Tamar was the 12th-century queen of Georgia, a legendary figure who led the country to the peak of its golden age, modernizing the political system and introducing elements of civil rights and the rule of law. When I, a German photographer from Kiel in northern Germany, first came to Georgia, I had no idea what to expect.
I was introduced to Georgia in 2010 by the artist Giorgi Tabliashvili, we met outside a museum show in Italy, where we were both exhibiting. The following year, I was invited to take part in a group exhibition in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. When I arrived, I was immediately fascinated, and I began to listen and learn.
I still do, as well as show and tell—sometimes my own work, sometimes in collaboration with Georgian friends and colleagues, who know so much more than I will ever be able to understand.
And so, just as the fate of Queen Tamar’s mortal remains is a mystery, Sakartvelo remains a journey.
More about my work: https://www.andreasok.com/