EL ÁRBOL DEL MUNDO – 24th Bienal de Arte Paiz

The 24th Bienal de Arte Paiz in Guatemala City is dedicated to the theme of 'The World Tree.'
Among the participating artists are Igor Grubić and Alevtina Kakhidze, both of whom are represented in the Art Collection Telekom.

The curator, Eugenio Viola, stated: "Today, the metaphor of 'The World Tree' stands as a universal symbol of our interconnection across cultures, times, and spaces. Drawing inspiration from ancestral cosmogonies, this symbol transcends traditional boundaries by illustrating how the spiritual, material, individual, and collective realms intertwine within our shared human experience. The trunk, branches, and leaves of the tree reflect our diverse histories, contemporary challenges, and aspirations. Its roots evoke the rhizomatic structure of the network. This connection between the earthly and the ethereal creates a dynamic flow of information and ideas, reflecting the cyclical nature of existence. Similar to the world tree, contemporary art has the unique capacity to connect distinct aspects of human experience. It can build bridges between past and present, the spiritual and the material, myth and reality, and individual and collective dimensions. Today's world is affected by wars and an alarming rise in intolerance at all levels: ethnic, social, cultural, political, religious, and gender-based. 'The World Tree' symbolizes the transformative potential of contemporary art to foster understanding, celebrate diversity, and inspire change. It creates bridges that unite rather than walls that divide, and represents a call to action to promote unity and inclusion."