Exhibition “What a Sunny Dream It Is”

An exhibition of paintings and graphic works by Gigi Keshelava and Neli Kandelaki titled “What a Sunny Dream It Is.”

The exhibition features portraits of writers, landscapes, still lifes, busts, and photographs preserved in the Giorgi Leonidze State Museum of Georgian Literature, as well as in the artists’ family archive. Only a small portion of these works has ever been exhibited before, while most are being presented to the public for the first time.

Originally planned to be held at the Literature Museum, the exhibition was relocated to the Writers’ House due to building renovations. The venue holds historical significance for the artists: in 1958, the Writers’ Union provided a room for Gigi Keshelava and Neli Kandelaki to paint portraits of Galaktion Tabidze from life. These portraits were first exhibited in the same building during the poet’s funeral.

Neli (Eleonora) Kandelaki (1929–2004) and Gigi (Giorgi) Keshelava (1932–1993) made a significant contribution to the development of Georgian visual arts.

Neli Kandelaki graduated from the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts (painting), actively worked as both an artist and educator, and served as director of preparatory courses at the Academy. Her works were regularly featured in exhibitions, and she was awarded the title of Honored Artist of Georgia.

Gigi Keshelava grew up in a unique creative environment — his family lived in the Writers’ House, where his father, writer and public figure Platon Keshelava, worked as administrator. He studied under Tamara Abakelia and later became one of the top students of Vasily Shukhaev and Ucha Japaridze. After graduating, he taught drawing and created a series of portraits of Georgian writers, including Ilia Chavchavadze, Galaktion Tabidze, Levan Gotua, and Konstantine Gamsakhurdia.

Their works are held in major museums across Georgia and in private collections in France, the United States, Cuba, Russia, Armenia, and beyond.

📅 Opening: March 30, 5:00 PM
📍 Writers’ House
🗓 On view until April 14