Handicrafts, dolls, paintings, handicrafts based on Abkhaz folklore are presented at the festival of folk crafts "Ahynapkua" ("Golden Hands"), which opened in Sukhum on December 12.
Said Bargandzhia
The first Republican Festival of Folk Crafts of Abkhazia “Ahynapkua” (translated from Abkhaz as “golden hands” - ed.) opened in Sukhum on Wednesday 12 December.
The festival presents a variety of areas of folk art and original handicrafts.
The festival’s organizer, Director of the Abkhaz Folk Arts Center and a member of the Supreme Council of the World Abaza Congress Nuri Kvarchia, speaking at the opening of the festival, voiced the main task of the exhibition. It is the popularization of the Abkhaz craftsmen: so far very few people know about them.
“The presented works clearly show how Abkhazia is rich in talented craftsmen. We intend to contribute to the development of folk crafts,” said Nuri Kvarchia.
Visitors to the exhibition, indeed, were able to get closer acquainted with national and rare crafts, as well as with the masters themselves, who devoted themselves to these crafts.
Thus, the leatherworker Edem Kogonia is engaged in the manufacture of leather and the manufacture of knives and swords. Now the master is also working on the construction of his own forge, after which he plans to make products in larger quantities and, possibly, put up for sale.
“The most popular exhibit of my collection is the combat Roman sword, an exact copy of the original. The scabbard is made of bear skin, the length of the sword from the hilt to the peak of the sword is 70 centimeters,” said Kogonia.
Especially popular among the female half of the festival guests was the stand of the beginning designer Inna Salakaya, who weaves paper wicker.
“I began to weave paper vines about a year ago. It all started with pots (decorative vase for a flowerpot - ed.) and Easter baskets. Then I started making women's accessories,” shared Salakaya.
She admitted that she was surprised when her work caused such interest among Sukhum women. The master said that recently she was also engaged in the manufacture of women's accessories from leather and wood.
The festival of folk crafts and handicrafts of Abkhazia "Ahynapkua" is held in the new hall of the Limited Partnership "NUR" in Sukhum and will last until December 19. Anyone can visit the festival.
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