The art world is shifting attention to artists from developing countries in search of fresh input into the contemporary art.

Major galleries in New York and European countries are holding exhibitions that highlight artist from developing countires. Many of Europe’s major galleries are holding exhibitions of artists from countries in the Caucasus region such as Azerbaijan and Georgia.

“The trend started about five years ago as major galleries started to pay attention to artists from Latin America or non-western countries,” said Park Soo-jin, curator of Gallery Sun Contemporary, which is holding an exhibition of Georgian artist Alexander Antadze for the first time in Korea.

Organized by the Georgian Embassy in Korea with Gallery Sun Contemporary, the exhibition features 42 paintings by the 41-year-old artist based in the capital city of Tbilisi. 

“Most of the famous Georgian artists in the global art scene have so much European influence as they studied at European art schools and practice arts in major cities in Europe. But Antadze is a purely Georgian artist who studied at Tbilisi State Academy of Arts and practices art in his home country,” said Park.

Despite the country’s social and political instability, Antadze’s paintings feature small happiness people feel in everyday life.

The artist portrays animals he often sees in Tbilisi’s natural environment such as cows, whales and birds, and conveys small joys Georgian people experience through the happy faces of animals.

“The animal paintings are really popular with Korean viewers because they are different from the conceptual and abstract form of contemporary art people often see nowadays. Antadze’s paintings are approachable to people and that’s why more people are coming to see the exhibition,” said Park.

As the artist aims to create “paintings that love you,” the animals featured make viewers smile as they get closer to them.

The animals seem like illustrations in children’s books. Cows smile showing their teeth; a happy family of black birds stand together; horses look at viewers with their eyes wide open and two dogs look at each other while bursting into laughter.

Park added that the artist depicts “maximized” happiness rather than portraying depressing war scenes.

“He made a painting in 2008 featuring tanks when Russia conducted airstrikes on Georgia. But we didn’t bring the painting as it didn’t fit with the subject of our exhibition, ‘Love,’” said Park.

The exhibition continues through March 3 at Gallery Sun Contemporary in Jongno, Seoul.

For more information, call (02) 720-5789.

By Lee Woo-young  (wylee@heraldcorp.com)