JEMAL  GUGUNAVA

(Džemal in Czech language, ჯემალ in Georgian language)

was born and bred in Tbilisi – capital of Georgia. He moved to Prague, Czech Republic, in 1992.  Since September 2002 Jemal has been living and working in Bristol, UK

Education:

1967-74 State Academy of Arts, Tbilisi - The faculty of visual arts, design and sculpture (MFA)

Dividing his time between the UK, Czechia, and Georgia, Jemal paints what captures his eye and imagination, with a particular focus on portrait and figurative art. His work explores character, presence, and the subtle emotional narratives of the human form. His favored theme is Déjà vu, in which he investigates psychological phenomena that arise when the present moment unexpectedly resonates with the past, allowing place, memory, and lived experience to subtly inform each image without overt narrative. Although his philosophy of life centers on harmony, purity, deep reflection, beauty, contemplation, restraint, and simplicity, his artistic manner tends toward exaggeration and dramatization rather than mere description. He guides the viewer’s attention to the main subject, avoiding distraction by excessive detail.

Exhibitions:

1969/72/74 - Museum of the State Academy of Arts, Tbilisi, Georgia.
1977 - Solo exhibition. The House of Artists, Tbilisi.
1978-79 - The State Picture Gallery, Tbilisi.
1978 - N. Ostrovski’s museum, Sochi, Russia.
1992/93 - Two Georgian artists’ exhibition, Pegas gallery, Teplice, Czech Republic.
1994 - Family exhibition, National Library, Prague Czech Republic.

2001 - Solo exhibition, Gallery Nora, Prague.

2004 - Clifton Gallery, Bristol, UK.

2003/04/05/06/07 - Art exhibition for Friends of the Royal West Of England Academy, Bristol.

2011 - "The Bridge", Centrespace Gallery, Bristol.

2012 - 2012 Holburne Portrait Prize, Bath, UK

2012 - BP Portrait Award 2012 at the National Portrait Gallery, London (shortlisted)

2014 - Figuratively Speaking, The Grant Bradley Gallery, Bristol

2015 - The Royal Society of Portrait Painters Open Exhibition, Mall Gallery, London (shortlisted)

Publications:

Works in museums:

Museum of the State Academy of Arts, Tbilisi (3 canvases, 1 pencil drawing);
Museum of Modern art, Yerevan, Armenia (1 canvas);
N.Ostrovski’s museum, Sochi, Russia (1 canvas)

Private collections:

Georgia, Russia, USA, Colombia, New Zealand, Israel, Spain, France, Italy, Sweden, Czech Republic, England, Germany etc.

Photograph  © Yuri Mechitov 1990