Scorproba (2022) Painting by Miguel Vieira

This artwork is inspired by an old Georgian tradition that a friend (born in Georgia) of my father told me. The landscape is inspired by his story of his homeland, and the roses with silhouettes sprouting from their shadows is the representation of how close but so far that those lovers are derived from said tradition.

The archaic traditions of Khevsureti until the mid-twentieth century allowed for an unusual form of male-female relationship, which is known today as scorproba (also cola-dgoma - "lying without moving", dobil-dzmobiloba - "sisterhood and brotherhood"). The name comes from the word scorperi (also nandauri), which means similar in spirit and heart - a loved one who must not be married. Each married Khevsur and married Khevsurka (marriage was the only permissible form of a woman-to-man relationship) had the right to spend the entire night next to another person of the opposite sex, lying next to each other and indulging in affection. They touched the upper parts of the body, but never the lower parts. A sharpened sword lay between them. Its meaning was symbolic - it defined an inviolable, strictly delineated border that could not be crossed.
Scorproba was considered the most important test of personal dignity, conscience and respect for both sexes. The relationship between both scorperi was guarded by a mediator, who was most often the host of the lovers. As a reward for the mediator's effort, salvation awaited in eternal life. One-day-old scorperi were respected by the people. Their relatives placed their hope in them and trusted them. The Scorperi never married, begotten offspring, and had no right to live together. In the event of failure to respect this law, the village or settlement cursed both of them and imposed a punishment, which included, inter alia, on a death sentence or excommunication, often combined with banishment.

Related themes

LoveTraditionSurrealismAcrylic