Monument to the birth of a new man. Zurab Tsereteli - biography, information, personal life

The biography of Zurab Tsereteli is monumental just like his work. The list of works of this outstanding artist includes hundreds of sculptures, monuments, panels, mosaics, canvases around the world, more than 40 personal exhibitions of the muralist took place. The list of honorary titles, awards, prizes and other merits of the master is long. Today Zurab Tsereteli lives in Moscow, heads the Russian Academy of Arts and the Moscow Museum of Modern Art, and continues to work fruitfully.

Childhood and youth

The most famous muralist of our time was born on January 4, 1934 in Tbilisi. The formation of young Zurab on the path of creativity was determined by the atmosphere in which the boy's childhood passed. Parents did not belong to the world of art: mother Tamara Nizharadze devoted her life to home and children, father Konstantin Tsereteli worked as a mining engineer, taught at a technical university.

But his mother's brother George Nizharadze was a painter. Visiting his house, little Zurab not only learned to draw, but also was imbued with the aura of talk about art, because progressive people of that time came to visit his uncle. At the age of 8, Zurab entered the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts, from which he graduated "with excellent marks" in 1958.

Creation

It seemed that time itself dictated to the artist the development in the style of the monumental genre. The era of the 60s, industrialization, the development of virgin lands, the solution of global problems, mass construction and resettlement - all this was reflected in Tsereteli's desire to introduce novelty into what he does. And the first position - an artist-architect - gave me such an opportunity.

Among the works performed at that time are the decorations of the resort complexes of Georgia (Gagra, Sukhumi, Borjomi, Pitsunda). A feature of the master's work is mosaic painting. Bus stops in Abkhazia, created at the stage of early creativity in the early 60s and representing amazing art objects in the form of fantastic marine life, are a vivid example of it.

Along with artistic and decorative work, Tsereteli participates in exhibitions. The first success was brought by the painting “On Guard for Peace” at the exposition of the same name in Moscow. In 1967, a personal exhibition of the master took place in Tbilisi. Then he was awarded the title of Honored Artist of the Georgian SSR.


Monument to St. George the Victorious in Tbilisi

At the same time, Tsereteli is actively expanding the geography of its activities. One by one, orders are received for the design of a variety of buildings and structures: the Cinema House in Moscow (1967-1968), the Palace of Trade Unions in Tbilisi, the Sea Bottom swimming pool in Ulyanovsk (1969), the resort complex in Adler (1973), the hotel " Yalta-Intourist" in the Crimea (1978) and much more.

In the period of 70-80s, the master worked a lot and fruitfully. Since 1970, being the chief artist of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the USSR, he has been engaged in the decoration of the embassies of the Soviet Union abroad, travels a lot, gets acquainted with famous foreign artists. There is also a lot of work at home, especially after being appointed the chief artist of the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. All this brings the master the honorary title People's Artist of the USSR in 1980.


Monument "Friendship forever" in Moscow

The artist began work on monumental sculptures in the late 70s. The sculptural composition "Happiness for the children of the whole world" became a bright completion of the work. In 1983, the Friendship Forever monument was opened in Moscow, marking the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Georgievsk between Russia and Georgia.

In the same year, in honor of this date, in his native Georgia, the artist built and opened the Arch of Friendship - a mosaic panel, which to this day pleases tourists on the Cross Pass near the Georgian Military Highway.


Monument to Marina Tsvetaeva in Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vi, France

The master dedicated a number of sculptures to prominent figures of history and modernity. Among the bright creations of this direction: a monument to the poetess in Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie (France) and Moscow, a monument in Apatity, a monument to John Paul II (France), in Moscow.

In 2017, the Alley of Rulers was opened in the Russian capital - a gallery of bronze busts by Zurab Tsereteli depicting the leaders of the Russian state from the era of Rurik to the 1917 revolution.


