The iconic and reclusive Georgian painter, Levan Lagidze, returned to London for the first time in 20 years with "Bach Exercises", an exhibition of new works created specifically for the show.

The exhibition title, "Bach Exercises", derives from his perception of Bach. “Listening to Bach I see the infinite … Each measure, rhythm, accent and pause is so precise that his music is always new and unexpected. This is the magic of universal composition. The music you can see or the painting you can listen to…” (Levan Lagidze)

I don’t want to surprise or to shock you, I only want to share with you

The theme of looking deep beneath the surface and sharing experiences in harmony and gratitude, combined with a sense of playfulness, runs throughout Lagidze’s textured and vibrant work which shares through abstraction such universal narratives as landscape and urbanisation.

“I don’t believe that in today’s world the function of art is to shock, provoke or surprise its viewers,” he says. “Rather, it carries a mission for harmonious existence and happiness. A relationship with painting is a participation in this infinite happy game.”

Inside Every Square of His Works is a Separate Universe

Lagidze says that creating a composition is like “measuring eternity with careful steps”. As Nana Jorjadze, the Oscar-nominated Georgian film director, aptly described, “inside every square of Levan Lagidze's work is a separate universe”.