Irina Gabiani

The works presented fall under the harmonic concept of “Minimal-Complexity”, invented by the artist Irina Gabiani, who operates a merger where minimalism and complexity are not in opposition, but complement each other. Minimal art, with its essence of simplicity and its rejection of superfluous ornamentation, offers a sharp contrast to works that delight in the richness of detail and the complexity of compositions. However, Gabiani’s works show how these two approaches can coexist in a harmonious and intriguing way.

Each of the works features a repetitive and detailed background pattern, interweaving painting and paper cutouts, which combines harmoniously with an empty, monochrome space.This monochrome space is like an empty stage, a visual silence that draws attention not only to what is presented, but also to what is omitted, silently, forgotten. A backdrop that highlights the surrounding complexity. The patterns that border with this unoccupied space are abundant and detailed, inviting the eye to wander through their complexities. These defined spaces are populated with figures, objects and shapes that seem both random and carefully chosen, like actors in a play where the monochromatic space serves as the stage for a performance that has not yet begun or which has just ended. Bright colours – pink, blue, green, purple and yellow – envelop each work, bringing distinctive individuality. Each colour provokes its own set of emotions and associations. The objects and figures in each painting share the dominant colour, creating unity while adding visual complexity.

Born 1971, Tbilisi (Georgia), lives and works in Luxembourg. 

Education

1994-1997        Gerrit Rietveld Academy of Art, Amsterdam

1990-1994        Academy of Art of Tbilisi

1986-1990        School of Art of Tbilisi

Irina Gabiani has participated in 2011 at the 54-th Venice Biennale.

 

Solo Shows/Performances

  • 2024    Irina Gabiani: Minimal – Complexity, Galerie PJ, Metz, France
  • 2022    Irina Gabiani: 10 videos, The Caucasians 2 – solo feature from Georgia, Peace Letters to Ukraine 11, The New Museum of Networked Art, Online Show
  •  Irina Gabiani and Katarzyna Kot-Bach: Circular, Fellner Contemporary, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
  • 2021    Irina Gabiani: Théâtre Intérieur, Galerie PJ, Metz, France
  • 2020    New works – online exhibition, Centre de Création Chorégraphique Luxembourgeois – Banannefabrik, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
  • 2019    Irina Gabiani: Game without rules, Gian Marco Casini Gallery, Livorno, Italy
  • Irina Gabiani: Across the Universe, Raffaella De Chirico Arte Contemporanea, Torino, Italy
  • 2018    The end is your choice, (with M.P. Feiereisen, P. Lamesch), Nosbaum Reding Gallery, Luxembourg
  • 2017    Sinestesia Universale, Irina Gabiani – videos and Ruggero Laganà – music, Conservatorio di Milano, Milano, Italy
  • Irina Gabiani: Unrolling the human body, Centre de Création Chorégraphique Luxembourgeois –  Banannefabrik, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
  • 2016    Irina Gabiani: Unrolling the Universe, Georgian National Museum, Tbilisi, Georgia
  • Take off your veil and Slave of your own system – live performances, within Time is Love.9, Plateau Gallery, Berlin, Germany
  • 2015    Irina Gabiani: Recent videos, Georgian National Museum, Tbilisi, Georgia
  • Irina Gabiani: Micro e Macro cosmi, Galleria Giampiero Biasutti, Torino, Italy
  • Take off your veil and Slave of your own system – live performances, within Time is Love.8, Galerie Sobering, Paris, France
  • Irina Gabiani: New videos and works, Centre de Création Choregraphique Luxembourgeois – Banannefabrik, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
  • 2014    Irina Gabiani: Sélection d’oeuvres – Dessin et Video, Centre de Création Chorégraphique Luxembourgeois – Banannefabrik, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
  • 2012    Irina Gabiani: Unknown world – Videos and works, Georgian National Museum – Amiranashvili Museum of Art, Tbilisi, Georgia
  •  Irina Gabiani: Videos and works, Design City Luxembourg 2012 – Luxembourg Design Biennale, Lago, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
  • 2011    54Biennale di Venezia, Padiglione Italia, Lussemburgo, Irina Gabiani e Sonia Sion, curated by the Italian Institute of Culture, Cour de Justice Européenne, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
  • 54Biennale di Venezia, Padiglione Italia, Lussemburgo, Irina Gabiani e Sonia Sion, curated by the Italian Institute of Culture, Université du Luxembourg, Luxembourg
  • CologneOFF 2011 – Beirut, Solo Artist Irina Gabiani, Shams – The Sunflower Theater, Beirut, Lebanon
  • CologneOFF 2011 – Riga, Solo Artist Irina Gabiani, Waterpieces International Contemporary Art Festival, Noass Arts Centre, Riga, Latvia
  • CologneOFF 2011 – Le Musée di-visioniste, Cologne OFF & Video Channel
  • 2010    Irina Gabiani: Reflections, Video Performances & Video Art, The National Parliamentary Library of Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia
  • 2009       Unknown reality, Fest i nova, International Festival of Contemporary Art, Art Villa Garikula, Akhalkalaki, Georgia
  • 2007    Video Dia Loghi 2007, Videoinstallazioni: I. Gabiani / G. Cugno, Unione Culturale Franco Antonicelli, Torino, Italy
  •  Irina Gabiani: Looking at the world vice versa, Rustaveli Georgian National Theatre, Tbilisi, Georgia
  • Samaia or Triamazikamno, live performance, Rustaveli Georgian National Theatre, Tbilisi, Georgia
  •  Samaia or Triamazikamno, live performance, Georgian State Pantomime Theatre, Tbilisi, Georgia
  • 2006    When I look at myself, Art Gallery at the Leonidze State Museum of Georgian Literature, Tbilisi, Georgia
  • The Slaves of the system, live performance, Art Gallery at the Leonidze State Museum of Georgian Literature, Tbilisi, Georgia
  • The Slaves of the system, live performance, Georgian State Pantomime Theatre, Tbilisi, Georgia

