Erekle Chinchilakashvili's Archival Installations Undo Memory's Promise

Erekle Chinchilakashvili, a Tbilisi native born in 1992, is known for his installations that mimic archives but highlight their limitations in preserving memories. His work combines painting, steel structures, found objects, and dried plants to create systems that appear to document reality but actually reflect his personal universe. In 2025, he presented 'The Lingering Presence' at tranzit.hu in Budapest, inspired by a fictional archivist focused on war casualties, emphasizing absence. He’s set for a solo show in 2026, titled 'The Story of a Thread Seen from a Window,' at The Why Not Gallery in Tbilisi, showcasing a skeletal design that echoes church altarpieces and Tbilisi's post-industrial vibe. Chinchilakashvili, who is pursuing a Doctorate in Artistic Research and teaches in Budapest, blends Soviet media, medieval art, and urban motifs in his projects, also exploring memory through video and film.