Monument to Peter the Great in Moscow

But the monument involved the name of Tsereteli in a scandal. The public of the capital reacted extremely negatively both to the sculpture and to the idea of ​​its erection, calling the first, as Izvestia wrote, "disfiguring the city." The king is depicted in full growth, standing on the deck of a giant sailing ship.

Even the question of the demolition of the monument was raised, but today the passions have subsided, and the monument continues to stand on an artificial island on the Moscow River, remaining one of the largest in the capital (height - 98 m, weight - over 2000 tons).


Monument "Adam's Apple"

Tsereteli is no stranger to being under the gun of criticism: the master’s works are sometimes accused of gigantomania and bad taste, as was the case, for example, with the Adam’s Apple located in the Art Gallery he opened, or with the Fairy Tale Tree in the Moscow Zoo. The author himself takes this calmly.

Personal life

While still studying at the Tbilisi Academy of Arts, Zurab Tsereteli met his future wife, Inessa Andronikashvili, who comes from a princely family. The couple have been married for over 45 years. In 1998, after the death of Inessa Alexandrovna, the artist organized the first solo exhibition in Moscow, named after his wife.


The daughter of Zurab Konstantinovich and Inessa Alexandrovna, Elena, and her children Vasily, Victoria and Zurab live in Moscow. Today, the Tsereteli family already has four great-grandchildren: Alexander, Nikolai, Philip, Maria Isabella.

Charity

The life of Zurab Tsereteli is closely connected with charity. Some of the works were created by the master free of charge, as a gift to this or that city, institution, fund.


The artist participates in charity exhibitions and auctions, directing funds from the sold works to fight childhood diseases.

By the way, in 2007 The Georgian Times included Zurab Tsereteli in the top ten richest people of Georgian nationality in the world, denoting the artist's fortune of $ 2 billion.

Zurab Tsereteli today

In 2018, Zurab Konstantinovich turned 84 years old. But the rhythm of creative life does not subside. The master creates, organizes exhibitions, gives master classes for children, takes part in interviews and poses for photos with pleasure, but most importantly, he is full of new ideas and projects. In 2016, the Tsereteli House Museum was opened in the village of Peredelkino near Moscow.


Zurab Tsereteli at a meeting with fans in 2018

In 2014, the muralist became a full cavalier of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, receiving an award of the IV degree. The main secret of health and longevity, the sculptor calls constant work "without any vacations and vacation breaks."

Works

  • 1997 - Monument to Peter the Great (Moscow, Russia)
  • 1995 - Tear of Sorrow Memorial (New Jersey, USA)
  • 1983 - Monument "Friendship forever" (Moscow, Russia)
  • 1990 - Monument "Good conquers evil" (New York, USA)
  • 2006 - Monument to St. George the Victorious (Tbilisi, Georgia)
  • 1995 - Victory Monument on Poklonnaya Hill (Moscow, Russia)
  • 1995 - Monument "The Birth of a New Man" (Seville, Spain)
  • 1995 - Monument "Tragedy of Peoples" (Moscow, Russia)
  • 2016 - Monument to Shota Rustaveli (St. Petersburg, Russia)
  • 2013 - Sculptural composition dedicated to women (Moscow, Russia)


On January 4, sculptor Zurab Tsereteli turns 82 years old. The master celebrates his birthday at the construction site. On the coast of the Atlantic Ocean in Puerto Rico, where the final stage of the construction of the highest monument to man on Earth begins. The world has yet to hear about this monument, and we decided to recall the 10 most famous works of Zurab Konstantinovich.

1. Monument "Friendship of Peoples"



In 1983, in honor of the 200th anniversary of the reunification of Georgia with Russia, a “paired” monument was erected in Moscow - the Friendship of Peoples monument. This is one of the most famous early works of Tsereteli.

2. Monument "Good conquers Evil"


The sculpture was installed in front of the UN building in New York in 1990 and symbolizes the end of the Cold War.

