Fondation Beyeler Exhibition Recontextualizes Niko Pirosmani Beyond Colonial Narratives
The 'Niko Pirosmani' exhibition at Fondation Beyeler in Basel ran from 17 September 2023 to 28 January 2024, featuring around fifty pieces by the Georgian artist Niko Pirosmani (1862–1918), many of which had not been displayed outside Georgia before. Curated by Daniel Baumann, the exhibition sought to rethink the romanticized views of Pirosmani, often referred to as the 'Rousseau of the Caucasus.' Previously shown at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Denmark from 4 May to 20 August 2023, it also included works by contemporary artists Thea Djordjadze and Andro Wekua. A catalogue with contributions from art historians, including Nana Kipiani, was published. The event was graced by the presence of then-President of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili, and examined Pirosmani's impact in light of modern Georgia's sociopolitical landscape.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'Niko Pirosmani' at Fondation Beyeler ran 17 September 2023–28 January 2024.
- Show included ~50 works, some never exhibited outside Georgia.
- Exhibition traveled from Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Denmark (4 May–20 August 2023).
- Guest-curated by Daniel Baumann with interventions by Thea Djordjadze and Andro Wekua.
- Opening attended by then-President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili.
- Pirosmani's work was shown in Moscow in 1913 alongside Chagall, Goncharova, Malevich.
- Exhibition aimed to decentralize colonial narratives around Pirosmani.
- Catalogue featured writings by Georgian art historians Nana Kipiani, Mariam Dvali, Irine Jorjadze.
Entities
Artists
- Niko Pirosmani
- Nikala Pirosmanashvili
- Thea Djordjadze
- Andro Wekua
- Daniel Baumann
- Kirill Zdanevich
- Ilya Zdanevich
- Iliazd
- Marc Chagall
- Natalia Goncharova
- Kazimir Malevich
- Henri Rousseau
- Pablo Picasso
- Andre Derain
- Henri Matisse
- David Kakabadze
- Alla Pugacheva
- Marguerite de Sèvre
- Grigol Robakidze
- Vija Skangale
- Kateryna Botanova
- Gayatri Spivak
- Frantz Fanon
- Bice Curiger
- Klaus Albrecht Schröder
- Sam Keller
- Ana Shanshiashvili
- Nana Kipiani
- Mariam Dvali
- Irine Jorjadze
Institutions
- Fondation Beyeler
- Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
- Georgian National Museum
- Shalva Amiranashvili Museum of Fine Arts of Georgia
- Tbilisi National Museum
- Ministry of Culture, Sport and Youth of Georgia
- Infinitart Foundation
- Kunsthaus Zürich
- Musée Zervos
- Dordrechts Museum
- Albertina Museum
- Fondation Vincent van Gogh
- Sprüth Magers
- Gladstone Gallery
- Afterall
- Vostok
- Routledge
- Bloomsbury
- Civil Georgia
- Civil Rights Defenders
- House of Commons Library
- Grigol Robakidze University
Locations
- Basel
- Switzerland
- Denmark
- Georgia
- Tbilisi
- Moscow
- Russia
- Zurich
- Vézelay
- France
- Dordrechts
- Netherlands
- Vienna
- Austria
- Arles
- Ukraine
- Crimea
- Berlin
- Germany
Sources
- Afterall —