
Gvantsa Jishkariani
Trauma Porn

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“Brutal Honesty”, “Formal Moral”, “Generational Trauma”: these are some of the slogans Gvantsa JishÂkariani embroiders on her works. They also describe the special aura surÂrounÂding her art. JishÂkariani, who was born the same year that GeoÂrÂgia regained its indepenÂdence, can indeed be brutally honest, and she does comÂbine forÂmalism with morality, but generational traumas are also reflecÂted in her works. The starÂting material for these pieces is the decorative tapestries that were popular in the Soviet Union, which the artist deconÂstructs and procesÂses by applying embroidered mottos. The lanÂguage she uses, borÂdering on parody, is a mixture of political banÂners, academic jargon, and notes from therapy sesÂsions. By juxtaposing post-​Soviet material culÂture with the newÂspeak of Global English, JishÂkariani creates unique, artisanal objects—captivating souvenirs of our conÂtemÂporary political apocalypse.