Beyond Gallery

Imprints of the Silk Road

Silk Road

Imprints of the Silk Road

აბრეშუმის გზა — აბრეშუმის გზის ანაბეჭდები

Museum-based, curatorially managed international platform uniting contemporary artists from Silk Road countries. Creating a unified institutional space for graphic arts, traditional and contemporary handmade printmaking techniques.

მუზეუმზე დაფუძნებული, კურატორულად მართული საერთაშორისო პლატფორმა, რომელიც აერთიანებს თანამედროვე მხატვრებს აბრეშუმის გზის ქვეყნებიდან. ქმნის გაერთიანებულ ინსტიტუციურ სივრცეს გრაფიკული ხელოვნების, ტრადიციული და თანამედროვე ხელით ბეჭდვის ტექნიკებისთვის.

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პროექტის მიმოხილვა

About the project

Museum-based, curatorially managed international platform uniting contemporary artists from Silk Road countries. Creating a unified institutional space for graphic arts, traditional and contemporary handmade printmaking techniques.

  • 01Unites contemporary artists from Silk Road countries in a unified institutional space for graphic arts and handmade printmaking.
  • 02Georgia, as a historical geo-cultural node, merges ancient traditional techniques with contemporary artistic languages.
  • 03Based on ten-year experience of the BEYOND International Print Festival, transformed into a structured institutional program.
  • 04Includes: curated museum exhibitions, international conference, Works on Paper Fair, multimedia projects, and site-specific installations.
  • 05Institutional, research-oriented, and collector-focused platform strengthening professional networks and cultural diplomacy.

მონაწილეობის ფორმატი

Participation terms

Institutional selection, embassy cooperation, and criteria for artists and delegations.

Participation Format

  • 01Each country represented by 2–4 artists selected through curatorial consultation and institutional recommendation.
  • 02Priority given to artists recommended by museums, cultural institutions, art academies, and residency programs.
  • 03All works presented must be available for acquisition.
  • 04Welcomes institutional collaboration and support for cultural diplomacy.
  • 05Art media representatives from participating countries recommended by embassies or cultural organizations.

Selection Criteria

  • 01Conceptual relevance to the Silk Road theme and contemporary artistic practice
  • 02Technical mastery in graphic arts and handmade printmaking techniques
  • 03Institutional recognition and professional standing
  • 04Balanced dialogue between traditional and contemporary approaches

ქვეყნები და მხატვრები

Countries · stories & artists

Each delegation brings curatorial narratives, institutional partners, and artists working in works on paper and handmade print.

Republic of Azerbaijan

აზერბაიჯანის რესპუბლიკა

Republic of Azerbaijan

Cultural partner · VarYox

Official cooperation framework for the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Georgia — curatorial selection, institutional support, and full exhibition provision for Silk Road – Imprints in Motion.

Artists & delegation

  • National curator selection

    2–5 artists · works on paper, printmaking, silk printing — embassy & institutional recommendation

Embassy presentation
Republic of Kazakhstan

ყაზახეთის რესპუბლიკა

Republic of Kazakhstan

Curated selection of five Kazakhstani artists for Silk Road – Imprints in Motion — works on paper, printmaking, and mixed media, presented by curators Olya Vesselova and Sanzhar Serikpayev.

Artists & delegation

  • Aizhan Bekkulova

    Aizhan Bekkulova, b. 27.09.1954 in Almaty, is a craftswoman, tapestry artist, and expert on the intangible cultural heritage of Kazakhstan and Central Asia. Sin…

  • Shamil Guliev

    Shamil Guliev is a Kazakh artist based in Almaty known for his detailed, multi-figure paintings that explore Turkic culture, mythology, and the history of the G…

  • Bagdat Sarsen

    Bagdat Sarsen is a Kazakh artist, sculptor, and ceramist, member of the Union of Artists of Kazakhstan and the Union of Artists of Northern Cyprus.

  • Gulbaram Askarova

    Gulbaram Askarova, a graduate of the Aktobe State University named after K. Zhubanov, currently lives in Astana.

  • Bakhtiyar Smagul

    Bakhtiyar Smagul is an Almaty-based artist of the 2020s generation. He works at the intersection of sculpture, installation, and the “archaeology of the present…

Country presentation

პარტნიორობა და სპონსორობა

Partnership & Sponsorship

Institutional and corporate partners support a museum-based platform — not a commercial fair. Packages align with cultural diplomacy, research, and long-term visibility across museum venues and the Beyond Gallery network.

Sponsorship tier

Museum Partner

MOMA Tbilisi · State Museum of Silk · National Museum of Georgia

  • Naming on official catalogue (print & digital) and exhibition signage
  • Recognition across PR, social media, and documentary film credits
  • VIP invitations: private opening, curatorial tours, artists' dinner
  • Institutional dialogue: conference programme and Works on Paper Fair presence
  • Co-branded educational and research outputs with curatorial team
  • Priority placement in international press and embassy communication channels

Sponsorship tier

Gallery & Cultural Partner

Beyond Gallery · Art Caucasus Foundation · regional galleries

  • Brand presence at Works on Paper Fair and satellite exhibition moments
  • Collector-facing programmes: previews, studio visits, acquisition support
  • Artist and curator networking across Silk Road country delegations
  • Social and print campaign inclusion through the full project cycle
  • Opportunity to host satellite talks, pop-up viewings, or partner events
  • Long-term archive visibility within Beyond Gallery digital museum

Shared provisions

  • 01Financial stability for artists through sponsorships and grants — free participation for selected artists
  • 02Full organizer coverage of travel, accommodation, artwork transport, framing, and installation for delegations
  • 03Professional photo documentation and exhibition film distributed to partners and embassies

Nana Kirmelashvili · Founder, Art Caucasus Foundation / BEYOND Gallery
artcaucasus@gmail.com · +995 599 215 396

ქრონოლოგია

Project timeline

  1. 2016 — present

    BEYOND International Hand Print Festival

    Ten-year foundation for the institutional Silk Road programme.

  2. 2026

    Silk Road – Imprints in Motion

    28 November – 2 December 2026 · Tbilisi, Georgia

  3. Venues

    Museum network

    Zurab Tsereteli Museum of Modern Art (MOMA Tbilisi) · State Museum of Silk · National Museum of Georgia

Film

Imprint

  • A visual journey through the making of the Silk Road project and its artistic imprints.
  • Documenting the dialogue between traditional hand-printing and contemporary practice.
  • From studio to exhibition—capturing the spirit of the Silk Road in motion.