From May 19 to 29, Bonhams — one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious auction houses — is hosting an exclusive sale dedicated entirely to Georgian art. For the first time in history, a leading international auction house is presenting Georgian art as an independent category — a significant shift from the past, when it was typically grouped under Russian sections at major auctions.
This first-ever auction dedicated to Georgian art also marks a significant milestone: Gallery Fotoatelier (Tbilisi, Georgia) — one of the selected galleries participating in the Bonhams auction in London — is presenting a Georgian photographer. It is the first time a Georgian photo gallery has showcased local photographers at an international auction of this scale.
At Bonhams, Fotoatelier is exhibiting two powerful photographic series, both of which explore memory, myth, and the unseen forces that shape photographic storytelling. One series, by Giorgi Shengelia, is an intimate reflection on loss and recovery; the other, captured by Elena Karusaar, offers a rare, fairytale-like behind-the-scenes look at legendary filmmaker Sergo Parajanov’s closing sinematic work.
Giorgi Shengelia’s Accidental Portraits (2020)
This series began with a fire that destroyed Shengelia’s family photo archive. Only scorched fragments remained — damaged corners, faded faces, and a few half-intact images. From this loss, Shengelia created a new body of work that doesn’t rely on nostalgia, yet carries deep emotional resonance.
“The small nostalgic photos inspired me to work on a new genre that would give me the same feelings as the ones that survived the fire. I try to recreate this mood in the accidental portraits I see every day,” reflects Giorgi Shengelia.
Developed under red light in the darkroom, these photographs feel more like impressions than documents — unresolved, haunting, and deeply personal. Alongside the series, Shengelia presents a standalone work, Untitled Sheets, which exists outside of any defined narrative.
Elena Karusaar: Framing the Mythic World of Parajanov
Elena Karusaar’s photographs offer a rare and intimate perspective. Taken during the production of Ashik-Kerib (1987) — one of the final films by Dodo Abashidze and the legendary Sergei Parajanov — they move beyond the realm of traditional film stills. Her images capture the visual opulence of Parajanov’s cinematic world: elaborate costumes, sumptuous textures, and the symbolic compositions that are central to his artistry.
Karusaar’s lens lingers not only on the director and actors, but also on the objects, gestures, and quiet, in-between moments that blur the line between fantasy and reality. Her work reveals the material poetry at the core of Parajanov’s singular vision.
By presenting these two series together, Gallery Fotoatelier highlights the diverse ways photography can preserve, reshape, and reimagine stories at risk of being forgotten—one through personal reconstruction, the other through historical memory.
The Bonhams auction is now live — Georgian Art Now runs from May 19 to 29, presenting a dedicated selection of contemporary Georgian artists. View the full auction here: https://www.bonhams.com/auction/31458/georgian-art-now/
