14/08/09
So we are at Art Villa Garikula, in the village of Akhalkalaki, near Kaspi in the Shida Kartli region, about one hour drive from Tbilisi.
The landscape around is amazing and so is the house itself, built by Polish engineer and architect Bolgarski in 1885. After the bolshevik revolution the house was used as an orphanage,a rabbit shed and army base, now it hosts a contemporary art centre, founded and run by artist Karaman Kutateladze.
There are lots of other people around: a group of Austrian artists working on their projects for Festinova International Festival of Contemporary Art that Garikula is hosting in October, L’Expédition Cycloscope – a French couple of bicycle travellers who also run bicycle powered film shows, and several Garikula staff.
Almost every day there are visitors from Tbilisi: artists, curators, friends of friends…every corner of the house and its massive garden is full of people working, chatting, eating and drinking.
We decide to explore the area, get used to being in one place for a few days and start working on our project when the others are finished.
