The Eternal City Painting

Leri Chanturia was born in 1948 in one of the most picturesque corners of our planet – the city of Sukhumi. In 1961-1965 he studied at the Sukhumi Art School. In 1970-1975 he studied and graduated from the Tbilisi Academy of Arts. After graduating from the Academy, he completed an internship in the workshop of the famous Georgian abstract sculptor Carlo Grigoli for two years. During his studies at the Academy and after graduation, he worked in the direction of abstract art, initially under the impression of the great masters of the Russian avant–garde, and then - Fauvism, expressionism, action painting, etc. This is how Leri Chanturia became a master of artistic abstraction. In the art of Leri Chanturia, the following areas should be distinguished: geometric abstraction, expressive painting, graphic drawing, sculpture. The symbol of this artist's painting is a tree. His contemplation during the annual cycle instills in the master a different energy, which is transformed into painting and sculpture. By the maximum tension of color, the artist conveys his spiritual state. Painting has a contemplative meditative character, it is a complete alternative to the machinery of modernity, does not have an edifying character, is devoid of a literary narrative. Leri Chanturia is the author of the idea of creating an architectural and plastic environment, which, in turn, is a harmonious combination of architecture, plastics, monumental and decorative arts in synthesis with gardens, parks, fountains and waterfalls. With the implementation of this idea, small oases can be created in urbanized cities. The first period of the artist's life and work took place in the city of Sukhumi, where the sea, evergreens, a climate rich in sunny days, unique distant mountain landscapes greatly influenced the work of the master. In addition to the natural elements, the cultural, social, ethnic environment of the city contributed to the formation of people of a contemplative, thoughtful, liberal-philosophical mindset, whose worldview was as extensive as a seascape. In the Soviet period, socialist realism dominated the traditional genres of art. Therefore, the author chose monumental and decorative applied art for his bold experiments, in which relative freedom was allowed. Complex works were carried out with a group of artists at that time (Sochi, Adler, Pitsunda, Gagra).