The project "Mothers Lessons" (curated by Ekaterina Bokiy) is both a personal and local exploration of the phenomenon of femininity, female labor, and maternal experience through visual codes such as domestic textiles. The aim of this research is to create an installation that examines the connection with the artist's mother, as well as with the mothers-hostesses of the exhibition space — a Georgian courtyard and the symbol of Mother Georgia, where the artist has lived for six years.
The project seeks to create a visual array of symbols and motifs that culturally associate with female labor, conveying a sense of celebration of feminine strength, while not aligning with the traditional notions of feminism in society.
Ekaterina was inspired by the courtyard of the Georgian country house she moved to, as well as by its hostesses — a mother and daughter raising four children without men. The perfectly washed laundry hung out daily and the post-Soviet atmosphere evoked memories of her childhood when her single mother worked for hours bent over a sewing machine. The diligence and warmth of female labor have surrounded us since early childhood, and we have come to take it for granted, rendering this labor almost invisible. The artist aims to celebrate soft feminine strength, drawing inspiration from Georgian femininity, which is filled with honor, dignity, and hospitality.
The symbol of the Mother Georgia monument is also included in Ekaterina's visual array, as her six years of living in this country have taught her much.
The three-meter collages consist of thin vintage fabrics and domestic textiles found in local second-hand stores. They are hung in rows under the grapevines, creating a layered composition of floral motifs and symbols of femininity, reflecting various aspects of a woman's life: simplicity and complexity, purity and sinfulness, intimate boudoir and social settings.
For the artist, the exhibition space — a Georgian courtyard with grapevines, blooming roses, and a large table for guests — is a vital part of the installation. It is here that most women spend a significant part of their lives, and the courtyard becomes a space where we come closer to the most personal aspects. The viewer is a guest here. After the opening, the artist hosted a lunch for all visitors.
