G. Chubinashvili National Research Centre for Georgian Art
History and Heritage Preservation
Annual Rapport
2012
The research activities of the G. Chubinashvili National Research Centre for Georgian Art
History and Heritage Preservation according to its Statutes is carried out under the guidance of
the Academic Council selected in 2008. The Chairman of the Council is Dr. Prof. Dimitri
Tumanishvili, deputy chairman - Dr. Mzia Janjalia, the academic secretary – Dr. Ketevan
Mikeladze.
Director of the Center – Dr. Mariam Didebulidze; deputy director – Mr. Levan Zedgenudze, the
lowyer.
In 2012 the staff of the Centre included 80 persons, among them 60 scholars (7 - Leading, 29 Senior, 24 – Junior). There are 13 young scholars and 9 interns in the Centre. Two scholars have
been appointed as free lance.
The Main Activities of the Centre
I. 1. Research work
2. Popularization of cultural heritage
3. Monument Recording and Scientific Information
4. Preservation of cultural heritage
6. Education
8. Expertise activities
9. PR activities
II. Archive and Library
III. Laboratory for photo-recording of cultural heritage monuments
In 2012 the G. Chubinashvili Centre accomplished all commitments in the field of research
work, popularization of Georgian Art and protection of cultural heritage.
1. Research work carried out by the Scholars of the Centre:
Main fields of studies in 2012:
 Pre-Christian Art
 Medieval Georgian Architecture
 Medieval Georgian Architectural Sculpture and Metalwork
 Medieval Georgian Wall Painting
 Medieval Georgian Book Illumination
 Iconography of Medieval Art
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Patronage, Cult and Art
Corpus of Artifacts
History of 19th -20th Centuries Georgian Art
Georgian Theatre Design
History 19th-20th Centuries Architecture
Research of Archive Data
1.1. Pre-Christian Art
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Decorations of the Belts Discovered in Eastern Georgia, Dr. Nino Gomelauri;
Prehistoric Petroglyphs from Tsalka, Dr. Mariam Gabashvili
1. 2. Medieval Architecture of Georgia
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Early Christian Architecture of Georgia (a general course in English), Dr. David
Khoshtaria
Cathedral of ’Svetitskhoveli’ During the Rule of the King Mirian and St. Nino, Prof.
Tamaz Sanikidze
The Hobi Monastery, Dr. Irene Elizbarashvii
Cross-domed Church at Khudjabi: Its Interior and Ornamentations, Ketevan
Abashidze-Dadiani
18th-19th Centuries Catholic Churches in Province of Samtskhe, Natia Natsvlishvili
Upper Svaneti Churches with Projecting Apsises, Giorgi Patashuri
East Church of the Tetri Udabno Monastery at Garedji, David Chikhladze
Recently Discovered Architectural Heritage at the Villages Near River Rioni, Dr.
Manana Suramelashvili, Dr. Tsitsino Chachkhunashvili
Comparative Study of Georgian and Byzantine Architecture (Church of the Holy
Cross at Mtskheta and Constantinople Hagia Sophia), Dr. Asmat Okropiridze
Understanding of Dwelling -‘Darbazi’, Prof. Samson Lejava.
1.3. Medieval Georgian Architectural Sculpture and Metalwork
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Secular Portraits on Georgian Architectural Sculpture, Dr. Tamar khundadze
The Issues on Medieval Sculpture of Orthodox World, Dr. Ekaterine Kvachctadze
Images of Warrior Saints in Medieval Georgian Sculpture, Tamar Dadiani
Medieval Goldsmiths Workshops in Georgia, Prof. Leila Khuskivadze, Rd. Teimuraz
Sakvarelidze.
