Totibadze Giorgi (Gogi)

Giorgi (Gogi) Totibadze (b. October 29, 1928, Tbilisi – d. April 8, 2010, Tbilisi), painter, graphic artist, People's Artist of Georgia (1983), corresponding member of the Academy of Arts of the Soviet Union (1975), corresponding member of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences (from 1996), Honored Artist of Abkhazia (1976). He graduated from the Tbilisi Academy of Arts (1953), his teachers were: K. Sanadze, M. Toidze, I. Gabashvili, U. Japaridze, S. Kobuladze. He also taught there (from 1970 – professor, in 1972–1982 – rector). In 1982–1990, he was the head of the creative workshops of painting and graphics of the Academy of Arts of the Soviet Union.

Totibadze is a representative of genre painting. He worked mainly in the field of portraiture and graphics. He started participating in art exhibitions in 1954. Totibadze's personal exhibition was held in Tbilisi in 1981. His work is characterized by a keen interest in modernity, precise, realistic drawing, and restrained coloring. Portraits are distinguished by a refined, delicate manner of execution. Modernity is accurately conveyed in multi-figure compositions. Some of his important works include: Akhal Samgoris Gzaze (On the New Samgori Road) (1953, Museum of Tbilisi Academy of Arts), Chais Plantatsiis Gmirebi (Heroes of the Tea Plantation) (1961), Studentebi (Students) (1962 – both at the D. Shevardnadze National Gallery), Kakheli Mevenakheebi (Vinegrowers from Kakheti) (1967, D. Shevardnadze National Gallery), Tamada (Toast-master) ( (1967, Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow), Mravalzhamieri (Polychronion) (1986), etc. Portraits: N. Amirejibi (1959, D. Shevardnadze National Gallery), M. Kavtaradze (1956), Z. Paliashvili (1961, Z. Paliashvili House-Museum, Tbilisi), N. Muskhelishvili (1962, D. Shevardnadze National Gallery), etc. He also worked in the field of book graphics.

 

T. Gersamia