At the age of 10, Anna began attending the Oni art school, where she mastered various painting and needlework techniques. She attended this school for almost 8 years continuously, which had a significant impact on her future decision. In 2016, she continued her studies at the Tbilisi State Art Academy in the direction of textile design. After returning to Oni, she started working as a teacher in her native art school.
For Anna, rug weaving is not just a craft; it is a philosophy that comes to life in colors and ornaments. Rug weaving represents an ancient Georgian technology of textile production, and, as in all highland regions, in Racha, carpet weaving was a traditional direction of women's craft. Carpets woven with ancient technology endure time and seem to make their creator immortal. The process is so time-consuming that even the creator herself doubts; she is not sure if she will receive such a work as she has depicted in her mind. In the end, the master, filled with a sense of surprise, joy, and pride, realizes that her patience, perseverance, many nights spent at the easel, and many months spent were appreciated. It fills one with joy and a sense of pride when knowing that they are preserving the tradition of a once-popular folk craft, the master of which is no longer in the area.
The work begins with creating a sketch—searching for old ornaments, studying the color gamut, observing the regularity of the arrangement of ornaments. Then the weaving process begins, and one never knows when it will end. The memories of the joy and pride felt at the completion of the previous work linger, and motivation increases—this too will be finished, this too will be unique, and they will be proud of this too.
Anna's workshop is open to anyone interested in this direction of traditional crafts. The master generously shares her knowledge, sketches, materials, time, and space with them free of charge. According to Anna, today her philosophy has seven followers, and she knows exactly why she chose to weave rugs.
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