The Rainbow Of Vision: Solo Exhibition of the Academician of the Russian Academyof Arts Vazha Okitashvili

Dates: July 20 – August 13, 2017
Venue: Exhibition halls of the Russian Academy of Arts
            21 Prechistenka street, Moscow

The Russian Academy of Arts in partnership with the Moscow Museum of Moden Art presents a solo exhibition of the Russian artist, Academician of the Russian Academy of Arts, Member of the Creative Artists’ Union of Russia Vazha Okitashvili timed to his 65th anniversary. On display at the Russian Academy of Arts are more than 150 paintings and graphic works produced by the artist in various years.

The main theme of his graphic sheets executed in various techniques – serigraphy, water color, felt pen – is scenes of everyday village life. The artist creates multi-figure compositions where people meet each other, are engaged in haymaking, play with children and dogs, do housework. Birds and enimals frequently become both integral and independent characters of his graphic works.

The oil canvases of Vazha Okitashvili are distinguished by pure vivid colors. One of the pivotal images-symbols occurring in almost all of his paintings is a House personifying a family, unity, human warmth and happiness. Houses in his works are fused with the surrounding environment – mountains, trees, human and animal figures. Often, an Orthodox church appears as a semantic and compositional focus of his paintings proving that the faith in the artist’s understanding is a unifying factor for the people of Georgia, Russia and other Orthodox nations.

The style of Vazha Okitashvili is close to the so-called “naïve art” rooted in the creativity of his compatriot Niko Pirosmani. The original and sincere art of Vazha Okitashvili is an organic part of the circle of the naïve – a surprising phenomenon of today’s art life which specificity remains a matter of lively debates.  

About the artist:

Vazha Okitashvili was born in Tbilisi in 1952. In 1980 he graduated from the Tbilisi State Art Academy.  In the 1990-s he worked for the Designers’ Union of Georgia, in 1992 moved to Moscow. Since 1993 he has been involved in many design and art projects: the War Memorial in the Poklonnaya Hill, the Manezh Square, monument to Peter the Great in Moscow, recreation of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, etc. His works are in the museum and private collections in Russia and other countries. Vazha Okitashvili lives and works in Moscow.    





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