3. Victory Monument



This stele was erected as part of the memorial complex on Poklonnaya Hill in Moscow, opened in 1995. The height of the obelisk is 141.8 meters - 1 decimeter for each day of the war.

4. Statue of George the Victorious on Poklonnaya Hill



At the foot of the Victory Monument, another work by Zurab Tsereteli is installed - a statue of George the Victorious, one of the important symbols in the work of the sculptor.



In the city of Seville in 1995, one of the most famous works of Tsereteli in the world was installed - the monument "The Birth of a New Man", reaching a height of 45 meters. A smaller copy of this sculpture is in Paris.

6. Monument to Peter I


Erected in 1997 by order of the Government of Moscow on an artificial island at the fork of the Moscow River and the Vodootvodny Canal. The total height of the monument is 98 meters.

7. "St. George the Victorious"



This sculpture is installed on a 30-meter column on Freedom Square in Tbilisi - St. George is the patron saint of Georgia. The monument was unveiled in April 2006.

8. "Tear of Sorrow"



On September 11, 2006, the Tear of Sorrow monument was unveiled in the United States - a gift to the American people in memory of the victims of September 11th. The opening ceremony was attended by US President Bill Clinton and Russian President Vladimir Putin.



In 2010, at the intersection of Solyanka and Podkolokolny Lane, a monument was erected in honor of those killed during the 2004 Beslan school siege.



Installed near the Tbilisi Sea. The composition consists of three rows of 35-meter columns, on which Georgian kings and poets are depicted in the form of bas-reliefs. Work on it continues.

muralist

Well-known muralist, leading muralist of Moscow. President of the Russian Academy of Arts since 1997, director of the Moscow Museum of Modern Art since 1999. In 1997 he became the author of the artistic solution for the renovated Manezhnaya Square, and in 1995 he became the chief artist in the creation of the Memorial Complex on Poklonnaya Hill. Author of the Victory Monument on Poklonnaya Hill and the monument "300 Years of the Russian Fleet" on the Moscow River. In 1980 he was the chief artist of the Olympics in Moscow, in 1970-1980 he was the chief artist of the USSR Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Hero of Socialist Labor. He has the honorary titles of People's Artist of the USSR, People's Artist of Russia and People's Artist of Georgia. Member of a number of academies, professor. Citizen of Russia and Georgia.

Zurab Konstantinovich Tsereteli was born on January 4, 1934 in Tbilisi. In 1952 he entered the faculty of painting at the Tbilisi Academy of Arts. In 1958 he graduated from the academy and went to work as an artist at the Institute of History and Ethnography of the Georgian Academy of Sciences. Participated in various exhibitions. In 1964 he took a course of study in France, where he talked with the famous artists Pablo Picasso and Marc Chagall.

In 1965-1967, Tsereteli was the chief graphic designer during the construction of the resort complex in Pitsunda. At the same time, by 1967, being the head of the artel, he set up mass production of smalt for mosaic work. In 1970-1980 he was the chief artist of the USSR Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1970-1972 he created a number of mosaic and stained glass compositions in Tbilisi. In 1973 he became the author of the monumental ensemble of the children's resort town in Adler. This work brought Tsereteli fame both in the USSR and abroad. In particular, the well-known Mexican artist Alfaro Siqueiros spoke positively about her.

In 1979, a monument by Tsereteli "Science, Education - to the World", about 20 meters high, was installed in the American city of Brockport in the state of New York. In the same place and in the same year, the monumental composition "Happiness to the children of the whole world" was installed. According to some reports, Tsereteli was supposed to paint the UN building in New York together with Picasso, but this project was never realized.

In 1980, Tsereteli was the chief artist of the Olympic Games in Moscow. Also in 1980, Tsereteli created the monumental sculpture "Man and the Sun" about 80 meters high in Tbilisi, and in 1982 - the monument "Friendship Forever" in Moscow, dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the Treaty of St. George and the entry of Georgia into Russia. Since 1985 he began to work on the ensemble "History of Georgia" near Tbilisi. Finished work in 2003. In 1989, Tsereteli's "Destroy the Wall of Distrust" monument was erected in London, and in 1990, the "Good Defeats Evil" monument appeared in New York.

