“Once within the word EARTH I found the word ART, since then there is no reason to look for ART”
– Iliko Zautashvili
Iliko Zautashvili, born in 1952 in Tbilisi, Georgia, is a multimedia artist and a prominent figure in Georgian contemporary art. A graduate of the Tbilisi State Academy of Fine Arts in 1974, he earned his PhD in Art History in 1978 and joined the Georgian Union of Artists in 1980.
Zautashvili is known for his innovative approach, co-founding the influential art group “Total Space” in 1988 and the “Sector for Visual Investigations” in 1993. Both initiatives have been instrumental in advancing experimental art practices in Georgia. His work spans visual art, video, and film direction, with notable projects supported by the Soros Foundation, such as “MegaUniverse” (1996) and “Counter-Culture” (1999). Beyond creating art, he is a respected professor at the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts and frequently contributes as an art historian at international conferences. His extensive participation in exhibitions and events worldwide showcases his dedication to pushing the boundaries of multimedia art.
“The series of abstract works on which Iliko Zautashvili worked in the 1980s were created in the process of searching for a personal way of seeing things and acquire special value precisely from the point of view of developing an artistic-thinking method.”
– Khatuna Khabuliani
Art Critic
