Lambalo Prayer Rugs Displayed in Tbilisi

reWoven and Kunsthalle Tbilisi are exhibiting roughly 20 restored prayer rugs from the Lambalo mosque in Azerbaijan. The rugs, originally woven by women from the 1950s to 1990s, once covered the mosque floor but disappeared by 2023. reWoven recovered about half of them and now displays them alongside new works inspired by the original designs.

The exhibition, “Prayer of the Outsiders,” runs from May 18 to 23 within Tbilisi’s Peace Cathedral—a building functioning as a church, mosque, and synagogue. Irena Popiashvili of Tbilisi’s Free University curated additional pieces by young women artists, including textile work by Mari Babaevi and ceramics by Jia Jia Chen. These artists explore themes of heritage, identity, and adaptation through diverse mediums.

Not all the original Lambalo rugs were recovered, and gaps in the display acknowledge those lost to time. Popiashvili notes the exhibition highlights the freehand, creative approach of the original artisans, mirroring contemporary artistic practice. The exhibition coincides with the Tbilisi Art Fair and aims to foster cultural synergy through art and music.