1.4. Medieval Wall Paintings of Georgia
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The Murals of St. George’s Church at Tseva, Prof. Iuza Khuskivadze
13th-14th cc. Royal Portraits, Dr. Ketevan Mikeladze
Murals of St. George’s Church at Ikvi, Dr. Ekaterine Gedevanishvili
Murals of Savior’s Church at Hadishi, Dr. Marine Kenia
Interpretation of the Jakeli Frescoes, Dr. Mzia Janjalia
New Data for the History of the Murals of Nikortsminda Cathedral of St. Nickolas,
Eter Edisherashvili, Nino Tsitsishvili
Murals of the Church at Bobnevi, Tinatin, Khoshtaria
Interrelation of the wall paintings of the Virgin Church and of its annex at Vardzia
Monastery, Dr. Ana Kldiashvili
1.5. Patronage, Cult and Art
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For the History of the Icon of Transfiguration from Zarzma, Prof. Nino Chichinadze
Historic Costume of Early Medieval Period: Its Social, Political, Artistic and
Aesthetic Aspects, Prof. Kitsy Machabeli
1.6. History of 19th -21th Centuries Georgian Art
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History of Georgian Applied Graphics (19th-20th cc), Dr. Mariam Gachechiladze
Georgian Graphic Arts of the Begining of 20th Century, Dr. Marina Medzmariashvili
Expressionistic Tendencies in Georgian Painting, Dr. Tsitsia Kiladze;
Tbilisi ’School of Art’. Artifacts of Applied Arts, Dr. Maia Tsitsishvili;
Characteristics of 20th Century Georgian Painting, Dr. Giorgi Khoshtaria;
Georgian Sculpture of 1930-1950, Dr. Nana Mirtskhulava;
Foreign Artists (Russian, Polish, Italian) Working in Georgia, Dr. Nino Chogoshvili
Modern Paradigms of Georgian Art of the Beginning of 20th Century, Urban
Themes and Self-portrait, Dr. Tea Tabatadze
 Art of Manaba Magamedova, Dali Lebanidze
 “Tbilisian Avantgarde” of 1910th-1920th (Culture, Art and Artists), Dr. Mzia
Chikhradze
 Problem of the Space in Georgian Modernism, Dr. Nana Kipiani.
1.7. Georgian Theatre Design
 Kirile Zjdanevich’s Activity at Rustaveli Theatre, Tamar Belashvili
 Theatre Design at the Turn of 19th-20th cc., Dr. Elene Tumanishvili
 Theatre Design of 1930th , Dr. Mariana O'Klei;
1.8. History 19th-20th Centuries Architecture
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Georgian Architecture of the End of 19th and the Beginning of 20th Centuries,
(Tbilisi), Dr. Tamaz Gersamia
19th Century Secular Architecture in Tbilisi (the Tsikhisubani district) Dr. Maia
Mania
Tbilisi Churches (18th-begining of 20th cc) Remade in Dwelling Haouses, Manon
Liluashvili
Karavan-Sarais (19th-20th cc) of Tbilisi, Irine Mania
So Called ’Stalin’s Period’ Architecture (1930-50-es) in Georgia, Dr. Lali
Andronikashvili.
1.9. Research of Archive Data
 Collected Papers of Prof. Vakhtang Beridze (preparation for publishing), Prof.
Dimitri Tumanishvili
 Translation (From Russian into Georgia) of Studies: T. Virsaladze, Fragments of
the the Old Frescoes in the Main Church of the Gelaty Monastery, E. Privalova,
Timotesubani, Dr. Marina Bulia
 Annotated Bibliography (according periodicals) on Contemporary Georgian Art,
Nino Chincharauli
1.10. Monument Recording and Scientific Information
Group for Monument Recording and Scientific Information of the Centre (Tamaz Dvali,
Dr. Nugzar Andguladze, Dr. Fleur Devdariani, M. Bakradze) carried out the following
works:
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Georgian Architecture for BRILL IDC website;
Materials for encyclopedia – “Historic and Cultural Monuments of Georgia”, vol. 3;
Digital Guide – ’Georgian Architecture – Eastern Georgia’ (in English);
’Hanzta’, Album (ready for edition).
In total the scholars of the Centre have completed 52 annual research works, four books have
been published and 34 articles and papers of the scholars of the Centre have been published in
local and international periodicals and collections and 25 article and 4 books are ready for
publication.
The scholars of the Centre have participated in several local (40 scholars) and international
conferences (11 scholars).
The scholars of the Centre received research grants (5 from international and 2 from – local
foundations).
During 2012 the Centre organized several scientific expeditions in Georgia and abroad.
4. Promotion of Cultural Heritage
4.1. exhibitions/publications/conferences
Exhibitions
In 2012 Centre organized two exhibitions:
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Heritage and Modernity (dedicated to 85th anniversary of Dr. Mary karbelashvily) in
collaboration with Sh. Amiranashvili State Museum of Arts;
 Publications about Nicko Pirosmani (dedicated to 150th anniversary of Pirosmani) in
collaboration with Georgian National Labrory.
Conferences
Centre arranged three conferences:
 Heritage and Modernity (in collaboration with Georgian National Labrory and Sh.
Amiranashvili State Museum of Arts);
 Bichvinta (in collaboration with Sokhumi University)
 Round table - Pirosmani Artistic Form – Genesis and Essence (dedicated to 150th
anniversary of Nicko Pirosmani), in collaboration with Georgian National Labrory.
Publications
In 2012 Centre published four books and periodicals:
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Master Builders in Medieval Georgia (D. Khoshtaria, N. Natsvlishvili, D. Tumanishvili
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Architectural Restoration in Georgia (I. Elizbarashvili, M. Suramelashvili, T.
