Gyumri Biennale, Yerevan; Soros exhibition space, Tbilisi, 2012

The project “Translation” is an artistic research on cultural heritage. Starting with a visit to Matenadaran-Mesrop-MashtotsInstitute of Ancient Manuscripts, Nino Sekhniashvili collaborated with Armen Saaking, the head of the pigment research laboratory and made copies of miniatures with pencil and ink prepared following old recipes, out of collected minerals. The second part of the project took place at the National Center of Manuscripts in Tbilisi, Georgia. The process of making copies of the old miniatures by a contemporary artist can be perceived as a translation. When tracing an image it is possible to sense the artist who made it, to obey him without repeating him. By setting the scenes in a contemporary surrounding it is possible to liberate them from their historical context and view, though presenting the pictures to the public as documents.

Lali Pertenava