Revaz Iashvili (1929-1996) Creative works

It is impossible to speak about Georgian modern ceramics without Revaz (Rezo) lashvili (1929-1996), deservedly granted the honorary title the People's Artist of Georgia. He was a prominent representative of Georgian school of ceramics of the 1960s, whose creative works originate from the mid-1950s.He was the Professor of the Ceramics Department of Tbilisi State Academy of Arts until the end of his life and had greatly contributed to the education of young ceramics specialists. Rezo lashvili's name is widely known to our community as an innovative and experimental artist. The disastrous car accident could not affect his hopes for the future and the severe con-sequences of the crash did not serve as a reason for him to despair. In order to full fill his creative ideas the artist had to conduct multilateral technical and technological research. The process was preceded by the study of the forms, style and technology of archaeological and ethnographic monuments; sleepless nights while waiting for completion of tests at the experimental chemical laboratory of the Academy of Fine Arts. And the first success was not far away: the oldest black-glossy ceramic technology, being reinforced with glittering colors, was reborn and introduced into modern ceramics. Even after the car crash Rezo lashvili did not reject his lifestyle. He continued his intense experiments at his own workshop to obtain effects of the artistic techniques of the easel art. As a result of these experiments the margin between the fine and applied arts seemed to have blended, which eventually received extensive resonance in the works of other Georgian ceramics specialists.Rezo lashvili's art leaves the impression that the artist continues his life in the imaginary fairytale-like world full of secret sorrow, but he succeeded in giving clay the cheerful second life. He worked excitedely not only in utilitarian and expositinal fields, but in monumental-decorative, garden-park and monumental ceramics as well. Rezo lashvili's unique works are distinguished by their originality, refined taste and high performing skills. Most of them did not leave local and world exhibition-competitions without gold or silver medals as well as various prizes. He was perceived as a painter-monumentalist till the end of his life, the fact demonstrated not only by the monumental nature of his chamber works, but the architectural forms and sculptural ensembles as well, which were realized or remained in drafts only. Having initiated a monumental ceramics workshop, Rezo lashvili headed it for many years at the Ceramics Department. Also, he founded and led the Experimental and Creative Workshop of Applied and Monumental Ceramics of Young Ceramic Specialists under the Georgian Artists' Union. Rezo lashvili's workshop was always generously open to anyone who was in need of professional advice, heartfelt conversation or assistance. That is why he was always surrounded not only by his family but by his students, colleagues and friends as well. Thanks to his untiring creative work and original individual style, Rezo lashvili played a significant role in forming the general style of modern Georgian ceramics and its further development