The Garden of Earthly Delights N1. Painting

Artist Statement Manana Tsilikishvili I started producing creative work actively at the age of forty when I didn’t let life interfere any longer. The first abstract painting impulse came to me in my early childhood, when studying at school in Georgia, former republic of Soviet Union. I remember to be extremely fascinated by the spots of ink spilled out of the ink holder made in Soviet Union. Despite my teacher’s remark, I knew that my damaged paper with spilled ink all over it was more important and fun than required discipline. There was always a sense of protest in me against Soviet art and society, which brought me to the land of freedom at the end. I never enjoyed cooking in the kitchen but I am a gourmand of colors. I think like a cook while painting. I make sure that colorful ingredients selected with my taste make a delicious, spicy and juicy work not just for me but for you as well. I was greatly influenced by the free spirit of American art. I was able to convey after communing with this spirit that, which I didn’t think was possible to express before. Closer I got to painting, more I was realizing my talent of expressing my pains, protest and beauty. My painting isn’t just fed by abstract styles, rather personal tragedies, being away from my daughter for years, happiness and various experiences. My experience of life isn’t reflected realistically in me. Thus, I depict in abstract way. Today, I am working on forming my visual language. My experiences and taste help me in this. My painting is poetic freedom for me. I can transform colors into Black Sea and make sky as wet as a sea. I can call all of this a Black Sea War.