The Tsinandali Estate is back at the heart of Georgian culture with a brand-new exhibition, entitled “Fragments of Memory”, showcasing the work of legendary Georgian-born film-maker Sergei Parajanov and the artist and set designer Georgi Aleksi-Meskhishvili.
On 7th May, a launch event was held for the joint exhibition in the stunning interiors and gardens of the Tsinandali House-Museum, formerly the home of Prince Alexander Chavchavadze. The exhibition, which incorporates artworks and video installations, was accompanied by a performance artwork by multimedia artist Uta Bekaia, making use of costumes from Parajanov’s films designed by Aleksi-Meskhishvili.
The exhibition was conceptualised and curated by Mariam Kakabadze, a relative of the great Georgian artist David Kakabadze and a friend of the late Parajanov, taking inspiration from the avant-garde, ‘collage’ quality of Parajanov’s work.
“It was an interesting experiment, so to speak, to turn it into a project,” said Mariam Kakabadze, curator of the exhibition. “Parajanov was a close friend of my family and remains an essential part of Tbilisi’s culture. But Tsinandali was always the centre of culture in Georgia and we wanted to contribute to this continuing history. My hope is that lots of people, particularly young people, visit the exhibition and get interested and inspired by Parajanov.”
“The performance is an homage to Sergei Parajanov,” said Bekaia, whose performance installation dazzled attendees at the Tsinandali Estate. “We are so lucky to be able to watch and be inspired by his films and his life’s work. Mariam’s idea was to pay tribute to the collage-effect of Parajanov’s movies, with a mixed media exhibition.”
Georgi Alexi-Meskhishvili thanked guests for their attendance at the launch event and hailed Tsinandali as a “wonderful place.” George Ramishvili, Founder and Chairman of Silk Road Group, was also in attendance.
Silk Road Group has led the restoration of the Tsinandali Estate, returning it to its former glory as a national and regional hub of arts and culture. In September 2021, the Tsinandali Festival, an international festival of classical music, will return to the estate for its third edition.