Beyond the White Cube: Art in the Raw Space
Exhibition
When people think of art exhibitions, they often picture the “White Cube”—sterile, silent, and somewhat intimidating gallery spaces. But for me, art has always lived somewhere else. It lives in the cracks of concrete, under the hum of industrial lights, and in the raw energy of urban environments.
Back in 2015, I had the opportunity to showcase my work at the Sabagiro Project as part of the Tbilisi Summer Set Festival. Looking back, it remains one of the most authentic chapters of my journey as an artist.
The Philosophy of the Raw Space
Why do I prefer a warehouse or an old cable car station over a traditional gallery? Because the “urban decay” of these spaces offers a level of honesty you can’t find elsewhere.
In a traditional gallery, the viewer arrives with a “filter.” They have a pre-conceived expectation of how to behave, what to think, and how to critique. But in an industrial setting—amidst the bass of electronic music and the grit of the city—those filters vanish. The interaction is visceral. It’s fast. It’s honest.
The people who walked through the Sabagiro project weren’t there just to “view” art; they were experiencing a moment. Without the formal pressure of a museum, their reactions were spontaneous. That interaction—that raw, unscripted dialogue between the canvas and the observer—is why I continue to seek out these alternative forms of expression.
Tbilisi Summer Set 2015: A Synergy of Sound and Vision
The atmosphere of 2015 was electric. The festival wasn’t just about the music; it was a multidisciplinary hub where technology, workshops, and visual arts collided. My paintings were surrounded by the sounds of some of the most influential names in the electronic and modern classical world.
The lineup that year was legendary, featuring artists who perfectly mirrored the high-contrast, moody aesthetic of my work:
Nils Frahm & Ólafur Arnalds (and their project Kiasmos) – masters of atmospheric tension.
Agoria, Worakls, and N’to – bringing the driving force of the Night Set.
Nikakoi (Nika Machaidze) – a pioneer who understands the soul of Tbilisi’s electronic scene.
Walking through the exhibition while these soundscapes echoed through the industrial hall created a perfect synergy. The art didn’t just sit on the wall; it vibrated.
The Artist’s Path
For me, this project wasn’t just a one-time exhibition. It was a confirmation of my identity as an artist. I realized that my work belongs where life is happening—unfiltered and loud. This “Premium & Raw” approach is something I carry with me in every project I do today.
Art should be a discovery, not a chore. And sometimes, the best place to find it is in a dark warehouse, surrounded by the right people and the right sound.