The Giorgi Alexi-Meskhishvili Exhibition- Not to Be Missed

On November 3, Georgian National Museum Dimitri Shevardnadze National Gallery had a pleasure to invitd art lovers to the particularly picturesque anniversary exhibition of Giorgi Alexi-Meskhishvili.

The exposition showcases artworks created in different media in over 50 years. In 1967 Georgi Alexi-Meskhishvili graduated from the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts. Since 1975, he has been the chief designer for both the Rustaveli Drama Theater and The National Opera in Tbilisi. In 1996, he moved to work in New Hampshire, USA. He was a visiting professor of Stage Design at Dartmouth College from 1996 to 2015. He is a recipient of the Dean of Faculty Teaching Award and numerous citations and honors including: "State Prize of USSR" (1979) and three consecutive "Prize for the Best Work of the Year" (1985-1987); etc. He is an honorary member of the Russian Art Academy (Moscow) and Honorary Citizen of Tbilisi, Capital of Republic Georgia.

Georgi Alexi-Meskhishvili has created sets and costumes for hundreds of performances around the world. In 1999, he represented The Republic of Georgia at the Venice Biennale and at the Prague Quadrienalle in 2011.

In addition to his design work, Alexi-Meskhishvili is a recognized artist, his painting and collages having been displayed in numerous galleries, museums and private collections around the world.

Georgi Alexi Meskhishvili continues to work with different theaters around the world.

Georgi Alexi-Meskhishvili’s designs have been seen on the stages of The Metropolitan Opera, Bolshoi Theater, Moscow Art Theater, Venice's La Fenice, Bologna's Teatro Comunale, Munich's Bavarian State Opera, Teatro San Martin of Buenos Aires, The Kirov Opera, Big Dramatic, St Petersburg, Dusseldorf Schauspielhaus, Opera National de Bordeaux, Chatelet in Paris, National Theater Tel-Aviv, Shakespeare Theater Washington .DC, Synetic Theater, Washigton.DC. IN Synetic Theater, his “Guest and Host” according to the Georgian genius Vazha Pshavela, was recognized as one of the best performances of the decade.  

He has received the "Best Production" recognition at the Edinburgh International Festival for "Don Juan" (1988); a Felix Award at the Berlin Film Festival for his design of Sergei Paradjonov's film "Ashik-Kerib" (1989); Critics' Award at the Edinburgh International Festival for  "Midsummer Night's Dream" (1994); "Best Design of the Year" for Carlo Gozzi's "Serpentine Woman" in Tbilisi, Georgia (1998); and a Helen Hayes Award for the Best Production in 2003 for "Hamlet - Rest in Silence" at the Synetic Theater in Washington, D.C. Michail Tumanishvili prize 2011, Petre Otzxeli Award 2016.

Recent and upcoming projects include "The Gambler" by S.Prokofiev,"Benvenuto Cellini" by H. Berlioz for The Metropolitan Opera; “Master and Margarita" for the Synetic Theater, Washington D.C.; "Mazepa" by P. Tchaikovsky for the Bolshoi Theater Moscow.  “The Nose" by D. Shostakovich for the Bard College, "Biderman and Firestarters" by Max Frish, Rustaveli Theater, Tbilisi 2009 , Abesalom and Eteri ,Tbilisi State Opera, 2015, The Tempest, Et Cetera Theater Moscow 2010, The House of Bernarda Alba, BDT St. Petersburg 2011, etc.

 “I am very happy that last year, the studio named after Gogi Alexi-Meskhishvili was founded and that from then on, he will be able to transfer his knowledge and experience to Georgian students,” said Mikheil Giorgadze, Minister of Culture and Monument Protection.  

Davit Lortkipanidze, Director General of Georgian National Museum noted that it is very important that the Georgian National Museum hosts this exposition to boost Gogi Alexi-Meskhishvili’s collections in the future.

Gogi Alexi-Meskhisvhili told GEORGIA TODAY: “I gave the museum a sketch of Salome from the opera by Richard Strauss as a gift, staged in St. Petersburg many years ago.”   

The Georgian National Museum’s National Gallery is often indulged with numerous spectators, as it offers quite interesting exhibitions. However, the scale of these works and the particularly high attendance once again proved the important personality of the author as well as his appraisal on the part of Georgian society. A great many of those indelible costumes, dresses and collages mentioned from the performances above are to be seen there. This is not an exhibition that takes place often. Among the guests were even the President of Georgia, Mr. Giorgi Margvelashvili and first Lady Mrs. Maka Chichua. Both left the building without making any comments.        

Where: Dimitri Shevardnadze National Gallery, 3 Rustaveli Ave. Tbilisi, Georgia.

When: Until November 23

By Maka Lomadze