Levani

Levani’s The Mother Pillar I is the first installment of a developing series of multifunctional public installations. Following its presentation at @tbilisiartfair , the installation will continue its trajectory at Kvareli Foundation for Contemporary Art. The Mother Pillar proposes Georgian culture as a living and evolving system shaped through relationships between past and present, individual and collective, material and spiritual. Conceived as a series of public sculptures, the project draws on traditions of vernacular architecture and unfolds as a space where architecture, language, sound, design, visual art, and fashion converge. Built as a public platform for dialogue, performances, screenings, and sound activations, the project expands the idea of polyphony into a broader cultural model in which multiple voices, media, and disciplines coexist within a shared structure.  The Mother Pillar I is presented at Pavilion 3 of Tbilisi Art Fair together with a public program taking place throughout the fair. ლევან მინდიაშვილის ინსტალაცია დედაბოძი I წარმოადგენს მიმდინარე სერიის პირველ ნაწილს, რომელიც მსოფლიოს სხვადასხვა ლოკაციაზე იქნება წარმოდგენილი. თბილისის თანამედროვე ხელოვნების ბაზრობაზე წარდგენის შემდეგ, ინსტალაცია თავის გზას ყვარელის ფონდში გააგრძელებს. ლევანის დედაბოძი მულტიფუნქციური საჯარო სკულპტურაა რომელიც ქართული ცნობიერის საფუძვლებს აცოცხლებს და ქართულ კულტურას წარმოაჩენს როგორც ცოცხალ, მუდმივად განვითარებად კავშირებს - წარსულსა და აწმყოს, მატერიალურსა და სულიერს, ინდივიდუალურსა და კოლექტიურს შორის. პროექტი ეყრდნობა ხალხური არქიტექტურის საფუძვლებს და იშლება როგორც სივრცე, სადაც არქიტექტურა, ენა, ხმა, დიზაინი, ვიზუალური ხელოვნება და მოდა ერთიანდება. როგორც დიალოგის, პერფორმანსების, ჩვენებებისა და ხმის აქტივაციების საჯარო პლატფორმა, პროექტი პოლიფონიის იდეას აფართოებს და აქცევს მას უფრო ფართო კულტურულ მოდელად, სადაც მრავალხმიანობა, მედიუმები და დისციპლინები თანაარსებობს საერთო სტრუქტურაში. დედაბოძი I წარმოდგენილია თბილისის თანამედროვე ხელოვნების ბაზრობის III პავილიონში, ყოველდღიურ საჯარო პროგრამასთან ერთად.

Thank you Levan Mindiashvili @levanmindi for the invitation to your studio. #tbilisi

The spring is finally here and so are my first “Sun(s)” - my ongoing diving into the cosmological dimensions of the #Sun through the prehistoric traditions of my birthplace. “The Sun(s) of Spring” 2025/26. 2 tapestries, 110 x 210 inches / 280 x 534 cm (each). Created for the newly opened #ChanaMama @chamamamanyc Bushwick and huge Thank you to @tamara.chubinidze and @giorgidolidze_ for their unconditional trust ♥️♥️♥️ Special Thank You to @zakaria_chelidze for the portrait during the install ♥️and @marrago1 for pics of the opening night ♥️ The images are inspired by one of the oldest petroglyphs found in Georgia, in the southern #Kartli region near #Trialeti, dating back to the Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age), approximately 9,000 - 7,000 BCE. When I first visited the Bushwick location at a very early stage of construction, I was immediately drawn to the monumentality of the main dining room and its exposure to the light through the glass wall. I wanted to emphasize the cavernous expansiveness of the space and fill it up with the presence of the sun. The title and the whole theme of these works are inspired by the ancient tradition from the highest and most remote mountain region of Tusheti, where two different Suns - the Sun of Winter and the Sun of Summer - were celebrated during winter and summer solstices. The Sun (and the fire) has a very prominent presence in prehistoric cosmology and visual culture of Georgia with earliest depictions dating back to the Late Paleolithic Era (c. 24,000–15,000 BP.). Over time, the horned animals - particularly the mountain goat, deer, and bull - became the symbols of the Sun as well.  The process: For the tapestries, I first created two panels covered with a mixture of glue, plaster, and pigments and scratched out the images of deer and mountain goat directly on them. Then I photographed them under the sun with deep shadows, keeping in mind the angle and their final placement in the space. After that, the images were scaled up to the wall sizes and sent for weaving to the studio in California with whom I’ve been working since 2017. TheSunofTheSprings Georgiathecountry NewYork PrehistoryAndFuturue

