
Zurab Tsereteli
1978
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." 34Travel In Tbilisi, only the most remarkable urban landmarks earn folk nicknames — it is an informal mark of cultural significance. 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. It is one of the rare cases where Soviet abstract art not only endured but ended up lending its name to the entire building