In the early 1990s, Tsereteli came into conflict with the Georgian authorities and was forced to move to Moscow. Here, having received the support of Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov, he actually became the "number one muralist". In 1995, Tsereteli became the chief artist in the creation of the Memorial Complex on Poklonnaya Hill. He created the Victory Monument in the form of a monument to George the Victorious and a stele 142 meters high. In 1995-2000, Tsereteli participated in the work on the reconstruction of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow. In 1997, he developed a general design solution for the renovated Manezhnaya Square and the interiors of the Okhotny Ryad shopping and recreation complex. Also in 1997, a monument by Tsereteli "300 Years of the Russian Navy", or "Peter the Great", 96 meters high, was erected on the Moscow River. His installation caused a mixed reaction in society. In addition, in 1997 Tsereteli was elected president of the Russian Academy of Arts. In December 1999, he achieved the opening of the Moscow Museum of Modern Art and became its director. In 2001, the Zurab Tsereteli Art Gallery was opened.

In 2003-2010, Tsereteli erected many monuments in Moscow, other cities of Russia and the world, including monuments to the founder of the Academy of Arts Ivan Shuvalov in St. Petersburg, Princess Olga in Pskov, Honore de Balzac in the city of Agda in France, Cossack Kharko in Kharkov in Ukraine, General Charles de Gaulle in Moscow, Alexander Peresvet, hero of the Battle of Kulikovo, in Borisoglebsk, President of the Chechen Republic Akhmad Kadyrov in Grozny, Pope John Paul II in Ploermel in France, former Prime Minister of Japan Ichiro Hatoyama in Tokyo, Moscow composition "Wives of the Decembrists. Gates of Fate" and a monument to the memory of the victims of the terrorist attack in Beslan, as well as a huge copper hare in Baden-Baden. In addition, Tsereteli was engaged in the design of new stations of the Moscow metro - "Victory Park" and "Trubnaya". Also in 2006, he erected a monument dedicated to the fight against international terrorism in the city of Bayon, New Jersey, opposite the site of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack in New York.

Creativity Tsereteli caused a mixed reaction in society and among critics. He was reproached for monopolizing monumental projects in Moscow, violating the stylistic unity of the capital and creating his works in-line. Other critics of Tsereteli's activities spoke positively and claimed that he created his own style.

Tsereteli has been a member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation since 2005. He was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor, has the honorary titles of People's Artist of the USSR, People's Artist of Russia and People's Artist of Georgia. The sculptor is the president of the Moscow International Foundation for UNESCO, an academician of the International Academy of Creativity, a full member of the Russian Academy of Arts, a full member of the Georgian Academy of Sciences, a professor at the Brockport University of Fine Arts and a corresponding member of the French Academy of Fine Arts.

A grand master who combines the talents of an artist and an organizer. Salvador Dali

Zurab Tsereteli, one of the most successful and influential artists and sculptors in the world, winner of the Picasso Prize, Hero of Socialist Labor, winner of the Lenin and State Prizes of the USSR, President of the Russian Academy of Arts, Director of the Moscow Museum of Modern Art, Director of the Tsereteli Art Gallery.

Tsereteli has been a member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation since 2005, President of the Moscow International Foundation for UNESCO, full member of the Georgian Academy of Sciences, professor at Brockport University, member of academies in several countries of the world.

Zurab Konstantinovich Tsereteli was born on January 4, 1934 in Tbilisi. In 1952 he entered the faculty of painting at the Tbilisi Academy of Arts.

In 1958 he graduated from the academy and went to work as an artist at the Institute of History and Ethnography of the Georgian Academy of Sciences. Participated in various exhibitions. In 1964 he took a course of study in France, where he talked with the famous artists Pablo Picasso and Marc Chagall.

