Abstracts - International Initiative for Georgian Cultural Studies

MODERNISM IN GEORGIA
Mzia Chikhradze
G. Chubinashvili National Center of Georgian Art History and Monuments Protection.Georgia
Futurist Book, Tbilisi 1917-1919
The paper touches on one of the most important artistic occurrence of cultural life of Tbilisi - the futurist
books issued in 1910-1920ies, which was a good example of intercultural, international cooperation of artists
and literary men. In the work there are overviewed the preconditions of the above mentioned phenomenon,
i.e. it is done the short survey of the artistic-cultural life of Tbilisi of that period.
In the work there is observed the modern art movement futurism and very important part of that movement
the futurist books. There is done the comprehensive analysis of European (Italian) and Russian futurism,
it is surveyed Italian futurist book and in this connection other artistic phenomenon, which plaid an
essential role in founding and development of Modernism and particularly, futurist book. There is stressed
the role of the founder of the movement Fillipo Thomaso Marinetti in establishing of futurism and futurist
book there. It is also presented the theoretical basing to his futurist philosophy.
The special place is given to the analysis of Russian futurist books, which were issued in Moscow and
Petersburg in 1910s, those books greatly promoted the arising of Tbilisi futurist books. It is done the parallel
analysis of Russian and Tbilisi futurist books and also it is revealed the common and the specific characteristics
of Tbilisi Futurist book.
In the work there is marked out the figure of the poet Ilia Zdanevich and his importance for the development
of Georgian Modernism, it is underlined his contribution to futurist art and establishment of Dadaism
in 1910s in Tbilisi.
It is considered the publishing activity of futurist organization “41 0 ” in 1917-1919, which was a very
important event in cultural life of Tbilisi of that period. The organization under the leadership of Kruchonikh,
Terenteev, Ilia and Kirill Zdanevich and Valishevski published many interesting books inn different
publishing houses of Tbilisi, those were republished futurist books which have been issued in Moscow
and Petersburg in 1912-1913. The special place is given to the collection dedicated to the artists Sophia
Melnikova, that book became a real anthology of futurist literature. The collection was issued in 1919 and
it is considered as the important attainment not only of Georgian and Russian, but also Modern European
book design art.
As a conclusion it is marked out the significance of the futurist books published in 1910-1920ies in
Tbilisi and it is shown the importance of that artistic event for founding and development of Georgian
Modernism in general and particularly, advancing the art of futurist book.
Nino Zaalishvili
Tbilisi State Academy of Art. Georgia
Several Trends in Georgian Graphic Art of the 1920s and 1930s
The search for self-identification, launched earlier with simple quotations from Georgian works of art,
was continued in the 20 th century by creative reproduction of the impulses received. This was not, however,
the only pursuit of artists of the time. They took equal interest in European and oriental arts. Art Nouveau
then became particularly relevant, and works by also A. Beardsley fell into focus to some extent. In Georgia,
this style retained its influence for a period longer than in Europe. This was facilitated by creative and
pedagogical activities of E. Lansere and I. Scharleman who had fled Petersburg and worked at the Academy
of Art established in 1922.
A wide range of avant-garde movements gained popularity between 1918 and 1921 as a result of contact
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