DIMITRI TAVADZE. THE ART OF SCENOGRAPHY
2 August 18:00 - 30 August 18:00
On 2 August 2026, at 6:00 p.m., the anniversary exhibition of the stage designer Dimitri Tavadze will open at the Dimitri Shevardnadze National Gallery of Georgia and will remain on view through 30 August 2026.
As part of the opening event, the book Dimitri Tavadze. Stage Designer, authored by art historian Ketevan Kintsurashvili, will be presented. The publication explores the life and artistic legacy of Dimitri Tavadze.
The history of Georgian theatre and stage design has been shaped by many outstanding artists, among whom Dimitri Tavadze holds a distinguished place. Throughout his life, he devoted himself to the theatre and made a significant contribution to the development of Georgian scenography as an independent branch of the visual arts.
Dimitri Tavadze was born in 1911 in the village of Tkhilagani. He completed his secondary education at the Kutaisi Real School while simultaneously studying drawing at Vano Cheishvili’s studio alongside Petre Otskheli.
In 1926, he enrolled at the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts, where he studied under Gigo Gabashvili, Ioseb Charleman, and Evgeny Lanceray. From 1927 onward, his professional career became closely associated with the Shota Rustaveli State Academic Theatre, where he worked as an assistant director, stage designer, and later as the theatre’s chief designer. His debut as a stage designer at the theatre came in 1932 with the production Salte.
Tavadze’s artistic approach was distinguished by his profound understanding of the technical possibilities of stage construction, his careful interpretation of dramatic texts, and his close consideration of the director’s concept. His scenography enriched each production through its laconic visual language, refined sense of balance, and distinctive painterly palette.
Over the course of half a century, Dimitri Tavadze designed the stage settings for more than 160 productions at 20 theatres. Most of these productions were created at the Shota Rustaveli National Theatre in collaboration with renowned theatre directors. Beginning in 1933, he participated in numerous exhibitions. He was awarded the honorary titles of Honoured Artist of Georgia, State Prize Laureate, and People’s Artist of Georgia. Today, his works are preserved in theatre and museum collections in Georgia and abroad.