Selected Group Shows

  • 2024 Qui non c’è niente da leggere, Museo d`Arte Contemporanea di Villa Croce, Genova, Italy
  • 2023 Bienal Madatac 12, Art for Freedom, Sala Berlanga, Madrid, Spain
  • 2022 Rhizome DC, Washington DC, USA 
  • 2021 My mother, my father and I
    , Muratcentoventidue Artecontemporanea, Bari, Italy
  • 2020 NewMediaFest2020 ‘9 – The 365 Days Diary, Launch of Corona! Shut Down?
    – Corona Film Collection, online show 
  • 2019 Angeli e Artisti
    , Santa Maria della Scala, Siena, Italy 
  • 2018 Declinando il libro d’artista
    , Unimediamodern, Genova, Italy
  • 2017  Musée d’Art Contemporain de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France 
  • 2016 Luxembourg City Film Festival, Open Screen, Headquarters Magic Mirrors, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
  • 2015 Letters from the sky, La Générale, Paris, France
  • 2014 Transborda / Owerflow, International expanded cinema and Video Art screening, Alcobaca Historic Center, Alcobaca, Portugal 
  • 2013 Fonlad 2013 – Mostra Internacional de Video Arte
    , Espaço Artes, Multimédia e Performance, Coimbra, Portugal
  • 2012 Video Dia Loghi 2012, Velan Centre for Contemporary Art, Torino, Italy
  • 2011 Biennale di Venezia – 54th International Art Exhibition, Padiglione Italia, Arsenale, Venezia, Italy
  • 2010 Art Beijing 2010, Contemporary Art Fair, Artist Cinema, Beijing, China 
  • 2009 Video Dia Loghi 2009, The Vitruvian Woman Video-installation
  • 2008 Minividfest 2
    , Total Kunst Gallery, Edinburgh, United Kingdon
  • 2007 Not closed, Galerie Beaumontpublic, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
  • 2003 Collettiva, Galleria Giancarlo Salzano, Torino, Italy
  • 2000 Group Exhibition, National Gallery, Tbilisi, Georgia
  • 1999 157a Esposizione Arti Figurative, Società Promotrice Belle Arti, Torino, Italy
  • 1997 Rietveld Academy Jewellery Department in Porvoo, Porvoon Taidetehdas Konstfabriken, Porvoo, Finland
  • 1996 Schuttingtaal,
    Open air exhibition, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Public collections 

Fondazione Arnaldo Pomodoro, Milano, Italy

Georgian State Museum of Theatre, Music, Cinema and Choreography, Tbilisi, Georgia

Rustaveli Georgian National Theatre, Tbilisi, Georgia

Georgian State Pantomime Theatre, Tbilisi, Georgia

La Iglesia de los Angeles, El Milagro, Argentina

The National Parliamentary Library of Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia

Georgian National Museum – Amiranashvili Museum of Art Tbilisi Georgia

Georgian Embassy, Berlin, Germany

Museum of Contemporary Art of Villa Croce, Genova, Italy

Awards

  • 2008    Third International Art Prize Arte Laguna, Sculpture, Best foreign artist
  • 2008    Third International Art Prize Arte Laguna, Sculpture, Virtual Jury Prize
  • 2008    8° Premio Nazionale d’Arte Città di Novara, Video, III prize
  • 2011    International Video Festival “Letters from the sky”, Video, Top 10 Award Winner
  • 2011    International Video Festival “Letters from the sky”, Video, Judges’ Prize Winner

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