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Contemporary Art Archive - Tbilisi

Archive of Academic Writings

2021 Edition of the Project is supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Youth of Georgia

Monument to an Unknown User

Sculpture

Giorgi Tabatadze

wax
2014
140x40x60 cm.

Monument to an Unknown User - the project is based on an image of a vacant portrait that in social media signifies an unknown user, or a profile that is missing a photo. In the context of social media this image is known signifier and does not require further explanations but what happens when this image/icon translated into three dimensional object?

The process of “translation” brings to light contradiction between two modes of public space; namely traditional public space and new modes of public space offered by social media and cyber space. These two cannot be simply and easily translated into each other.

Monument to An Unknown User is a clear example of such conflict between virtual and real worlds and underlines the impossibility of an adequate “translation.”

The work was supported by Popiashvili Gvaberidze window (Tbilisi) 2014, exhibited at KiK (Kunst in Kolderveen, NL) - 2014 and Tbilisi History Museum (Karvasla).

For more information about the project visit artist's webpage.