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Giorgi Khaniashvili, Braids of Time
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Tbilisi Public Art Fund is pleased to invite you to the winning proposal Giorgi Khaniashvili, ‘Braids of Time’, curator Irena Popiashvili for the open call ‘Promotion of Permanent Projects in Public Spaces, Tbilisi, Saarbrücken square’.
Giorgi Khanashvili's sculpture, titled 'Braids of Time,' stands at nearly 3 meters in height and is crafted from a single monolith of yellow tuff stone. The sculpture's body is enveloped in intricately braided hair, which gradually transforms into roots as it descends towards the ground. The thick braid, akin to a backbone, converges into a head that draws inspiration from both Greek Antiquity and the angelic faces found in Christian Orthodox frescoes.
The artistic narrative of this sculpture delves into our connection with ancient cultures, starting with the myth of the Argonauts, particularly through the embodiment of Medea.Subsequently, the influence of Hellenistic culture is intertwined with the emergence of Christianity, symbolized by the braided hair of a young woman. These braids, serving as vine-like ornaments, not only adorn stone facades but also symbolize the cultural tapestry in which our society exists. Giorgi Khanashvili's sculpture serves as a manifestation of these dialectical interactions, culminating in a hybrid form where the features of the ancient face and Hellenistic hair gradually meld, and as it descends towards the feet, transforms into roots.
About the artist:
Giorgi Khaniashvili studied painting at the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts. He is most known for his woodcut reliefs and sculptures, later he added clay, metal and concrete as a material. Theme of transformation is a prevalent storytelling line in his work: man transforming into a dog, yogi becoming a fly or magician playing tricks on camel hump. Khaniashvili is an exponent of the contemporary visual culture of “anything goes,” blending myriad images and influences. His artwork has been exhibited in numerous exhibitions, including Kunsthalle Tbilisi, Ljubljina Biennale of Graphic Arts, at the D. Shevardnadze National Gallery (Tbilisi), The Georgian National Film Studio and Popiashvili Gvaberidze Window Project.
