Mamuka Dideba Urban Allusions 2 - 14 September 2024

 

Mamuka Dideba Urban Allusions 2 - 14 September 2024 Private View: Tuesday 3 September, 6 - 9 pm Katrine Levin Galleries at Marie Jose Gallery 16 Victoria Grove | South Kensington | W8 5RW   RSVP With Urban Allusions Georgian artist Mamuka Dideba takes viewers on a metaphorical journey that is loosely based on Italo Calvino's 1972 novel 'Invisible Cities'.  While Dideba's abstract paintings depict magical cities as an interplay of light and colour, subtly changing tones and evocative shapes, his portrait paintings present the cities’ quirky inhabitants who seem to exist outside of time, their exaggerated forms suggestive of their character and profession. Where Calvino uses language to contemplate on the nature of human civilisation through poetic conversations, Mamuka Dideba conjures visual dialogues between past memories and future aspirations. Painting in an elaborate Renaissance technique, the influence of the Old Masters on his practice is unmistakable. He has been dubbed Georgia's Brueghel for his humorous critique of human behaviour and deviation from realistic proportions. Urban Allusions is the artist's first solo exhibition in London since 2019. “My chief goal is to transform the mundane and the realistic into something special and elevated.” Mamuka Dideba

Mamuka Dideba (b. 1968, Tbilisi, Georgia) is a master of figurative and abstract. A graduate of the Tbilisi State Art Academy and widely exhibited in Georgia and abroad, he is recognised for his contribution to contemporary Georgian culture.  His art is a unique expression of the wonder, subtle humour, and the often surreal and warm philosophical outlook that is quintessential of the wondrous country of Georgia where he lives and works. With cosmopolitan roots spanning London, New York, Moscow and Zurich, Katrine Levin Galleries is not a place, but a destination for the discovery of extraordinary contemporary art from places less explored. Showcasing a select few extraordinary artists to ensure a deep and meaningful representation of their work and heritage​, Katrine Levin curates art of enduring value from unique cultures, delving into the stories and inspirations behind each masterpiece.  Prior to receiving a Master's in art history, Katrine Levin practiced intellectual property law in New York and London.