About Toto Tvalavadze

Artists Statement

My photographic work explores the intersection of concrete narratives and personal interpretation, creating what I call Liminal Realism. By constructing narrative sequences with deliberate ambiguity, I create frameworks where viewers collaborate to somewhat complete the story, weaving their own memories and perspectives into the gaps I leave unresolved.

Photography allows me to capture the ephemeral moments that punctuate our experience of time—from sharp memories of moments to subtle textures that trigger sensory recollections. I hope my sequences act as painted mirrors, reflecting my intentional brushstrokes while inviting viewers to glimpse their own narratives in the reflections.

Through this approach, each series can generate countless stories, all equally valid and meaningful to their observers.

Biography

Toto Tvalavadze (b. 1988) is a Georgian photographer based in Tokyo. Born at the end of Soviet-era Georgia, he transitioned from his career as a self-taught software engineer to visual arts, driven by frustration over the social divide between engineering and liberal arts disciplines. Toto began his photographic practice in 2019, marking the inception of his ongoing project “Out of Memory” (2019–present) and his fascination with subjective, often surreal documentation of contemporary life. His narrative works, including “Catch-32” (2021) and the Folio Editions series (2025–present), explore the intersection of deliberate ambiguity and concrete storytelling through what he terms Liminal Realism.