Tapestry in six paintings 

Editor: Here we have "Tapestry in Six Paintings" by Niko Pirosmani, held at the Art Museum of Georgia. It's mixed media on what looks like oilcloth – a really interesting choice. I'm struck by how it depicts scenes so simply yet feels quite epic, almost like looking at a play set. What catches your eye? Curator: "Epic play set" – I love that. It’s interesting you see that right away. For me, it is like peering into fragmented memories or dreams, isn't it? Each scene almost childlike in its directness, yet so full of… yearning, maybe. Think about Pirosmani's life – self-taught, impoverished, and creating works largely for taverns and shops. Editor: So this almost…folk-art rawness, this sort of directness, was born from his environment? Curator: Exactly. This tapestry, presented in six parts, shows his grasp of space and narrative in such an elegant way. Look at how each painting contains layers, and movement despite being on a flat picture plane. Almost all roads or paths leads the viewer upwards and backwards to the unknown horizon. Do you feel transported or do you think there’s also an element of constraint? Editor: I definitely get a sense of freedom! The landscapes are so vast, so unbounded, that there’s always an opportunity to escape. Each section is just such a unique vista; a separate adventure! It's interesting how much personality seeps out of this composition. Curator: That freedom intertwined with Pirosmani’s reality. Maybe the painting expresses more of an emotional need of the artist rather than an artistic view. Don’t we all just crave a great wide yonder! Editor: Right, a painting from the soul! Curator: Exactly! Food for thought.