Chachkhunashvili, K. Churgulia)
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Sergo Kobuladze (M. Gachechiladze)
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Ananuri (E. Kvachatadze, M. Janjalia)
Center's periodical – “Georgian Antiquities" (Saqartvelos Sidzveleni) #15 has been prepared for
publication; and the Internet-journal – Ars Georgica, B, has been published, www.
georgianart.ge
3. Preservation of cultural heritage
The scholars of the Centre participated in 15 projects of
rehabilitation, conservation and
restoration of monuments as well as they carried out monitoring of restored/rehabilitated
monuments.
II. Archive and Library of the Centre
The Staff of the Archive (G. Jgenti, B. Kupreishvili, Kh. Churgulia) continuied prossesing of
archive materials, namely
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Processing of Photo and Design materials of the archive;
Bibliographic directory of 19th-20th cc. Georgian Architect-Restorers.
The Library (G. Jgenti, D. Mukhadze, A Lobjanidze) staff continued registeration and cataloging
of books. New publications of the Centre have been distributed in different local and foreign
Libraries based on the special list approved by the Scientific Board of the Centre.
III. Laboratory for photo-recording of cultural heritage monuments.
The staff of the Laboratory continued digitalization of laboratory archive and providing
laboratory with new photographs. During 2012 laboratory carried out photo-recording of St.
Georges church and its murals.
Summery
In the 1212 the Chubinashvili Centre accomplished all commitments in the field of research
work, popularization of Georgian Art and protection of cultural heritage as well.
The scholars of the Chubinashvili Centre have completed 52 annual research works.
Chubinashvili Center's periodical – “Georgian Antiquities" (Saqartvelos Sidzveleni), #14 has
been published; Internet-journal – Ars Georgica, B, has been prepared, www. georgianart.ge
Two scholarly conferences have been arranged by the Chubinashvili Centre: "Heritage and
modernity" and "Bitchvinta" (10th c. monastery in Abkhazia, West Georgia). The Round Table
"Forosmani - genesis and identity" have been held.
The exhibition "Georgian Artists of 1980-es" have been arranged in collaboration with Fine Art
Museum.
34 articles and papers of the scholars of the Chubinashvili Centre have been published in local
and international periodicals and collections; Four books have been published:
The scholars of the Chubinashvili Centre have participated in several local (40 scholars) and
international conferences 911 scholars).
The Scholars of the Chubinashvili Centre have received research grants (2 from international and
5 from – local foundations).
During 2011, S. Kobuladze Laboratory for Monuments Photo-recording of the Centre updated its
archive with new materials and have processed more than 600 slides
During the 2011 the Chubinashvili Centre has continued collaboration with different national
and foreign scholarly institutions in different fields of humanities.
Chubinashvili Centre continues collaboration with Max Planck Kunsthistorische Institute in
Florence and University of Basel and European Centre for Byzantine and Post-Byzantine
Monuments in Thessaloniki, Courtauld Institute, (London, England);
Harriman Institute
(Colombia University, N-Y, USA); Britich Council (Tbilisi), Goethe Institute (Tbilisi).
In 2012, George Chubinashvili National Centre, in collaboration with Tokyo Institute of
Technology, has continued work on the joint Georgian-Japanese research project that aims at
studying the building technique, the structural stability, and the seismological safety of the
monuments of Medieval Georgian architecture with the use of state-of-the-art technologies.
Memorandum of understanding have been signed with Tuscia University (Viterbo, Italy), Batumi
University (Georgia).
In 2012 the Chubinashvili Centre
started implementation of the
international project –
““OLKAS: “From the Aegean to the Black Sea” – Medieval Ports in the Maritime Routs of the
East” financed by Joint Operational Programme “BLACK SEA BASIN 2007-2013”
The international project LIMEN: Cultural Ports from Aegean to the Black Sea has been
awarded grant in the competition held in the framework of Black Sea Basin Borderland
Collaboration Program of the European Union (The Black Sea CBC). Chubinashvili Centre has
been awarded Georgian State diploma for participation in this project.
The Centre participates in preparation and submitting of the international project “Strengthen
capacities of cultural actors for the development of a dynamic cultural sector contributing to
economic growth and sustainable development” in Collaboration of University of Venice (Italy)
that will be awarded in 2013.
During 2012 the Chubinashvili Centre organized several scientific expeditions in Georgia and
abroad.
29 scholars of the Chubinashvili Centre have been lecturing in different Georgian Universities
and high schools.
16 scholars of the Chubinashvili Centre are members of different scientific boards.
The rehabilitation works of the new building of the Chubinashvili Centre (9, Atoneli St, Old
Tbilisi district) commissioned by the Municipality of Tbilisi, is completed and the Centre will
move to new place in 2013.
Based on the status of the Chubinashvili Centre in the end of December the competition has been
announced for the position of the director of the Center. The Academic Board has elected Dr.
Mariam Didebulidze for second time to this position.