Here is a cake. Another cake. Fat, protein, carbs. Khinkali! Meat! Meat! Meat! Cucumbers! Ribs! And once again – cake. Have a seat. Eat something and enjoy yourself.
The six artists whose works you can see at the present exhibition are connected at the very least by two circumstances – they know the value of a good meal and they all belong to the Totibadze dynasty. The Totibadze clan will surely go down in history as the “Totibadze dynasty” and will feature in school essays. One can easily imagine the kids writing down something as pretentious as the following: “The theme of food is a focal point in the art of all members of the Totibadze dynasty. Indeed, food was an essential part of their life. Perhaps, the painters loved to eat good food.” And, in all honesty, there is some truth to this, though this notion is not the most important thing about the Totibadzes.
There are few things remaining in the world that could bring together different people. The Totibadze family recognizes a single universal unifying element – a feast. Those who are fortunate to know them personally are well-aware that Totibadzes are among the finest hosts of various banquets and dinners with friends. One table is bound to be full of supremely delicious dishes and glasses of wine, while the neighboring table will be reserved for color palettes and brushes. No wonder then that food is the primary subject matter for many of the artists’ paintings: they depict what they know best. The more interesting it is to discover how six different painters present a single theme in six distinct styles.
Text Author – Filipp Dzyadko, journalist, Arzamas Education Project Editor-in-Chief, member of the Totibadze family.
The exhibition presents 30 paintings from five painters known under the surname Totibadze and one painter known under the surname Pasternak. George (Gogi), Konstantin, Irina, Nana, Anton Totibadze, Alexandra Pasternak, and journalist Filipp Dzyadko have united in their support for the traditional Exhibition of Agricultural Achievements at GUM.
The exhibition launches the Parallel Program of the Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art
Curator – Alexandra Lekomtseva
Artists of Maximum Sustenance Level
Georgy Totibadze
Konstantin Totibadze
Irina Totibadze
Anton Totibadze
Nana Totibadze
Alexandra Pasternak