Since November 2024, artist Levani (Levan Mindiashvili, @levanmindi ) has documented a growing resistance movement against totalitarianism in Tbilisi, Georgia. For the fall edition of our digital publishing series Post/doc, Levani’s sound and video work “what is your form” captures these moments of unrest, shot in the vertical, vernacular perspective of a phone camera. Chants, electronic music, and other found audio form a complex soundscape, while animations of DNA repairing human cells interrupt footage of the protests, suggesting a connection between the self-regulated systems of the human body and worldwide resistance struggles. Using the materiality of sound as a point of departure, “what is your form?” situates the growth of a movement as an organic, living form. Watch Levani’s Post/doc film alongside Nolan Oswald Dennis’s (@data_body ) text and sound work “RIFTING (early notes)” at the link in our bio.

We’re excited to round out the first season of our 2025–2027 Focus Theme, 𝘔𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 with the latest edition of our digital publishing series Post/doc. Two newly commissioned projects by Johannesburg-based artist Nolan Oswald Dennis (@data_body ) and Tbilisi and New York-based artist Levani (Levan Mindiashvili @data_body ) grapple with oral and aural matter as a microcosm for understanding interpersonal relations during times of political upheaval and dislocation. In these works, sound—or the question of what one hears vs. what is heard—becomes the matter through which cognitive dissonance is captured, where ruptures in collective memory are made intelligible. Find Dennis and Levani’s Post/doc projects at the link in our bio! Post/doc is edited by Re’al Christian (@r_christian__ ), VLC assistant director of editorial initiatives. @data_body @levanmindi #MatterofIntelligence Image Credits: Nolan Oswald Dennis, Untitled (The land), 2025. Photo by Kristien Daem, courtesy the artist and Kunstinstituut Melly. Levani (Levan Mindiashvili), what is your form?, 2025, video. Courtesy the artist.

Join us for the opening of a Group exhibition „Wandering Archetypes, Invisible Imprints”. Artists Lika Eristavi, Levani, Guram Shavdia, Curator Sopio Kolkhidashvili @sopiokolkhidashvili Lika Eristavi @likaerisstavi Levani @levanmindi Guram Shavdia @guram_shavdia Opening: December 4, from 19:00–21:00 at 📍 Raum G. Tabidze Str. 18 The exhibition will be on display until December 28 გეპატიჟებით ჯგუფურ გამოფენაზე „მოძრავი არქეტიპები, უხილავი ნიშნები”. არტისტები ლიკა ერისთავი, ლევანი, გურამ შავდია, კურატორი სოფო კოლხიდაშვილი. შემოგვიერთდით გამოფენის გახსნაზე 4 დეკემბერს, 19:00-21:00 საათზე 📍 მისამართი: Raum გ. ტაბიძე 18. გამოფენა გაგრძელდება 28 დეკემბრის ჩათვლით.

