From Colonial Margins to National Center: The Art History of Medieval Georgia in the 20th Century
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| Year of publication | 2024 |
| Type | Requested lectures |
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| Description | The art and architecture of medieval Georgia, characterized by rich forms, meanings, and profound cultural syncretism, have often found themselves on the fringes of the Eurocentric art historical canon, if present at all. This lecture aims to explore the progressive historiographic construction of two main, and at times contradictory, perspectives that have influenced the limited knowledge art historians worldwide possess about Georgian medieval art. Firstly, we will briefly examine the dominant Russian narrative, which depicts the art of the South Caucasus as a byproduct of a geographically and culturally peripheral zone, marked by assimilation and imitation of Byzantium. This narrative unmistakably reflects Georgia’s political subordination within the Soviet Union and the inherited historical and cultural marginalization from the Russian Empire. Secondly, we will delve into the establishment of art history as a scientific discipline in 1920s Georgia, scrutinizing its methodological and ideological frameworks, as well as its pivotal role in shaping ethnic and national identity. By exploring these perspectives, this lecture aims to illuminate the intricate interplay between art historical representation, geopolitical dynamics, and the construction of cultural identity, prompting a reassessment of Georgian medieval art’s place within the broader narrative of art history. |
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