It’s a story of two generations, and a link between Delaware County and the eastern European country of Georgia.
“Inheritance: The Renaissance of a Vision,” which opened Jan. 14 runs through Feb. 12 at the Media Arts Council Gallery, 609-B W. State St., Media, features works by Delco artist Matiko Mamaladze and her grandfather, Ioram Mamaladze.
“I’ve been meaning to do this for 30 years or maybe more. This is the first time I’ve shared his work,” said Matiko Mamaladze who is the same age that her grandfather was when he passed away in 1966.
“As they say, the 50s are an artist’s golden years … I understand how young he was, and that at his age his career was merely at the verge of blossoming,” Mamaladze said in the “Inheritance” exhibition artist statement.
Ioram Mamaladze was a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Georgia’s capitol city of Tbilisi, where he taught drawing, perspective, watercolor and oil painting courses, and participated in group art shows. According to Mamaladze, his paintings are in permanent collections in different museums in Georgia, as well as private collections in Russia.
While researching her grandfather’s career, she discovered that in the classroom, “he compared food to painting. Georgians like to eat and drink.”
Ioram died when Matiko was just 2 years old, but she discovered that they attended the same arts academy in Georgia. She felt such a bond with him that she took to using his old paints and supplies and reading his books on art technique. “As I work in my studio, I feel his presence,” Mamaladze said.
However, the show will reveal a difference in their techniques. Ioram’s favorite subjects were nature, portraits and historic scenes; Matiko’s is people and romance. She also noted that her colors are “way brighter.”
From the exhibition artist statement: ” I carefully chose the title ‘Inheritance’ for this show because he left behind all of his precious art to me and our family. I feel as though I’m living his dream by carrying on his legacy and the talent that I inherited from him. Often times when I paint, I have a silent conversation with him about my brush strokes, perspective or color choices.”
