How in Tbilisi they said goodbye to the sculptor Zurab Tsereteli
Farewell to the famous sculptor Zurab Cereteli stretched out in Georgia for three days. On Thursday and Friday, a civilian memorial service was held at the Tbilisi Museum of Contemporary Art, and on Saturday, on April 26, his body will rest in the didaby pantheon of outstanding figures of the nation. How the correspondent « Kommersant » was convinced George Dali, Representatives of creative circles came to say goodbye to the sculptor, among whom he enjoyed great authority, as well as children and grandchildren of Soviet figures. For the rest of the population of Georgia and the death of Tsereteli, and mourning events were almost unnoticed.
On Thursday, April 24, the coffin with the body of Zurab ceres was installed in the largest hall of the Museum of Modern Art of his own name. A huge building of the XIX century, where the Cadet Corps was located on the time of the Russian Empire, is located on the Central Rustaveli Avenue – near parliament. Zurab Tsereteli bought it in 2007 and restored for many years. According to unofficial data, he paid as many as $ 4 million for the historical building. Moreover, the deal went with difficulty, and the then President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili, as a sign of gratitude. The fact is that after his coming to power, Tsereteli erected a huge monument with George the Victorious on the Central Square of Freedom. This was perceived by society as the open support of the new president and his political course.
All these years, the Museum of Contemporary Art has not been closed to the expositions of other talented creators. But of course, mostly the works of Zurab Tsereteli were exhibited there. It is interesting that among them there were practically no sculptures with which he became famous in the broad masses. In the museum of his name, Tsereteli demonstrated painting, drawings, mosaics, enamel, works of decorative and applied art. One of the slightly exceptions is the 23-meter sculptural composition “Argonauts”, which tells about the ancient myth of abduction by the Greeks of the Golden Fleece in the Georgian Colchis. Under this monument, they installed a coffin.
As previously said « Kommersant »Neither the President of Georgia, nor the Prime Minister, nor the speaker of the parliament made statements about the death of Tsereteli.
The leading television channels also did not pay any attention to this event. Nevertheless, the state could not completely ignore the death of the famous compatriot – one of the first in the museum was the Minister of Culture Tinatin Rukhadze. Following her, the Ministry of Culture entered a huge wreath of white roses. And it was the white roses that most often left the inhabitants of Tbilisi at the coffin and on the tables around.
The Georgian intelligentsia considered to say goodbye to the Zuraz with the Zuraz – people who associated decades of creative and personal relations with him. So, the singer Tamara Gverdtsiteli, known throughout the post -Soviet space, came. For a long time, the rector of Tbilisi State University Rain Metreveli stood at the coffin, who was friends with the deceased since his youth. One after another, former students of Tsereteli from his Tbilisi workshop and students of the Art Academy went. Several tourists came in – paying tribute to the deceased, they got acquainted with his extensive artistic heritage.
But there was still no mass of mass, as in Moscow, to say goodbye to the Zurabus.
Perhaps the fact is that many representatives of the creative elites with whom he was friends and collaborated have already passed away. But there is another reason: in 2025, ceremonies are perceived by young residents of Sakartvo as a person from the past era in the history of the country – where it was more often called Georgia.
Mikhail Saakashvili, who was in prison, also has not yet reacted to the death of Zurab Tsereteli – although he almost daily with the help of his lawyers and relatives comments on important events in the media and social networks.
On the other hand, the ruling Georgian Dream party is not very actively involved in mourning events – perhaps fearing additional accusations of pro -Russian. Only the mayor of Tbilisi Kakha Kaladze expressed official condolences to the family and friends of Tsereteli, calling him a « great artist. »
But the founder of the neutral Georgia party Valery Kvaraskhelia, who is considered the only person openly openly pro -Russian politician in the country, came to farewell.
On the chic « Lexus » and « Maybach » the stars of the secular chronicle came to the museum – they discussed whether the famous Moscow Georgians would fly to the Saturday funeral. Bouquets of red flowers were left by representatives of the creative elite at the coffin, as well as the children and grandchildren of Georgian figures from the time of the USSR, who were friends with the Zuraz Tsereteli, but themselves passed away 20–25 years ago.
“He was the last representative of the past era,” said one of the participants in the panachid with a sigh, looking at the coffin with the body of the deceased. “And his departure in Georgia finally ended.”
Zurab Cereteli will be buried on Saturday in the Didaubian pantheon of outstanding figures – the second most important of the country’s memorial cemetery. The doubts that the sculptor is worthy of this, no one publicly expressed in Georgia.
