Zurab Tsereteli: Conversations with Giorgi Chitaia

Zurab Tsereteli: Conversations with Giorgi Chitaia – Tbilisi art exhibition

The Zurab Tsereteli Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in Tbilisi, Georgia, is holding an exhibition from 1-10 December 2018 called ‘Zurab Tsereteli: Conversations with Giorgi Chitaia.’ It is an art exhibition and book presentation dedicated to the memory of academic and ethnographer Giorgi Chitaia.

Giorgi Chitaia (1890-1986) was born in Poti, Georgia, on 10 November 1890. After graduating from Tbilisi City College in 1907, he moved to Russia in 1911 to study at the St. Petersburg University’s Oriental Languages Department. In 1913, he continued ethnology studies in Germany. He returned to Georgia in 1917 and entered politics, quitting in 1921 to organize a series of ethnographic exhibitions to document the monuments, culture, and traditions of his country.

He founded the Ethnographic Department of the Tbilisi State University. In 1966, he opened a unique open-air ethnographic museum in Tbilisi, which continues today. The museum holds 70 replica households from the 17th to 20th centuries.

Giorgi Chitaia said of Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, ‘Tbilisi is one of those cities with a vibrant life characterized by a versatile, rich, and original lifestyle, folk performances, festivals, sports entertainment, and competitions … Tbilisi was known for its bazaars, shopping centres, caravanserais, suspension balconies on Mtkvari river, eateries, workshops, and hot baths. Tbilisi was individual in its appearance and its inner realties, dressing styles, types, labour and social relations, which shaped the commonly known concept of Tbilisi Life.’

As a young artist Zurab Tsereteli (1934-) based his ethnographic sketches on Giorgi Chitaia’s ethnographic conversations and research results. This exhibition is the young Tsereteli’s period of searching for something to nurture his soul. He observed Georgian people, their life and spiritual culture.

This is Zurab Tsereteli’s tribute to Giorgi Chitaia. Tsereteli said, ‘I was lucky in life. I had unique teachers: graphic artist Charlemagne, a great artist Shukhaev, distinguished painters Japaridze and Kobuladze who, as young men, were trained in ethnography. Ucha Japaridze, rector of the Academy, advised me to also follow this path. Academician Chitaia left a deep mark on my life. I remember conversations by the fire with Giorgi Chitaia on moonlit nights. He made me look at the history of my homeland, its nature, people as well as my work, from different perspectives. Mr. Giorgi was inspiring me … in the world treasures that expresses universal ideals in national form.’

Giorgi Chitaia

MARTINA NICOLLSis an international aid and development consultant, and the authorof:- Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom(2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

2016 update on Rike Park, Tbilisi: from construction to busy park

From a flat patch of uninteresting dirt, Rike Park in Tbilisi, Georgia, has transformed in four years (from 2014-2016) into a busy park full of trees, flower beds, sculptures, fountains, and events. Rike (Rikhe) Park is on the left bank of the Mt’k’vari River (the Kura River) near the Old City of Tbilisi. The Peace Bridge links the right bank to Rike Park. Rike Park is below the hillside Presidential Palace and, via cable car, it is the starting point for the ride to Sololaki Ridge (with the Narikala Fortress and the Mother of Georgia statue). The glass box-shaped cable car terminus was opened on 23 June 2012, and since then the park has continually developed into a ‘people’s park’ where people can walk around, eat at the nearby restaurants, sit next to the statue of American president Ronald Reagan, climb the steps to Avlabari district, and access the sights of Meidan Square, the Peace Bridge, the Metekhi Church, the Old City, the waterfall, the sulphur baths, and t...

The acacia thorn trees of Kenya

There are nearly 800 species of acacia trees in the world, and most don’t have thorns. The famous "whistling thorn tree" and the Umbrella Thorn tree of Kenya are species of acacia that do have thorns, or spines. Giraffes and other herbivores normally eat thorny acacia foliage, but leave the whistling thorn alone. Usually spines are no deterrent to giraffes. Their long tongues are adapted to strip the leaves from the branches despite the thorns. The thorny acacia like dry and hot conditions. The thorns typically occur in pairs and are 5-8 centimetres (2-3 inches) long. Spines can be straight or curved depending on the species. MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom (2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Suda...

Hop on hop off bus tourism comes to Tbilisi, Georgia

City Sightseeing buses have arrived in Tbilisi. The iconic red double-decker buses, a feature of many cities around the world since the company was established in Seville, Spain in 1999, is now in six continents and almost 100 cities. The company established its Tbilisi business in November 2013, with its operations commencing in February 2014. The 90-minute tour stops at 11 major locations in Tbilisi (with 2 to 5 minute waiting times at each location): the Old City (where it commences), Freedom Square, Rose Revolution Square, Marjanishvili Square, the Dry Bridge, Konka, Avlabari, Metekhi, Akhundov Museum, the Sulfur Baths, and European Square. Passengers can hop off at any stop and see the sights, hopping back onto the next bus at any time. Alternatively, passengers can remain on the bus for the whole tour and take photographs when the bus stops at each location. There are one day (24-hour) passes (for 35 lari – about $20) and 48-hour passes for 55 lari, with family d...

FEAST OR FAMINE

Search This Blog