We invite you to IAC RAA Zurab Tsereteli Art Gallery on permanent display of works by Zurab Tsereteli.
HALLS OF FRONT SUITE OF ROOMS OF THE SECOND FLOOR
In the "Art Gallery" on Prechistenka, 19 is opened a permanent exhibition of works by leading painter, sculptor, muralist, President of the Russian Academy of Arts Zurab Tsereteli. The exhibition consists of works from different years. Paintings, monumental and easel sculpture, graphics, enamel panels and miniatures works of decorative – applied art, design works composed the exposition strikingly vivid and impressive.
Implementing ambitious creative ideas, the artist refers to the understanding of historical events, the complex phenomena of our time. In the portrait genre, and monumental creativity Tsereteli embodies images that embody the height of the human spirit, morality and faith. The exhibition includes models of monuments established in Russia and other countries of the world – to Peter I, Christopher Columbus, Honore de Balzac, a model of the monument to General de Gaulle. Among the sculptures – monuments of Mother Teresa and Lady Diana, options of composition "Colossus of Rhodes" and others.
The exhibition presents a large-scale art project, which reveals Tsereteli not only as an artist but also as an expert in the history of art and philosophy reflects on the complex and contradictory phenomena of modern life. The creative search of the artist infused into the mainstream of the global artistic process, so this project is perceived also as a dialogue with artists from different eras, which master leads on the general, for all language – the language of art.
This exhibition allows conceptually rethink creativity of Tsereteli, feel the dynamics of creative search of master, his constant "drive" for innovations, updating of figuratively – plastic language. First of all, there is a powerful major sounding of the exhibition as a whole, creating an atmosphere of emotional elation, festivity. The deliberate juxtaposition of different kinds of art in one exhibition space emphasizes the relationship and the characteristics of each of them.
WORKS ON THEMES OF OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT
Creativity of Zurab Tsereteli, with all the variety of his creative interests is surprisingly solid. The main topics, which include stories on the theme of the Old and New Testament, arose in the 60s. Working on them throughout all his life, realizing them in various techniques and materials, the master thinks about the core values of life, the life of a man in his spiritual and earthly manifestations.
Mastery of different techniques and materials is so great that it allows the artist to the repeated queries to the same story every time to seek a new shaped sound. And often the artist deliberately repeats the themes and character types, drawing the viewer's attention on the inner relationship of his works. This makes the work of art to be in constant dialogue with each other.
The core theme of the exposition are the stories of the New and Old Testament, which are presented in the atrium of the epic monumental interpretation of the theme of good and evil. They continued in a series of bronze reliefs on the biblical theme, decided in a different, more intimate format, under which several rooms set aside exposure. Plural compositions are plastically a recession of the canonical iconographic scenes.
As bright, vivid narration, filled with deep symbolism, are perceived and graphic works dedicated to biblical subjects. Color and monochrome executed in challenging author's technique, they make an interesting part of the graphical section of the display.
The theme of spirituality continue majestic image of St. Nicholas, Alexis II, Patriarch of the Holy and All Russia and Catholicos – Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II, radiating wisdom, serenity and nobility.
PAINTINGS
The world of works of Tsereteli – a world of emotion and passion, compassion and consideration, it is the deepest layers of the historical and cultural memory of mankind, translating by artist of acutely contemporary attitude, scenic and plastic thinking.
In stylistics of his works are organically and originally joined traditions of the ancient cultures of the East and the modern West.
Paintings in the exhibition is presented very fully and variously – from paintings of the 70s to the newest, created in 2004. To painting the artist turns every day, its his kind of creative laboratory. In the picturesque texture, sonorous color range, power of stroke, expressiveness of line, associability of shaped structure reflected all the originality and passion of the master's nature, the brightness of his personality.
The exhibition introduces the viewer with numerous genre and thematic cycles of paintings by Tsereteli. There is no doubt, large-format paintings that set the rhythm of the exhibition as a whole will attract the attention. These paintings from the series "Jerusalem", male and female portraits, received the other figurative and plastic treatment. Massive frame reinforce the impression of monumentality and generalization. At the exhibition there is a number of works in which the frame, as it were included in the shaped fabric of beautiful works, having at the same time the artistic value in itself.
Noteworthy is a series of works dedicated to the artists who, in the words of the master, played a huge role in his creative life – Van Gogh, Picasso, Salvador Dali. These works side by side with a series of folklore, based on – the impressions of childhood and adolescence. Distinguishing images of characters attract of vital certainty, at the same time they are deeply symbolic, representing the unshakable foundations of national life.
In the work of Tsereteli is surprising the ability to see beauty in the everyday, the ability to erect it to the level of the sublime, everlasting. Topics of works are often repeated, varied, the characters "move" from the one canvas to another. But in each following work, following the creative will of the master, they are transformed, bringing a new meaning, conveying different mood and range of feelings. It is important to emphasize that the creativity of Zurab Tsereteli is closely connected with the history of his people. In his youth, he devoted much time to the study of archeology and ethnography, been on expeditions, his memory keeps many bright episodes of the past, the first impression of what he saw. Memories of youth, dreams of a long time remain in memory and are a source of constant inspiration. The artist is interested to transfer innermost essence of human nature. He embodies it through color, special plastic, and canvas composition.
The cycle of portraits is constantly replenished. With special warmth are imbued images of people close to him, friends, family, the artist's wife Inessa – "Inessa and her children", "Looking Inessa" and others. The loneliness of the artist in the world, the tragedy of his life embodied in the works dedicated to Charlie Chaplin. Heroes of the many works of Tsereteli are nameless. "Musician", "The organ grinder" – in them seemed to embody the state of mind of the artist, inspired and reflecting, sad and jubilant.
