Fua Sia Tata Sia is an installation, dedicated to the research of pagan rituals from Mingrelia, Western Georgia. The ritual is based on the energy cleansing ceremony that is performed when one gets sick with energetic overflow. The ritual is performed with three elements: water, gold and a jet stone, believed to absorb and release dark energy from a person. By the end of the ritual the medicine woman, performing cleansing, becomes a medium between a patient and the universe, releasing the energy through her body. The texts for spells have been verbally shared from generation to generation among medicine women. They are spoken in one of the oldest language in Europe, Mingrelian. This performance is based on authors, Uta Bekaia’s private experience and is dedicated to his grandmother Nora Maskhulia.

Performing artists: Ucha Mzhavia, Beka Paikidze, Elizbar Chkheidze, Nina Gorgaslidze

The project was made possible by Swiss Agency of Development and Cooperation.
curated by Tamuna Gurchani
special thanks to Levan mindiahsvili
and George Spanderashvili

Photo by Maka Gogaladze