Visiting an event by the Japanese Embassy in Tbilisi was one of my first adventures in Georgia. The mutual fascination shared between those great islands in the Pacific and this small country in the Caucasus wowed me. The 3,9 million people of Georgia don’t even represent half of the population of Japan’s capital Tokyo.
Yet, Georgians are impressed by Japanese art and culture. Although the danger of objectification exists for both sides equally, caution can be taken and cultural exchange is ample. This extends to the new doll exhibition at the Sighnaghi Museum in Sighnaghi, Kakheti.
While I remain dazzled that a Japanese doll exhibition is being held in Sighnaghi and not in Tbilisi, where the audience is much bigger, I am enchanted by the idea of equipping a small town with great art to mitigate the effects cultural hotspots.
Until the end of May, tourists in the romantic "City of Love," Sighnaghi can complement their wine tastings with a stroll through the museum. The exposition showcases traditional Japanese dolls, such as Hina Ningyo (girls' festival doll) and Gogatsu Ningyo (boys' festival doll). They originate from ancient Japanese traditions and customs that demonstrate the beauty and peculiarities of this special art.
The exhibition also presents dolls from traditional forms of Japanese theater, such as No, Bunraku and Kabuki. Contemporary artists also find their space in the exhibition as dolls from various regions in Japan are exhibited besides the more traditional ones.
Not to everyone's taste, the sight of these dolls will remind some of the latest horror movie they’ve watched; yet the beauty still trumps the oddness of the immobile faces.
Japanese art may not have been the first thought crossing your mind when sitting in your living room planning a trip to Georgia, but sometimes unexpected surprises pepper up some travel plans with the right amount of spice to guarantee you'll remember it for years to come. Take your chance and visit the Sighnaghi Museum to experience Japanese history.
Sighnaghi Museum, Shota Rustaveli blind-alley, Sighnaghi, Georgia
Duration: April 21- May 31
TEL: (+995) 223 24 48
OPEN: Tuesday-Sunday, 10 AM - 5.30 PM
By Benjamin Music