Human Cartography revolves around overlapping sounds, memory, walking, the imaginary, archiving, poetry (written and of spaces) and public spaces.

This project was conceived in a completely different geopolitical context, and we can't pretend that nothing has changed. We want to focus our episodes on Georgian polyphonic songs and on understanding between people.

Through polyphonic singing, we want to take up liturgical songs in certain places of worship representing the diversity of Tbilisi's faiths and its attachment to the natural elements, using a sulfur bath as a sounding board for polyphonic singing of Georgian polyphonic chant. 

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The recordings were all made at the beginning of June 2024 in the city of Tbilisi. In places of worship whose history places women in different areas to men. Let's listen from the women's place. 

 

Our first stop will be Anchiskhati, one of the city's oldest Orthodox churches and the one that brought polyphonic singing back to life. As we wander through the narrow streets, we'll hear a lullaby from the traditional Samegrero repertoire, before entering the Great Synagogue and listening to a Shabbat prayer from the women's bench.  

 

Enveloped by the sound of the dukduk, we will take a few steps as far as Saint George Armenian Church, where we will meet Ivane Mkrtchyan, at the tomb of

Sayat Nova, in the courtyard of the Armenian Church.

 

With Nargile, the Aschour singer, we will walk to the Juma Mosque and hear her sing one of her compositions as we make our way down the narrow streets to the underground passageway leading to the Koura. Finally, Zoe Perret, Dato Khositashvili and Ivane Mkrtchyan perform a little-known song from old Tbilisi based on a poem by Sayat Nova.

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This project was supported by the University of Rennes, the French Institute of Tbilisi and Culture Move.