{
  "id": 19224649,
  "title": "The art of sitting still: How the street chairs of Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital, taught a Russian émigré to slow down",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/the-art-of-sitting-still-how-the-street-chairs-of-tbilisi-georgias",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-09T21:33:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Meduza (English)",
    "slug": "meduza-english",
    "url": "https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/11/10/the-art-of-sitting-still-how-the-street-chairs-of-tbilisi-georgia-s-capital-taught-a-russian-emigre-to-slow-down"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Alexander Zakharenkov relocated from Moscow to Tbilisi, Georgia's capital, in 2022. Upon arrival, he was captivated by the abundance of chairs, armchairs, and couches displayed on the city's streets, which served as popular spots for locals and passersby to rest. This observation led him to start photographing these unique seating arrangements. Eventually, Zakharenkov acquired his own chair and placed it on the street to observe its fate when its owner was absent. Regrettably, the inaugural chair was stolen shortly after its installation, prompting Zakharenkov to purchase an additional one.\n\nAfter two years of residing in Tbilisi, Zakharenkov compiled his chair photographs into a video essay and established a website showcasing his film photographs of the most distinctive seating he encountered. In this account, Zakharenkov shares his personal narrative alongside the project's inception and evolution. Initially, he was drawn to the city's chairs, finding them to be a common occurrence throughout Tbilisi. As a film photographer, he discovered that capturing moments on film yielded a higher percentage of chair-related images, specifically 20 out of every 36-exposure roll. People in Tbilisi frequently take a seat outdoors, displaying a more relaxed attitude towards public spaces compared to their Russian counterparts.\n\nZakharenkov's fascination with the city's chair culture stemmed from his desire to feel more at home in Tbilisi, particularly as he worked towards obtaining a Georgian passport. However, the project ultimately revealed more about the city itself than about his personal assimilation. Born in Russia to Georgian parents who fled to Moscow during the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict, Zakharenkov had suppressed his Georgian identity since childhood. His experiences in Moscow, where he witnessed neo-Nazi activities and feared for his safety, led him to develop a connection with Tbilisi and its diverse population.\n\nDespite the project's conclusion, Zakharenkov continued to wander Tbilisi, discovering that it held a unique charm that Moscow had never matched. As time passed, he realized the value of slowing down and embracing a more relaxed pace of life, a lesson he learned from Georgians during his initial year in the city. In his pursuit of a fresh perspective, Zakharenkov relocated to Serbia, only to recognize that his appreciation for Tbilisi's chairs remained intact. He ultimately decided to move on from the chair project and embark on a new endeavor focused on Belgrade.",
  "summary": "Alexander Zakharenkov moved from Moscow to Tbilisi in 2022. Right away, he was struck by how many chairs, armchairs, and couches were sitting out on the street — a favorite place for street vendors, residents of nearby apartment buildings, and passersby to sit and rest. Zakharenkov started photographing these spots, and before long he even bought a chair of his own. He set it out on the street…",
  "key_points": [
    "Alexander Zakharenkov moved to Tbilisi, Georgia in 2022.",
    "He photographed street chairs in Tbilisi for two years.",
    "Zakharenkov learned to slow down and appreciate Georgian culture."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}