The exhibition Cultural Diversity — The Wealth of Society presents the national and religious communities of Abkhazia. At the heart of the project is a series of documentary films by Rozita Herman, complemented by photographs from personal archives and biographies of the featured individuals.

The exhibition curator, Nasta Agrba, and photographer Alan Vouba traveled to the regions, met the subjects of Rozita Herman’s films, photographed their portraits, recorded their stories, and collected artifacts that later formed the basis of the exhibition. Their work helped transform the filmic images into the exhibition space, where personal belongings, photographs, and testimonies acquired a new form. For the opening, each community prepared a traditional dish. The organizers set up a special outdoor area with the dishes and picnic seating, where guests could eat, converse, discuss what they had seen, and where the film and story subjects could directly interact with the audience.

The filmmaker says: “The heroes of the exhibition are citizens of Abkhazia who love their country, their work, and improve life every day. They grow vegetables, fire pottery, care for people with disabilities, help those living in poverty, write fairy tales, build boats, work as guards, teach music, bake bread, and teach children to dance. Each of them also possesses a unique wealth — the culture of their people: Greek, Armenian, Russian, Mingrelian, Georgian, Estonian, Adyghe, Kabardian, Jewish, Bulgarian, and, of course, Abkhazian.”

The exhibition was preceded by a series of screenings and discussions aimed at providing a deeper understanding of the cultures represented in the project. In this way, the project becomes a space for meeting and exchanging among different communities, where everyone can share their stories, experiences, and perspectives, helping to strengthen connections between Abkhazia’s communities.

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