An exhibition organized by CENN and GOPA Intec emphasized environmental impacts on climate change through various art mediums, while also sharing the memory of the late founder, Nana Janashia.
Working across the South Caucasus, CENN is an NGO that first started as a project, known as the Caucasus Environmental NGO Network. Since the late 90s it has grown into a large organization that works with communities, governments, and businesses to create healthy environments. Communication Specialist Magda Tsertsvadze said the exhibition, ‘Landscape Tells a Story’ was a part of CENN’s and GOPA Intec’s joint Information and Awareness-Raising Campaign on Energy Efficiency in Tbilisi, supported by the European Union.
“The idea was to communicate with the general public through different mediums of art, which showcases energy, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and their importance in climate change,” said Tsertsvadze.
‘Landscape Tells a Story’ was held in ArtArea on June 25 and lasted nearly a week, until June 30. There were more than 20 pieces of artwork on display from 11 Georgian artists. The works of art not only comprised of paintings, but installations, illustrations, videos, sculptures, and more.
There was an open call for artists, regardless of experience, and Tsertsvadze said the ones who were selected were provided financial support to develop their pieces. A jury made up of people from CENN, Gopa Intec, a German energy consulting company, and an EU Delegation representative, selected the candidates based on certain criteria. Afterwards, the curator of the event, Khatuna Khabuliani, a PhD art historian, worked with the individuals to ensure all pieces represented the same concept.
The opening night, June 25, was celebrated with drinks and light refreshments, as it was also the birthday of the late founder, Nana Janashia. The exhibition was dedicated to her, partly because of her love for art. Her husband and now Executive Director, Laurent G. Nicole, says he started buying art at a young age, and his hobby rubbed off on his wife.
“When I met Nana, I immediately took her into this circle, and she started to quickly enjoy it,” Nicole tells GEORGIA TODAY. “So much so that, whenever there was an art exhibition, we were invited, because people knew we were buying.”
The couple accumulated so many paintings over the years that they quite literally ran out of walls. Nicole says all three CENN offices and their house are decorated with art pieces from floor to ceiling. However, they are not random pieces of artwork; rather, each of them has a story linked to it. Nicole explains how Nana became known in the art scene as someone who wanted to support the next generation in achieving something.
Indeed, Nana Janashia was the initiator and spirit of CENN, the person who led all the projects. Nicole tells us that when she first started the organization, she wanted to use the environment for peacebuilding, “a bridge, so to speak, that would bring people together. Nicole said they originally had offices in Azerbaijan and Armenia, but over the years it became too difficult, so instead they formed partnerships in the two countries.”
In an effort to unite the Caucasus countries, CENN is launching various projects to promote harmonious coexistence. Nicole says the organization’s fundamentals always go back to creating communication among people, regardless of where they come from. He explains that the organization already works on bringing together children in their Green Centers from Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia, so they see it is possible to live together. One such future initiative involves establishing Geoparks, which will aim to foster regional unity through environmental collaboration.
Nicole says he believes CENN has survived for as long as it has because it was fair and committed to its work, always seeking improvement and creating a just, equal environment. When it comes to Janashia, Nicole said she was able to talk to anyone, be they politician or a child walking the streets.
“She was just brilliant, and she had charisma; was able to engage everybody. She had friends all around the world for that,” says Nicole, “Whenever she was in a group, she was leading, not because she wanted to be the boss, but because something had to move, and she was moving.”
The Information and Awareness-Raising Campaign on Energy Efficiency in Tbilisi has come to an end having spent two years on various projects. The exhibition was organized by Gopa Intec and CENN, in partnership with EU-funded projects, ‘Georgian Energy Sector Reform Project (GESRP)’ and ‘Georgia Climate Action Project (GEO-CAP).’ The project was supported by the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia. Participants in the exhibition included: Teo Burki, David Kukhalashvili, Shota Imerlishvili, Mariam Saknelashvili, Maka Kiladze, Gvantsa Panchulidze, Diego Mikava, Mariam Turabelidze, Ketevan Gamdlishvili, Elene Guramishvili, and Nika Momtselidze.
By Shelbi R. Ankiewicz
