The Georgian Embassy in South Korea helped bring 50 works of art by Georgian-born artist Alexander Antadze for a series of exhibitions around the country through February next year.

In partnership with local art dealer Gallery SUN Contemporary, the artwork will be on display at a number of venues around the country, including one in Gwangju, and one in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province.

Georgian Ambassador to South Korea Nikoloz Apkhazava played an important role in helping to bring Antadze’s collection to the local art gallery-going public by promoting the artist through the media, supporting the shipping of the artwork and giving additional technical assistance for the traveling exhibition.

Born in Tbilisi, Georgia, the 41-year-old Antadze graduated from Tbilisi State Academy of Arts in 1996. He is an architect and an artist, and currently resides in Geneva, Switzerland.

Antadze’s exhibition here, “The Smile Village,” focuses on overcoming his native country’s often troubling history by tapping into a fun and playful artistic spirit. But in addition to images of wily and playful animals, Antadze’s works can sometimes also feature nostalgic images of home.

Gallery SUN hosted an inaugural exhibition of Antadze’s paintings earlier this year in Seoul before the works departed for a tour of cities around the country.

(ephilip2011@heraldcorp.com)