Zurab Tsereteli. Two anniversaries in Suzdal

The Russian Academy of Arts and the State Vladimir-Suzdal Museum-Reserve present an exhibition of works by the People’s Artist of the USSR and the Russian Federation, President of the Russian Academy of Arts Zurab Konstantinovich Tsereteli. The project is called “Two Anniversaries” and opens on the eve of the 90th anniversary of one of the most famous artists of our time, as well as in honor of the upcoming 1000th anniversary of the first chronicle mention of Suzdal.

The exhibition will be located in a unique architectural monument of the 17th century - the Posad House, the interiors of which will be filled with a lively creative atmosphere for several months. The installation, telling about the life and work of the master, will convey the atmosphere of his workshop - a Georgian house with a table and easel, songs and quotes, photographs and paintings, enamels and sculptures.

Zurab Tsereteli is one of the most outstanding Russian artists, known throughout the world. He is a man of the Renaissance, the Leonardo of our days, to whom all forms and types of art are subject. This is the most incredible artist in terms of efficiency, who creates every second. His works cause controversy, but leave no one indifferent. And Zurab Konstantinovich is a person with a big, kind heart, open to people, he does a lot of charity work, makes unique gifts to cities and countries, passes on his limitless experience to the younger generation, conducting master classes with children.

The famous sculptor and monumentalist has a lot in common with the ancient city. At one time, it was Z. K. Tsereteli who responded to the call of the Vladimir-Suzdal Museum-Reserve to revive the chapel-monument on the grave of the national hero of Russia Dmitry Pozharsky in the Spaso-Evfimiev Monastery: he recreated according to ancient drawings and donated a relief entrance group for the mausoleum. On his instructions, students of the Academic Institute named after. Surikov made a copy of the mosaic sculpture “The Savior on the Throne” for this tomb. In addition, the author donated several of his works to the museum’s collection. The idea of the exhibition “Two Anniversaries” appeared as a sign of gratitude and recognition of his services in helping Suzdal.

Biography: Zurab Konstantinovich Tsereteli was born in Tbilisi on January 4, 1934. In the early 50s he entered the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts in the painting department. After graduating from the institute, Z. K. Tsereteli worked at the Institute of Ethnography of Georgia. The study of ancient monuments, the shock of the compositional structure and color of the mosaics and paintings of the Gelati Monastery, the Church of St. Nicholas determined the artist’s interest in this type of art for the rest of his life. Thanks to the master, the ancient chamber technique moved into the category of monumental art. She also began to synthesize various genres and techniques: enamel reliefs, enamel panels using the technique of volumetric painting, a three-dimensional object in enamel. Since the late 1960s, developing in the field of monumental and sculptural art, the master has created hundreds of well-known monuments, sculptures, steles, statues and busts installed throughout the world. Tsereteli can rightfully be called a citizen of the world: his workshops are located in his native Tbilisi, Moscow, Paris, and New York. Working in each of the four cities contributed to the formation of his individual style.

In 1995, Zurab Tsereteli founded the Moscow Museum of Modern Art, the first state museum in Russia entirely dedicated to contemporary art, the official opening of which took place in 1999. In 1997, Zurab Konstantinovich was elected president of the Russian Academy of Arts, was repeatedly re-elected to this position and heads this state institution to this day. In 2001, the Zurab Tsereteli Art Gallery opened in Moscow, which is part of the Museum and Exhibition Complex of the Russian Academy of Arts, and in 2012 the artist founded the Museum of Modern Art in Tbilisi.

For his professional and personal merits, the sculptor was awarded a number of awards and titles: Hero of Socialist Labor, laureate of the Lenin and State Prizes of the USSR, State Prize of Russia, holder of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, holder of the Order of the Legion of Honor and many others.