LEVAN TSUTSKIRIDZE

ATINATI’S Cultural Center will host Levan Tsutskiridze’s exhibition.

The exhibition will present Levan Tsutskiridze’s works from the ATINATI collection, alongside pieces from private collections and the Tsutskiridze family collection. Visitors will see the artist’s large-scale canvases, as well as various graphic works.

DATE: 8th September
TIME: 17:00 o’clock
Address: ATINATI’S Cultural Center. P.Ingorokva 19a (main entrance from the backside of Parliament)

Levan Tsutskiridze (1926-2021) is one of Georgia’s most renowned artists, standing next to those who laid the foundation of contemporary Georgian art. His creative range is wide- not limited by an interest in easel art alone, Tsutskiridze also worked productively in monumental painting. In 1966, he created two large panels, named ‘Feast’ and ‘Harvest Celebration.’
From 1983 to 1986, he decorated the interior of Tbilisi Sioni Cathedral. He also made illustrations for various literary works, including ‘The Knight in the Panther’s Skin’ by Shota Rustaveli, ‘The Martyrdom of Holy Queen Shushanik’ by Iakob Tsurtaveli, ‘A Toast’ by Grigol Orbeliani, Vazha-Pshavela's poems, and ‘Faust’ by Goethe.

Levan Tsutskiridze’s artistic method developed over the years, based on European artistic experience, especially on the Renaissance art tradition, which he then synthesized with the ideological and formal system of centuries-old Georgian mural painting.

Tsutskiridze turned to medieval Georgian monumental painting in his quest to renew the language of fine arts. He worked at the David-Gareji Monastery Complex, creating copies of its 9th-10th century paintings. His experience helped him to form his own artistic language. Tsutskiridze brought the easel and monumental-planar nature of painting into a certain unity, seeing the linear expression typical of Georgian frescoes combined with the monumentality of forms and the majesty of artistic faces. The rendering of massive, monumental forms, the complexity of the silhouettes of elongated figures, and the melody of his linear rhythm characterize his works' distinct spirituality and emotionality, as does the significance of the faces of his characters. Regardless of the theme, be it literary characters, heroes of folk poetry, biblical scenes or something else entirely, Tsutskiridze’s compositions always express humanism and the harmonious relationship between Man and the world.
In 1959, the Union of Architects of Georgia hosted Levan Tsutskiridze's first solo exhibition. The show is said to have demonstrated that Levan Tsutskiridze's “artistic style originates from Georgian frescoes and has an individual character, tied to the conventional form of the past, and expressing itself in a modern language."

Levan Tsutskiridze wrote in his diary: “…the greatest and deepest thing is the abode, tradition, nature and surroundings that built your country in your imagination; the place where you were formed and first breathed in its fragrance, which you shared and made yours.”

P.S. For ATINATI it's a special day. We are celebrating our 4th birthday!