Ubani — Tbilisi Cityscape Research Center and TBC Concept Gallery invite you to the exhibition Tbilisi — Risingland.

The exhibition Tbilisi — Risingland presents the outcomes of a three-weeks seminar focused on critical representations of the geological intimacy of Tbilisi through the creation of three-dimensional hand-made models. 

The seminar was held in September 2025 as part of Tbilisi Cityscape Research Center Ubani’s educational program and was led by Italian architect and theorist Renato Rizzi, together with his assistants Susanna Pisciella, Giorgia Antonioli, and David Brodsky. The seminar involved around 100 participants — both local and international students and young professionals. 

The project is supported, co-organized, and hosted by TBC Concept Gallery.

Renato Rizzi's seminar program is based on his own methodologies of practical and theoretical research in which the model is not simply a scaled-down representation at the end of the architectural process, but instead serves as the project's most critical instrument, dealing not with what is already visible, but with the not-yet, no-longer visible in landscape, its interiority. 

This methodology, oriented towards capturing the ideal dimension of reality, requires a forced reversal of the gaze that shifts away from a rigid, zenithal regime, and brings the landscape back to a vital condition that recenters the territory’s subjectivity.

He has practiced this method for years at the I.U.A.V - University of Architecture in Venice, and has conducted similar seminars in cities around the world: Venice, Italy; Santiago, Chile; Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico; Lampedusa Island, Italy; and many others.

The exhibition showcases handmade works created during the seminar, an orthogonal model of Tbilisi with increased verticalities that create an intensified perspective, a model of Metekhi Cliff that explores the interiority of the city’s elevations, silicone negatives, photographs, and two panels: one panel features isometric images of Tbilisi, while the other displays each of the full-page spreads from L’Ottava Vita (per Brilka), a book by Nino Haratischvili. This pairing connects to the project’s core theme: a dialogue between architecture and literature that both emerge from the same historical and geological landscape.     

Project Author: Renato Rizzi

Project Curators: Renato Rizzi, Susanna Pisciella, Giorgia Antonioli, and David Brodsky

In dialogue with 

L’Ottava Vita (per Brilka), Nino Haratischwili, 

Marsilio 2020

Photographer: Grigory Sokolinsky Video: Shio Khidasheli and Tato Kotetishvili 

The project is organized by Ubani — Tbilisi Cityscape Research Center, in collaboration with TBC Concept Gallery.

Exhibition Details

Exhibition opening: Saturday, 28th February, 17:00

Talk by Renato Rizzi: Saturday, 28th February, 19:00For registration, please, follow the link: https://www.conceptevents.ge/ 

*Seats are limited

Exhibition duration: February 28th to April 24th, 2026

Venue: TBC Concept Flagship – Marjanishvili 7

Opening hours: Every day (except Sunday), 10:00–20:00 

Ubani team: David Brodsky, Ana Chorgolashvili, Natalia Tatunashvili, Nino Kevlishvili, Nino Bugadze, Natia Katamadze

Bella Abzianidze; Nana Dautashvili; Otar Galdava; Mariami Giorgadze; Mariam Japaridze; Giorgi Kipiani; Sophio Kitiashvili; Aleksandra Metskovrishvili; Zurab Mikaberidze; Tado Murusidze; Irina Naljiani; Luka Shavadze; Elene Wagenseil; Zurab Zaridze

Wooden structures by: Kao Furniture, Aleksandr Aleksandrov, Nikita Vagin 

Language and Style Editing: Ben Wheleer

Nika Cagareishvili; Taras Chepikov; Ani Gogoladze; Vazha Japharidze; Megi Lelashvili; Nini Macharashvili; Nanuka Mardaleishvili; Gvanca Modebadze; Ilia Osiashvili; Alina Pogorianskaya; Nikoloz Romelashvili