In 1965-1967, Tsereteli was the chief designer during the construction of the resort complex in Pitsunda.

At the same time, by 1967, being the head of the artel, he set up mass production of smalt for mosaic work. In 1970-1980 he was the chief artist of the USSR Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1970-1972 he created a number of mosaic and stained glass compositions in Tbilisi.

In 1979, a monument by Tsereteli "Science, Education - to the World", about 20 meters high, was installed in the American city of Brockport in the state of New York.

In the same place and in the same year, the monumental composition "Happiness to the children of the whole world" was installed.

According to some reports, Tsereteli was supposed to paint the UN building in New York together with Picasso, but this project was never realized.

In 1980, Tsereteli was the chief artist of the Olympic Games in Moscow. Also in 1980, Tsereteli created the monumental sculpture "Man and the Sun" about 80 meters high in Tbilisi, and in 1982 - the monument "Friendship Forever" in Moscow, dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the Treaty of St. George and the entry of Georgia into Russia.

Since 1985 he began to work on the ensemble "History of Georgia" near Tbilisi. Finished work in 2003. In 1989, Tsereteli's "Destroy the Wall of Distrust" monument was erected in London, and in 1990, the "Good Defeats Evil" monument appeared in New York.

In 1995, Tsereteli became the chief artist in the creation of the Memorial Complex on Poklonnaya Hill. He created the Victory Monument in the form of a monument to George the Victorious and a stele 142 meters high. In 1995-2000, Tsereteli participated in the work on the reconstruction of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow.

In 1997, he developed a general design solution for the renovated Manezhnaya Square and the interiors of the Okhotny Ryad shopping and recreation complex. Also in 1997, a monument by Tsereteli "300 years of the Russian fleet" or "Peter the Great" was erected on the Moscow River.

His installation caused a mixed reaction in society. In addition, in 1997 Tsereteli was elected president of the Russian Academy of Arts. In December 1999, he achieved the opening of the Moscow Museum of Modern Art and became its director. In 2001, the Zurab Tsereteli Art Gallery was opened.

In 2003-2010, Tsereteli erected many monuments in Moscow, other cities of Russia and the world, including monuments to the founder of the Academy of Arts Ivan Shuvalov in St. Petersburg, Princess Olga in Pskov, Honore de Balzac in the city of Agda in France, Cossack Kharko in Kharkov in Ukraine, General Charles de Gaulle in Moscow, Alexander Peresvet, hero of the Battle of Kulikovo, in Borisoglebsk, President of the Chechen Republic Akhmad Kadyrov in Grozny, Pope John Paul II in Ploermel in France, former Prime Minister of Japan Ichiro Hatoyama in Tokyo, Moscow composition " The wives of the Decembrists.

Gates of Fate" and a monument to the memory of the victims of the terrorist attack in Beslan, as well as a huge copper hare in Baden-Baden. In addition, Zurab Tsereteli was engaged in the design of new Moscow metro stations - "Victory Park" and "Trubnaya".

Also in 2006, he erected a monument dedicated to the fight against international terrorism in the city of Bayon, New Jersey, opposite the site of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack in New York.

Is there now a person in Russia and the CIS who would not know the name of Zurab Tsereteli? Of course no!

But this is not surprising, Zurab Tsereteli entered the creative life of the USSR on such a grand scale, climbed his career ladder on such a grand scale, which is undoubtedly the result of his talent.

"Zurab Tsereteli is a wonderful artist. His works bring joy to people, the happiness of knowing beauty.

The themes of his works are diverse and fascinating: national folklore, ancient legends, Georgian ornaments, our land and the underwater kingdom, our present.

With the power of creative talent, boundless fantasy and imagination, he creates unique works of art. They sparkle like diamonds, shimmer with all the colors of the rainbow, sparkle like the rays of the sun that have fallen to the ground.

