The Golden-Haired Goddess of the Hunt
Project name: 9 Stories from Georgian Mythology (Created on the SharedStory Platform)
In Georgian folklore, the number nine isn’t just a digit—it carries a deep, mystical weight. It stands for wholeness, the closing of one chapter, and the exact moment a new one begins. If you look at oldest Georgian stories, nine is woven into everything:
- The 9 Mountains – The ultimate test of endurance and the obstacles we have to overcome.
- The 9 Springs – A symbol of cleansing, fresh starts, and spiritual healing.
- The 9 Brothers – The deepest bond of loyalty, family, and standing together.
- The 9-Eyed Sun – The all-seeing, warm center of the ancient universe.(The exact concept of a "Nine-Eyed Sun" (ცხრათვალა მზე - Tskhratvala Mze) is beautifully unique to Georgian folklore. You won't find a literal sun with nine eyes acting as a central deity in other major world mythologies)
Building on this sacred tradition, this exhibition brings together nine contemporary artists. Each one uses their own visual style to breathe fresh life into the gods, titans, and spirits of Georgian mythology, creating a bridge between ancient memory and modern eyes.
This is the first time a group exhibition has attempted to capture the entire, sprawling universe of Georgia's mythos. Together, these nine different artistic voices form a perfect circle—a complete cycle where the echoes of the past meet the heartbeat of today.
The Legend of Dali
Inquire to purchase the artwork: mail@sharedstory.blog Sharedstory
Deep within the misty, jagged peaks of the Caucasus Mountains lives Dali, the divine mistress of the hunt and the ruler of horned mountain beasts. She is one of the most powerful and enchanting figures in Georgian (specifically Svan) mythology.
Dali is the embodiment of nature’s untamed beauty, holding the delicate balance between life, death, and the wild.
The Law of the Hunt: Dali does not forbid hunting; instead, she permits hunters to kill animals for survival, but only under strict rules. Hunters must show absolute respect to nature, never kill more than they need, and never boast about their success.
A Dangerous Romance: To the hunters who brave the high peaks, Dali is both a blessing and a fatal temptation. She often falls in love with brave, handsome hunters, appearing to them in dreams or on the cliffs. She grants them unparalleled hunting luck, but it comes with a heavy price: the hunter must swear absolute secrecy and fidelity to her. Dali fell deeply in love with a mortal hunter and became pregnant with his child. However, the hunter's jealous wife discovered the affair and cut off Dali's golden hair while she slept, stripping the goddess of her divine power. This child was Amirani—destined to become Georgia’s greatest mythic hero.
Dali represents the sacred contract between humanity and the wilderness. She reminds us that nature provides abundantly, but only to those who approach it with humility, reverence, and restraint.
Artist: David Machavariani
Mediator of epic proportions.
For many, David’s name is instantly tied to his breathtaking graphic illustrations of *The Knight in the Panther's Skin*, (ვეფხისტყაოსანი)—Georgia's 12th-century national epic by Shota Rustaveli. He possesses a rare gift for merging deep cultural tradition with a gritty, comic-book-inspired modernism, giving mythological beings and legendary heroes a sharp, cinematic second life.
In the project of *9 stories from Georgian Mythology* he captures the exact moment the hunter catches sight of Dali and falls into her trap. But the true mastery lies in the perspective: we, the viewers, are the ones who find ourselves ensnared.
