The project was the winner of the first Tbilisi Public Art Fund, initiated by Ana Chorgolashvili. In her series, Georgian Ornament, Ketuta Alexi-Meskhishvili delves into the interplay between time and culture and the inevitable transformation of cultural codes. The placement of the series in the upper vestibule of "300 Aragveli" metro station refers to the dominant tendency of synthesising arts in the Georgian architecture of the 60's, which on the other hand was connected with the quest of searching for and reinterpreting the concept of National identity. As a result, her work engages in compelling dialogue with the historical account of "300 Aragveli", transposing it into the context of myth while intricately intertwining it with the reproduction of cultural identity.
The "300 Aragveli" metro station, built in 1967 according to the designs of Tamaz Tevzadze, is one of the best examples of Georgian modernism. The author of the underground vestibule is Giga Ba- tiashvili. Masterly carved copper relief depicting the 300 warriors belongs to Teimuraz (Tengiz) Gigauri in collaboration with Givi Gigauri.’
More information here.
Image Credits: Ketuta Alexi-Meskhishvili, Georgian Ornament, 300 Aragveli Metro Station, Tbilisi, 2023-2024, installation view.