Tea Silagadze

You began painting quite recently, in 2020. What inner impulse first led you to create art during the pandemic?

I started painting during the pandemic—a time when the whole world suddenly stopped and silence filled the air. For me, that silence became an inner call. I felt an overwhelming need to express emotions that had no words: fear, hope, transformation. Picking up the brush wasn’t a planned decision; it was a natural response to life itself. Art became my way of breathing in uncertain times.

How did your creative process evolve from your first paintings to the large-scale, symbol-rich canvases you create today?

At first, I painted purely by intuition, without preparation or a clear concept. Over time, my process grew more layered and symbolic. I began researching myths, personal memories, and social themes, weaving them into complex compositions. My canvases became larger because I needed more space to fully express ideas—almost like entering another dimension where symbols, colors, and emotions coexist.

Tea Silagadze | Awakening Light | 2022

As a self-taught artist, what advantages and challenges has this brought to your practice?

Being self-taught has given me freedom. I’ve never felt bound by academic rules or traditional approaches, so I could explore in my own way, guided only by intuition. Of course, there were challenges—technical hurdles, learning through mistakes, and moments of doubt. But this independence ultimately shaped my authentic voice. My art is truly mine, unfiltered.

Mythology and transformation are central to your work. Which specific myths or legends inspire you most, and why?

I’m deeply inspired by Georgian myths, especially those connected with mountains, heroes, and transformation. The legend of Mount Khvamli fascinates me—it’s said to be a mystical place where divine treasures and secrets are hidden. I also draw from universal myths of metamorphosis, such as the Phoenix rising from ashes. These stories resonate with me because they reflect cycles of destruction and rebirth, both collective and personal.

Tea Silagadze | Awakening Light | 2022

Many of your paintings portray metamorphosis and rebirth. How do these ideas reflect your own life experiences?

Metamorphosis for me isn’t just a theme; it’s a lived reality. I’ve gone through many inner transformations—times of pain and silence, but also of renewal. Each painting is a mirror of those inner changes. Through art, I turn personal struggles into images of hope and resilience, showing that from darkness, new light can always emerge.

You often use fluorescent and phosphorescent paints, creating works that transform between day and night. What drew you to this dual-light approach?

I was fascinated by the idea that a painting could have two lives—one in daylight and another in darkness. Life itself has these two dimensions: the visible and the hidden, the conscious and the subconscious. Fluorescent and phosphorescent paints allow me to capture that mystery. When the lights go out, the painting doesn’t disappear—it transforms, just like people do in their inner worlds.

Tea Silagadze | Born From Roots To Take Flight

You’ve addressed social issues, such as violence against women, in your publications. How do you balance personal symbolism with social commentary?

For me, personal symbolism and social commentary are inseparable. When I paint about violence against women, I’m not only addressing a collective issue but also expressing empathy, pain, and the longing for transformation. The symbols I use—broken wings, metamorphosis, rebirth—speak both to individual healing and to society’s need for change. My art becomes a dialogue between the inner and the outer world.