For English scroll below: როცა ყოველდღე თავისუფლების რაღაც ნაწილს გვგლეჯს სისტემა, ყველაზე მეტად მიჭირს საკუთარ “ხელოვნებაზე” საუბარი და რამის გაზიარება, თუმცა ისიც მესმის რომ ფიზიკურ წინააღმდეგობასთან ერთად იდეოლოგიური ბრძოლაც აუცილებელია, რომ ერთად და თავისუფალი ნებით ავაშენოთ ჯანსაღი მომავალი. მე როგორ ვხედავ ამ ბრძოლას მინდა გაგიზიაროთ დღეს, 20 ნომებერს, @eari_booksofspring • 19 სთ-ზე - სადაც @ninolomadze_ სთან ერთად ვისაუბრებთ იმაზე თუ ისტორიულად როგორ ჩამოყალიბდა “ქართველური” ცნობიერება და როგორ გახდეს ჩვენი წარსული ახალი მომავლის საშენი მასალა. ხოლო შაბათს, 22 ნოემბერს - ჩემი ახალი ინსტალაცია “ზამთრის ბუნიაობა” @basssiani @__wingsofdesire curated by @hitori_og ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 მეორე სლაიდის პორტრეტი @alexforea1 When current regime is revoking a freedom of people of Georgia piece by piece everyday, I find it obsolete to talk and promote my “art”. But I also understand the urgency of social gatherings and ideological war. I would love to see you all at two events this week: public talk with @ninolomadze_ at @eari_booksofspring about the foundations and peculiarities of “Georgian” consciousness and how the past can become the tool in solving current political crisis, and my most recent sculptural installation at @bassiani_club for @__wingsofdesire curated by @hitori_og <3 <3 <3 second portrait @alexaptsiauri

ეარში ლევანი @levanmindi გაგვიზიარებს რამდენიმე მნიშვენლოვან ასპექტს მისი ბოლო წლების კვლევიდან, რომელიც ქართველური ცნობიერების ჩამოყალიბების და განვითარების თავისებურებებს აკვირდება და ამ ცნობიერის თვითგამოხატვის კულტურულ ფორმებს სწავლობს. ჩვენი საუბარი შეეხება იმას, თუ როგორ ვაქციოთ ჩვენ ცნობიერში ღრმად ჩაბეჭდილი ფუნდამენტური კოდები აქტიურ მამოძრავებელ ძალად არამარტო დღევანდელი კრიზისს დასაძლევად, არამედ სამომავლო ხედვის ჩამოსაყალიბებლად. 𖧧 ადგილების რაოდენობა შეზღუდულია. დასაჯავშნად მოგვწერეთ.

FINAL DAYS to see 𝘿𝘼𝙄𝙎𝙄𝙀𝙎 at @tempest.gallery closing August 23rd. “The strongest parts of this show, however, are when the “design objects” aren’t treated as such at all. Glazed porcelain bowls by Nava Derakhshani are stacked on a concrete altar below an occult-like sculpture by Levani, taking on a ritualistic aspect and harking back to a time more mystical than commodified.” - Thank You @ddddeathmetal for your thoughtfulness <3 Link to the full article @impulse_magazine_ in BIO. 𝘿𝘼𝙄𝙎𝙄𝙀𝙎 / 𝙈𝙞𝙜𝙪𝙚𝙡 𝘽𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙖ñ𝙖 / 𝙇𝙤𝙜𝙖𝙣 𝘽𝙡𝙖𝙜𝙜 / 𝙉𝙖𝙫𝙖 𝘿𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙠𝙝𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙞 / 𝙎𝙖𝙢𝙝𝙞𝙩𝙖 𝙆𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙮 / 𝘼𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙮𝙖 𝙈𝙚𝙞𝙧𝙖 / 𝙇𝙚𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙞 / 𝘼𝙨𝙮𝙖 𝙔𝙖𝙨𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙣𝙠𝙤 Tempest | 16-42 Weirfield St, Queens excerpt from the Press Release: “Where’s it made? Who brought it here? How much were they paid? Who makes it? Is it made in separate parts and put together? How much were they all paid to do this? Where do they get the materials? Who paid for that? Who brings it there? How much were they paid? Who streamlined the base materials? How much were they paid? Who gathered the base materials? Where? How much were they paid? Is it good for them? Is it good for us? Is it good for the land? Is it necessary? Is it biodegradable? How much does it hurt? Do I need it? Do I even want it?”

