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Finally, back through the wooden archways of the gallery, in its own nook in front of a mustard-yellow wall, Tamara Kvesitadze’s Man and Woman cycles through the kinetic movement of two figures on a pre-determined path, a masculine and a feminine form, who briefly meet and join as one. Composed of multiple metal cut cross-sections, Man and Woman is a never-ending story of love and separation, of joy and sadness, of pleasure and suffering. Fragmented, broken figures move in the beauty of their emotional struggles, and this circuit of life is powerfully felt and appreciated in the moment that the two sculptures align, momentarily embrace, only to separate again. The cyclical nature of Kvesitadze’s kinetic sculpture conjures images of pinnacle change, such as birth, love, and separation.

Does this sculpture feel familiar? Standing at eight-meters high, Kvesitadze’s original version of Man and Woman (2007) was later renamed Ali and Nino in 2010 when it was installed adjacent to the Black Sea shoreline of Batumi, Georgia. The renaming was inspired by author Kurban Said’s “Ali and Nino,” a 1937 novel about a doomed romance between a young Muslim Azerbaijani man and a Christian Georgian young woman living in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, set in 1918 through 1920. In the story, the couple’s romance was torn apart by the Soviet invasion of Azerbaijan in 1920. By clicking on the link below on your device, you will find a video of the full-sized Ali and Nino in motion.

Link to Video of Full-Sized

As a sculptor, painter, and architect, Kvesitadze uses art, engineering, and construction to explore movement, which stems from her interest in Greek philosopher Heraclitus’ belief that all things are constantly in motion. Through her kinetic sculptures, Kvesitadze explores the contrast between the warmth of flesh and coolness of metal, the organic and mechanical, and the cycle of rebirth. As one of the most well-known Georgian artists, she represented her country at the 54^th Venice Biennale in 2011, where her kinetic sculptures instantly heralded her as an artist of high note.

Like the cyclical nature of  Kvesitadze’s sculpture, the expressions and concepts showcased throughout this exhibition reveal endings, continued existence, and new beginnings in our shared humanity. We have considered the power of beauty and identity, the simplicity of daily life, and the complexities of collective change, and together, these works give challenge to our conventional understandings of the essence of spring, offering space for new narratives to bloom. Thank you for visiting In Bloom at Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art. Please spend your time exploring the floral corridor on your exit, and feel free to tag @Bellagio and @tiaartcollection on your social media posts, we appreciate the mentions. We look forward to welcoming you back for many seasons.