Tsereteli puts his efforts in objects that are very important to people. Tsereteli is a modern artist who works closely with architects, and this is one of the reasons for his creative success, the wide scope and perspective of his work.

The synthesis of fine arts and architecture is the future of our art. I really appreciate the artist Tsereteli, I believe in him. I wish him a long life and much, much creative joy."

KONENKOV S. T. Russian sculptor

Famous personalities about Zurab Tsereteli

Pablo Picasso:

"This young artist Zurab has a wonderful beginning. He has a great sense of color, generalizes form. I see him as a future great painter.

In his works there are good traditions received from Pirosmani. And Pirosmani was one of those who helped me when I was a young artist. "Marc Chagall about Z. K. Tsereteli:

"Bravo! Bravo!" "Painting for Zurab Tsereteli is the beginning of all beginnings."

Archigius (Augustin Francois Guilla), honorary member of the Russian Academy of Arts (France). I was given a high honor: I was elected an honorary member of the academy, which I am incredibly proud of. In those days, I made an amazing discovery for myself.

It turns out that Moscow and Paris are like twins. People here and there are very cheerful, they like to make toasts, they love music. The work of Zurab Tsereteli made the biggest impression on me - many-sided and many-sided. His works are absolutely universal. The painting is amazingly beautiful and poetic.

Nikolai Andronov, People's Artist of Russia.

He (ZK Tsereteli) is an artist who absorbed all the paradoxes of European culture of the 20th century.

His work is based on Christian motives, which is very easy to trace. And one more thing - in his works, in his perception of the world, the artist remains a child. This "childishness", if I may say so, is directly related to another, in my opinion, very important aspect of his activity.

Zurab Tsereteli is constantly and a lot involved in charity work, mainly aimed at the needs of children - sick, orphans, in general, unfortunate children whom he tries to help. This is also an integral part of the creative personality.

Georgy Danelia, film director.

Trying today to determine its place in the painting of Georgia, Russia, and in the world of painting is useless. The place, as a rule, is determined later, in time. Objectively, today it is a name that is quite "hyped", as they say now.

A name that is controversial. This is already interesting - it means that there is something very unusual in what he does. Because when an artist goes the beaten path - there is no dispute, or everyone praises, or everyone scolds.

And if they argue, then there is a search. The most important thing in his nature and in his work is that he can simultaneously hold a lot of conductor's baton in his hand, and conduct at once many orchestras that are not out of tune.

Ilya Reznik, poet.

Zurab Tsereteli has tremendous energy. For example, I really like "Chaplin", a wonderful work. Here in these bright strokes, juicy - his passion, his masculine strength, and it is all transferred here, to us, especially in his "flower series". These paintings show his self-confidence and love for people.

Alfaro Siqueiros Mexican artist - painter about Z.K. Tsereteli:

I affirm that he entered the vast expanses of the art of the future, an art that combines sculpture with painting. The work of Zurab Tsereteli has gone beyond the national framework and is acquiring international significance."

From Salvador Dali's letter to Kurt Waldheim. 1979

"Thank you for the offer to make murals at the UN together with the Russian artist Zurab Tsereteli. This is a happy acquaintance with a grandiose master, which combines the talents of an artist and an organizer.

This gives double energy to all the works and undertakings of Zurab. I think it will be a professional creative competition. Zurab proposed to us for consideration a preliminary design of the "Movement of the World".

The modernity of the theme, innovative execution and an unusual way of pictorial solution of this project prompts to announce a competition of the same name, which would give other artists the opportunity to create their own works and express their point of view.

From the speech of Senator Edward Kennedy at the opening of the composition in Brockport "Happiness to the Children of the World":

"What a majestic and wonderful gift!

Tsereteli displayed the beauty and power of sports. The Soviet Union performed a wonderful action by dedicating these works to the children of the whole world..."

