The Young Georgians

THE YOUNG GEORGIANS

Between tradition and liberalism
The Young Georgians

We accompanied five different young Georgians of different backgrounds and biographies for some time, and asked them questions about their life and their country. How are young people in Georgia envisioning their own future? What are their dreams, hopes and visions? Is there such thing as a “young Georgian identity”? This reportage is an exemplary approach towards a young Georgian society, with a view on artists, subculture, activism, and middle-class life.

Approximately 4 million people live in Georgia today, 35% of the population are under 35 years of age. Georgia is a young democratic country but the influence of almost 70 years Soviet reign is still perceptible. After years of civil war in the 1990s, the autocratic government of Eduard Shevardnadze, and the “Rose Revolution” of 2004, the country finally became more stable and opened itself to the west. After 1991 the influence of the Orthodox Church in Georgia began to rise again constantly. In recent years there have been discussions whether Georgia should follow a path to pro-European politics or should converge more towards Russia.
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Hermann

Hermann is 27 years old and half Hungarian, but his Hungarian ancestors have been living in Georgia for almost three generations. A little unusual for a Georgian of his age, he doesn´t live with his parents anymore. He holds a bachelor in political science and works as a PR Manager for the newly founded political party “Girchi” (engl.: Pine Cone). In the oncoming elections he hopes to get a seat in the parliament if the party manages to succeed in the election. His plans for the future are diverse, putting up a start-up with friends is one of them. Apart from drawing sketches, he plans to write some science fiction novels, because there´s no real market for good science fiction in Georgia yet, he says.
Nitsa

Nitsa is a 21 year old, who was born in Tiflis and lives alone with her parents. She is studying medical science and works as a junior doctor at the Chapidze Heart Center in Tiflis. In the future she likes to continue her studies abroad, in the US or somewhere in Europe. Apart from being a very ambitious physician, friendship and also religion are very important parts of Nitsa´s life.
Nicholas is the owner of a popular bar in Tiflis and also owner of the first barbershop in Georgia. His father is a well-known opera singer and has distant relations to Eduard Shevardnadze, the former president of the Georgian Republic. Originally an accomplished actor, Nicholas decided to open a bar with his friend Edward at the age of 20. Nicholas is now 26 years old and father of a 1 year old boy.

Nicholas
Toko

Born in Tiflis, Toko is 24 year´s old and lives together with his brother and parents. He´s been studying political science at the Tiflis State University for 7 years, and likes to pursue an academical career in university afterwards. Toko was the cofounder of a self-organized left wing student group, and writes also articles for the social democratic internet journal IOPG. Political activism is very important for Toko, although he doesn´t want to take up a leading position in a political movement.
Musya

Musya came from Poti (Black Sea Coast) to Tiflis to study graphic design. Now she works as an art director for an advertisement agency. Apart from her day job she is painting graffiti and street art. Her paintings often depict nudity and sexual content or express some form of protest against social problems. Musya though doesn´t consider her art sexual or political. She admires the esthetics of the human body and likes to express her opinion about certain important social issues like LBGT* discrimination and marijuana legalisation, she says. She has a three year old son out of a relationship with her ex-boyfriend. They lived together for five years but weren´t officially married. Musya is 25 years old and getting more and more known for her street art in Tiflis.
* Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay, Transgender
The “New Political Center – Girchi” (NPC-G) was founded in November 2015 by Zurab Japaridze and fellow parliamentarians, following a split from the, formerly ruling, “United National Movement” (UNM). The NPC is a liberal, pro-western party. In opposition to the currently ruling “Georgian Dream” coalition, it promotes democratic values like individual freedom and the freedom of opinion and religion. It engages in the protection of religious, ethnical and sexual minorities. The name “Girchi” (engl.: pine cone) should symbolize freshness and greenery.
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The Chapidze Emergency Cardiology Center was founded in 1994 by the famous Georgian cardiologist Professor Gulnara Chapidze, who was a pioneer in the research and treatment of cardiac diseases. The Chapidze Heart Center was the first clinic for invasive cardiology in Georgia. Since 1998 the center is in collaboration with the German “Heart Center Bad Krozingen” with the staff undergoing trainings in Germany. Culminating in the foundation of the “Georgian-German Hospital Chapidze Heart Center” in 2011, working according to European standards of treatment.
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Street art has its origins along with graffiti in the 1980s. It is a form of visual, non-commercial art created in public places. Street artists use a variety of techniques such as markers, stickers, paintbrushes and spray paint. In contrast to graffiti usually the pictographic part prevails. Street art in Georgia started sometime around 2005 and is still small, but becoming more and more popular. Today there are 10 known street artists in Georgia with Musya amongst them. The currently most popular street artist in Georgia is “Dr.Love”, internationally recognized for his work regarding air pollution. Appearing at international street art festivals like the “Bristol Upfest” and the “global street art show” in Germany.
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The “Canudos Ethnic Bar” was founded in 2011 by Nicholas and some of his friends. It was named after the historic Brazilian city Canudos, a city inhabited by a diversity of paupers, landless peasants, criminal outlaws and ethnic minorities resisting the Brazilian government. The bar is located not far from the city centre, between the Tbilisi Concert Hall and the Opera, near the river Kuna and the Rustaveli metro station. It is a meeting place for a variety of mainly young visitors often with a rather alternative, or subcultural background. The place regularly hosts parties and concerts and is well known for its cheap drinks. According to Nicholas it was the first bar in Tiflis attracting mainly young people.
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The “Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University” (TSU) was founded in 1918 and named after one of its founders, the Georgian historian Ivane Javakhishvili. The TSU is the oldest university in Georgia and the Caucasus region. Today 22000 students are enrolled, undergoing studies in seven different faculties. In March 2016 it came to massive student protests, as student groups physically prevented the election of chancellor Giorgi Gaprindashvili. The student stated the election was undemocratic, because there was only one candidate. They also accused Gaprindashvili of being responsible for corrupt university spending policies.
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Video, Photography, Webdesign, Editoral work, Concept: Nicole Wilke, Stephan Lucka

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Fixer, Research, Translation and Support: Anna Beria, Mariam Menteshashvili

All paintings, graphic design and private photographs appearing in “Musya” courtesy of Musya Queburia

Voice-Over: Sarah Ruholl (Nitsa), Sarah Healey (Musya), Marc Florian Mentzel (Toko)

Voice-Over Audio Recording / Editing: Lukas Brandes

Source of additional video footage used in “Toko”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_yOXeX6klE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrkCCkbLQ9Q https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmM4FaMh_TM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhGi4LuofTQ

Credits

A story by Nicole Wilke and Stephan Lucka

Project Description