Nino Abashvili; Ani Abramishvili; Husam Abu Ghaida; Ani Abuashvili; Bella Abzianidze; Mariam Antadze; Veronika Arakeliani; Mariam Batsikadze; Ana Bazerashvili; Dea Bechvaia; Lizi Begishvili; Daniel Benia; Elene Berikashvili; Ketevan Bolkvadze; Kesaria Chechelashvili; Salome Chologauri; Guram Chubinidze; Mari Churghulashvili; Nana Dautashvili; Medea Dikhaminjia; Ana Dolidze; Sopiko Gachechiladze; Otar Galdava; Elizabeth Gaprindashvili; Nino Gegetchkori; Nia Ghadaladze; Mariami Giorgadze; Ketevan Giorgobiani; Luka Giunashvili; Ana Gogichaishvili; Alina Kazariani; Kato Karselishvili; Tsiuri Kerdikoshvili; Giorgi Khalichashvili; Elene Kharaidze; Vika Khetsuriani; Nino Khutsishvili; Giorgi Kipiani; Sopio Kitiashvili; Nikoloz Kobakhidze; Mariam Kobuladze; Ekaterine Kochladze; Ketevan Kukhilava; Andria Kurtskhalia; Mariam Kvaratskhelia; Nino Kvaratskhelia; Megi Kvirkvelia; Marine Iluridze; Ana Jaoshvili; Mariam Japaridze; Lizi Lolashvili; Meri Lomidze; Nino Maludze; Neli Mekvabidze; Aleksandra Metskovrishvili; Zurab Mikaberidze; Liza Miminoshvili; Nino Mshvidobadze; Tado Murusidze; Lekso Musashvili; Lolita Nadirashvili; Zani Nakashashvili; Irina Naljiani; Anna Maria Nemsiashvili; Giorgi Otiashvili; Ana Papiashvili; Ani Reikhanovi; Mariam Rekhviashvili; Saba Salakaia; Elena Samchenko; Tekla Sandodze; Saba Santeladze; Luka Shavadze; Mariam Sheklashvili; Ana Sturua; Mari Tsamalashvili; Nino Tsenteradze; Ana Tsereteli; Lyana Torua; Shota Turava; Marta Tvildiani; Elene Wagenseil; Nino Zakutashvili; Zura Zaridze; Mari Zedelashvili

TBC Concept Gallery

Embassy of Italy in Georgia; Kinos Hub; Gravita; ibis Budget Tbilisi Center

IUAV University of Venice; Apollon Kutateladze Tbilisi State Academy of Arts; Ilia State University (IIiauni B.Arch)

A special thank you to Marsilio Editori (Italian publishing house), VA[A]DS Free University of Tbilisi, Jesse Vogler, and Malkhaz Lekveishvili

Architect, theorist, and educator based in Venice, Italy. He is a full professor of architectural design at IUAV University of Venice and a member of the Accademia Nazionale di San Luca in Rome. In 2018, he received the Italian Republic Award. Rizzi has taught at multiple prestigious institutions, including Harvard.

His notable projects include the Great Egyptian Museum, the MOMA Museum of Warsaw, and the John Paul II Centre in Krakow. Among his significant completed works are the Gdansk Shakespearean Theatre (2005–2014), Area Sportiva Ghiaie (1984-1998), Museo del Futurismo (1992-2008), and Casa del Libri Barbarigo (2020-2023).

Rizzi has also authored several important publications, including Solemnidad de la Civilidad and Il Daìmon di Architettura.

Ubani — Tbilisi Cityscape Research Center is a non-profit organisation with the mission of gathering and presenting knowledge about Tbilisi’s landscape, architecture, and urban environment. 

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TBC Concept Gallery presents exhibitions of contemporary art in Tbilisi, Georgia. It is located in a former Central Department Store, one of the Modern-style buildings built in the 1910s on Marjanishvili Street. Alongside its exhibition projects a special focus is on educational programs, featuring guided tours by curators, lectures, talks, film screenings, readings, panel discussions and workshops, held under the umbrella of TBC Concept.

The Embassy of Italy in Georgia, in collaboration with the ICE Agency, annually hosts Italian Design Day in Georgia — a series of events organized by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. It aims to promote Italian design and raise awareness about its characteristics among the Georgian public. This year’s theme Re Design, is dedicated to the renewal of spaces, objects, ideas, and relationships. The joint exhibition Tbilisi — Risingland by Ubani and TBC Concept Gallery is associated with this initiative.