Zurab Konstantinovich Tsereteli (Georgian ზურაბ წერეთელი). Born on January 4, 1934 in Tbilisi. Soviet and Russian painter, sculptor, designer, teacher, professor. President of the Russian Academy of Arts since 1997. Academician of the Academy of Arts of the USSR (1988; corresponding member 1979). Hero of Socialist Labor (1990). People's Artist of the USSR (1980). Laureate of the Lenin Prize (1976), two State Prizes of the USSR (1970, 1982) and the State Prize of Russia (1996). Full Cavalier of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland.

Father - Konstantin Georgievich (1903-2002), known in Georgia as a civil engineer, comes from an old Georgian princely family of Tsereteli.

Mother - Tamara Semyonovna Nizharadze (1910-1991), also a representative of the princely family. A noticeable influence on the young Zurab was his mother's brother, the painter Georgy Nizharadze. Georgian artists - David Kakabadze, Sergo Kobuladze, Ucha Japaridze and many others - constantly visited his house, where the boy spent a significant part of his time. They became the first teachers of a young man who was fond of fine arts.

He graduated from the painting department of the Tbilisi Academy of Arts, worked at the Institute of History, Archeology and Ethnography of the Georgian Academy of Sciences.

In 1964 he studied in France, where he communicated with outstanding artists and.

Since the late 1960s, he began to work actively in the field of monumental art. In addition to Russia, his sculptural works are in Brazil, Great Britain, Spain, USA, France, Japan, Georgia and Lithuania.

In 1988 he was elected a full member (academician) of the Academy of Arts of the USSR.

Since 1997 he has been President of the Russian Academy of Arts.

In 2003, for the special services of Zurab Tsereteli to the Russian Federation, Russian President Vladimir Putin granted him Russian citizenship.


Author of more than 5000 works of painting, graphics, sculpture, monumental and decorative art (frescoes, mosaics, panels), etc. the Riviera Park in Sochi, the Palace of Trade Unions in Tbilisi, the New Stage of the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, etc.; as a sculptor, he created many monuments, among them "Friendship forever" in Moscow, "Good conquers Evil" in front of the UN building in New York, "The Birth of a New Man" in Seville, "Destroy the Wall of Distrust" in London, the Monument to Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya in Ruza and others

Famous works of Zurab Tsereteli

Monument to Peter I in Moscow was erected in 1997 by order of the Moscow Government on an artificial island, poured at the fork of the Moscow River and the Vodootvodny Canal. The total height of the monument is 98 meters. According to the gallery owner and member of the Public Chamber M. Gelman, Tsereteli "cheated" during the installation of the monument, forging the documents of the town planning council, limiting the height of the monument to 17 meters. There is a version that this monument is a reworked and modified statue of Columbus, which Tsereteli unsuccessfully offered to buy the United States, Spain and Latin American countries in 1991-1992, on the 500th anniversary of the discovery of the American continent by Europeans.

Cathedral of Christ the Savior built under the direction of Tsereteli. Instead of the original white stone cladding, the building received marble, and the gilded roof was replaced with a coating based on titanium nitride. Large sculptural medallions on the facade of the temple were made of polymer material. An underground parking was placed under the temple.

Among the most famous monumental works of Tsereteli, it is worth highlighting: the monument "Friendship Forever" in honor of the bicentenary (1783-1983) of the annexation of Georgia to Russia, immediately after installation received an ironic nickname among Muscovites - "Shashlik" (Tishinskaya Square in Moscow, the author of the architectural part is a famous poet Andrei Voznesensky); the Good Defeats Evil monument in front of the UN building in New York; monument "Destroy the wall of distrust" (London, UK); 6-meter Monument to Peter the Great in St. Petersburg; bronze sculpture "The Birth of a New Man" (Paris, France); sculptural composition "The Birth of a New Man" (Seville, Spain); Birth of a New World, Columbus Monument in Puerto Rico (2016); Monument to John Paul II (France).

