Zurab Tsereteli 1978

Exist

Former House of Political Education

Business center “Mosaic”

The mosaic facade of the former House of Political Education is one of Zurab Tsereteli's most significant works in Tbilisi — and arguably the most audacious piece of Soviet monumental art in Georgia. The building was constructed between 1978 and 1980 at 61 David Agmashenebeli Avenue. The composition is a bold mix of archaic symbols and complex relief figures, with the three-dimensional surface creating interweaving patterns of light and shadow. Remarkably, the building was erected during the stagnation era, yet Tsereteli managed to defend the project for his abstract, non-representational design even then. Tbilisi residents responded with a mix of awe and irony, giving the mosaic two affectionate nicknames: “Siroja's Dreams” — named after a character from local jokes — and “fried eggs with tomatoes.” The entire blind wall of the main facade is covered by the relief mosaic panel; the fountains that once stood in front of the building were eventually replaced by a car park. After the Soviet collapse the building housed various organisations, including foreign embassies, and today it operates as a business centre fittingly named “Mosaic.” The mosaic has survived intact and is now regarded as a landmark of Soviet monumental art