around them and by which means they try to transfer their feelings and reactions into their work.

Echolot begins already outside of the exhibition rooms, thus connecting the interior and exterior space of the foundation. For the duration of the show Monika Stalder modifies the entrance situation of BINZ39: she transformed the fence and the door of the foundation into a characteristic Georgian gate (Georgian Entrance). During her stay in Tbilisi Stalder observed the relationship between her interest in the shape of the rhomboid – which can be found in almost all her drawings since 2012 – and the typical decorating motive of Georgian doors.