DAISIES Miguel Bendaña | Logan Blagg | Nava Derakhshani | Samhita Kamisetty | Amalya Meira | Levani | Asya Yaschenko @ultra_sweet @logan.blagg @navaderakhshani @sam.hit.a @amalyameira @levanimindi @mr_dr_baby On view until August 23, 2025 @tempest.gallery Fun summer show of “skillfully made and highly collectible heirloom pieces” inspired by the 1966 film, Daisies by Vera Chytilova *Best seen in person. I love the cherry. #tempestgallery #galleryshow #contemporaryart #smallgallery #sculpture #textiles #paintings #skillfullymade #highlycollectible #heirloompieces #seeart #seeartinperson

🌿 ARTIST TALK: Rituals and Resistance 🌿 with Uta Bekaia & Levani curated by Giorgi Rodionov 🗓️ July 29 🕖 19:00 📍 In the Mountains / Wilhelmstr. 150, Berlin What remains of tradition when it’s neither frozen in time nor erased—when it is lived, embodied, and reimagined? Join us for a conversation between two contemporary artists from the Caucasus—Uta Bekaia and Levani —whose practices move through ritual, memory, and the politics of the body. Together with curator Giorgi Rodionov, they will explore how resistance takes shape through inherited gestures, queer aesthetics, and fragmented belonging. 🎭 Uta Bekaia ( @utabekaia ) is a Georgian-born, New York and Tbilisi-based artist working in wearable sculpture, performance, and video. Drawing on mythology, rituals, and personal heritage, his work builds immersive worlds where queerness and folklore coexist through ceremony, costume, and craft. 🧩 Levani ( @levanmindi ) is a Georgian-born, Brooklyn and Tbilisi-based visual artist whose multidisciplinary practice bridges installation, image-making, sound, and sculpture. Stemmed from zir interest in psychology, microbiology, and spiritual practices, Levani’s work examines the forms of radical transformation of various scales - from cellular to cosmological - and their potential manifestations in our human -collective- evolution. photo: Levani (Levan Mindiashvili) v. hierophant (i) 2025 bull horns, pigmented cast silicone, polished stainless steel, laboratory hardware, ceramic, steel 40 x 16 x 20 in / 102 x 40.6 x 51 cm courtesy the artist. 🌾🌾🌾 #RitualsAndResistance #InTheMountains #QueerCaucasus #UtaBekaia #LevanMindiashvili #GiorgiRodionov #QueerArt #CaucasusArt #ArtistTalk #GeorgianArtists #FeministArt #ContemporaryArt

A Flag [for the Sun Warriors] i & ii 2025 Oil ink on natural latex, polished stainless steel, laboratory hardware, grommets, stainless steel chain, black latex flag with the hangers 62 x 41.5 in / 157.5 x 105 cm Installed dimensions vary ____ “A Flag” (it’s a double-sided object with Georgian and English transcripts on each side) was born in response to the increased regulations on protesters by the GD regime while thinking of (still) allowable objects / attires for the resistance. It belongs to the ongoing new body of sculptural objects, that simultaneously can be used for ritual, protests, and as a weapon. The message “The Fire of The Sun Within You” is also simultaneously a spell, an invocation for the empowerment of the resistance. “A flag” was created during the residency “Costumes and Collapse” in collab with @riakeburiafoundation - @costumes_and_collapse - a three-year research project lead by @lost_intheether @bibliophyllo and @slavsandtatars of the @uchicago that looks into systemic, political, and ecological collapse(s) through the lens of fashion, costumes, performances and fabrics, with the focus on Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus. Currently on view at “Bodysnatchers” at @klausgallery - a group exhibition featuring works by Karsen Heagle @kmheagle Jenny Jisun Kim @haeparri , Mónica Palma @mopanana and Robin Peck. Through July 11. (slide 4) residency presentation at @silkmuseumgeo Tbilisi #Levani #BodySnatchers #Flag #Resistance #thesun