The author of monumental and decorative works (panels, mosaics, stained-glass windows, decorative and play sculptures) in the resort complex in Pitsunda (1967), in the resort town of the All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions in Adler (Sochi) (1973; Lenin Prize in 1976), in the hotel complex "Yalta- Intourist" in Yalta (1978), in the hotel complex "Izmailovo" in Moscow (1980).

Tsereteli participated in the construction of the memorial complex on Poklonnaya Hill in Moscow (opened in 1995), as well as in a number of other architectural and monumental projects in Moscow at the end of the 20th century, including the design of Manezhnaya Square. Zurab Tsereteli created a number of monuments to figures of the past and lifetime sculptural portraits of his contemporaries, many of which were donated by Tsereteli to various cities in the Russian Federation and abroad. Not all are really raised.

September 11, 2006 in the United States was opened Monument "Tear of Sorrow" works by Zurab Tsereteli - a gift to the American people in memory of the victims of the September 11 attacks. The monument is a 30-meter bronze slab with a narrow elongated through hole, resembling a rift, inside which hangs a giant mirror drop, cast from fragments of steel beams of the twin towers melted during the terrorist attack. Initially, the author was going to give it to New York. But the city authorities did not want to see him at home. Then Tsereteli attempted to erect a monument on the other side of the Hudson - opposite the site of the tragedy - in Jersey City. But even here, the municipality refused the gift, saying that most residents do not want to see this tear, and in the local press the future masterpiece was completely dubbed “vulva”. Nevertheless, Tsereteli managed to find Bayonne for his monument - a place at the mouth of the Hudson River, on an abandoned pier of a former military base, where signs still flaunt: “Beware of an infected place!”. A 175-ton bronze slab rises on the banks of the Hudson opposite the national symbol of America - the Statue of Liberty and the site where the twin towers of the World Trade Center used to stand.

In 2009, Tsereteli planned to install a 100-meter statue of Jesus Christ on Solovki, which caused well-reasoned objections from the leadership of the Solovetsky Museum-Reserve.

In 2009, a copper hare over three meters tall was installed in Baden-Baden - a copy of Faberge's silver hare enlarged 30 times.

In 2012, in the French resort town of Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, Tsereteli opened a sculptural composition dedicated to. The monument is part of a diptych - the other part of which is the monument. This monument was erected in Muchkap - the district center of the Tambov region.

In 2013, a monument to Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya by Tsereteli was erected in Ruza.

In 2015, a monument to Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill was opened in Yalta, based on the Yalta Conference.

Sculptural composition "Warrior-skier". Installed in Patriot Park in 2017.

In 2017, in Moscow, in Petroverigsky Lane, Tsereteli made the Alley of Rulers, consisting of busts of all the rulers of Russia.

In 2017, in the city of Apatity, a Monument to Pushkin was erected in the Pushkin Square.

Tsereteli is also director of the Moscow Museum of Modern Art and director of the Tsereteli Art Gallery.

In mid-February 2010, Zurab Tsereteli was awarded the title of Chevalier of the Order of the Legion of Honor. In early June of the same year, the US National Society of Arts awarded him the Gold Medal of Honor. Z. Tsereteli became the first Georgian and Russian artist to receive such an award.

On March 11, 2014, the signature of Zurab Tsereteli appeared under the appeal of cultural figures of the Russian Federation in support of the policy of Russian President V.V. Putin in Ukraine and Crimea. The next day, however, Tsereteli's aide told Georgian television that Tsereteli did not actually sign the letters.

Personal life of Zurab Tsereteli:

Married. Wife - Princess Inessa Alexandrovna Andronikashvili.

Daughter - Elena (Lika) (born 1959), art critic.

Grandchildren: Vasily (born 1978), Zurab (born 1987), Victoria (born 2000). Great-grandchildren: Alexander (born 2003), Nikolai (born 2005), Philip (born 2008), Maria Isabella (born 2009).



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