The special role of creativity of Tsereteli belongs to flowers. He writes them all the time. They embodied the thirst of the color and the sun, the extraordinary joy of life, the desire to capture the elusive beauty of the moment. In the exposition the flowers play the role of a tuning fork, which as a symbol of life and beauty is often combined with women's images, enhancing the emotional impact of work as a whole
New works appeared in the atrium, where in the framed of bronze reliefs on biblical themes is become extremely popular the 15-meter "apple of love." Found here its place sculptural image of Peter I, the bust of the Empress Catherine II, the new monumental sculptural composition dedicated to Vladimir Vysotsky and Brodsky. In the yard of the gallery is a monument to Tsereteli, dedicated to the fight against AIDS.
Significantly replenished exhibition of works created in the technique of cloisonné enamel, some of which were converted by the master to volume monumental mural. Tsereteli revived and reinterpreted in a modern key the forgotten art of enamel, which struck the imagination of the artist even in his younger years. In the enamels artist saw a great opportunity – to use them for decorative – monumental decoration of public buildings and interiors.
In the exposition is widely presented enamel – from a series of "Old Tbilisi", on themes of ancient vase painting, historical and biblical themes. Recently Tsereteli creates compositions in enamel, using skillfully expressive properties not only of color, but also of volume. The artist managed to so much improve the technology of their manufacturing that in some studies interpenetration of colorful pigments virtually conveys timidity of the picturesque stroke. In them are often repeated stories of his many paintings and silkscreen. However, only in the enamel bas-reliefs and high reliefs are achieved such complex modulations of light and color, the game of forms and volumes, allowing to achieve the impression of depth and richness of space, to immerse the viewer in a special festive fantasy world. Several halls of exposure monumental were issued by enamel panels biblical cycle. They are remembered for their calm rhythm, noble color, pomp and enlightenment images.
CYCLE OF HIGH RELIEF "MY CONTEMPORARIES"
Very expressive is program cycle of reloefs "My contemporaries" presented in sculpture section , on which the artist works with enthusiasm. Zurab Tsereteli has the gift of a special kind: the ability to convey the main features of the human person, to find convincing, peculiar only to this man shaped characteristic, as in the portrait lies a whole philosophy of life.
The cycle of sculptural portraits of Zurab Tsereteli "My Contemporaries" includes portraits of artists, whose name is associated great cultural achievements of the early XX century. Feodor Chaliapin, Vsevolod Meyerhold, Alexander Blok, Sergei Yesenin, Vladimir Mayakovsky, Akhmatova, Nikolai Gumilev, Tsvetaeva, Osip Mandelstam, Boris Pasternak, Ivan Bunin – these famous names of Russian culture entered the golden fund of domestic and international artistic heritage.
Having started sculptural cycle with portraits of great predecessors, Tsereteli continued hiscreating a portrait gallery of "the sixties", of prominent writers and artists of the time. The artist creates images of those who are close to him spiritually – musicians, poets and artists. He defends the intrinsic value, the significance of man's inner life. Characters of Tsereteli – are Andrei Dementiev and Andrei Voznesensky, Yevgeny Yevtushenko and Bella Akhmadulina, Vladimir Spivakov and Iosif Kobzon, and Ilya Reznik Galina Volchek, Yuri Bashmet and Eldar Ryazanov, Danelia and Zhores Alferov, Boris Yefimov and Mikhail Koltsov, Vasily Shukshin and Bulat Okudzhava, Joseph Brodsky and Andrey Mironov, – these are the names of those whose sculptures are on display.
Typically, the image of all participants of the cycle Tsereteli uses plastic expressive techniques. For each model, Tsereteli finds only its inherent features of gesture, posture, movement plasticity, based on a specific visual image. Faces well-known to a wide circle of admirers, recognizable and given with its characteristic attributes of their work. A number of characters formed in high relief, he places in space, limiting its by frame, which creates a kind of impression of art completeness. The combination in one work of expressive sculptural volume, rhythm, color, composition ability to organize the space allowed the artist to create a work, bright on imaginative sound, emotional richness. The figures, created in the form of monumental sculpture, dynamically organize space of the sculpture.
The entire series of portrait cycle is perceived as a unique poem about the master of thoughts of many generations of intellectuals of the XX century. Its advantage is not only in the fact that it is interesting, originally fixed in artistic terms, but also in the fact that it retains the images of prominent figures of art for future generations, according to high moral values. A series of "My Contemporaries" is constantly updated with new and new works.
Noteworthy are sculptures – "Peter the Great", a cycle of "Jerusalem," "Eternal Love", "A healthy body healthy mind", two portraits of the mayor of Moscow by Yuri Luzhkov – "The duty of the city" and "Sportsman".
A significant number of interesting works continued a series of bas-reliefs, in a manner that embodies the theme of his native Tbilisi, developed by the author throughout his creative life in different techniques and materials. Rich national culture, world art experiences are the source of his inexhaustible inspiration.
Consisting of numerous works, this series is seen as created in the same breath. One work complements the other, thereby forming a detailed historical and poetic painting. At the same time, each work is worth and represents a world created by the imagination of the artist.
Works of decorative – applied arts, textile panels effectively complement the exhibition.
The exposition allows going along with the artist on the paths of search and achievements, to feel the energy of creation, which permeated all the work of Zurab Tsereteli.
