Zurab Tsereteli

The artist’s individuality and the scale of his talent are determined by his selfless devotion to his vocation, not by any awards and ranks bestowed. Tsereteli’s exhibition in Moscow’s Manezh demonstrated once again the industry and the versatility of the talent of one the most controversial and famous artists in Russia.

As part of the 260th anniversary of the Russian Academy of Arts, its current president, the sculptor Zurab Tsereteli, spoke at the beginning of September with the “Tretyakov Gallery” Magazine about the Academy’s past, its present and future - and his own artistic plans.
Zurab Konstantinovich, the Russian Academy of Arts is celebrating its 260th anniversary with an impressively rich programme of events. Which of them would you single out?

The Russian Academy of Arts is the natural successor of the Academy of Fine Arts and Sciences, which was founded in 1724 by Peter the Great; nevertheless, it should be noted that the Imperial Academy of Arts, as a separate entity, was established in 1757. As for this anniversary year, we are planning quite a number of extraordinary events to commemorate the Academy's 260th birthday, including exhibitions, conferences, masterclasses, and publications.

One example is our major exhibition conceived as a chronicle of everything we have achieved over the last decade. All the Academy's branches, affiliates, research and educational programmes will be represented. This is our first interactive exhibition: the viewer will be able to see everything on screens, including extensive information on the Academy's work, the most up-to-date artistic trends and advanced technologies. The Academy's regional branches will also be organizing exhibitions in Saratov and Krasnoyarsk; our traditional conference, the “Alpatov lectures", will be dedicated to the anniversary as well.

On June 15 2007 the gala opening of a grand exhibition to mark a momentous date, the 250th anniversary of the foundation of the Russian Academy of Fine Arts, took place at Moscow’s Manezh Exhibition Hall. The present-day Academy unites within its fold the best artists of Russia, and the spacious halls of the Manezh accommodated only a part of the Academy’s reserve of artwork, a huge collection that receives new additions every year.

For many Zurab Tsereteli is a unique individual, and the only such one among the people I know - at least among those who play an important role in modern art and modern life. We are living now through a time of anxiety. The world has lost its sure footing, people have lost faith in the old values and, as it seems, in themselves as well - they can no longer get along without technical “crutches”. Lack of confidence in the future, and a panicked anticipation of forthcoming cataclysms dominate, coupled with a fear of failing to keep up with fashions, missing something, receiving less than one is due... The older generation is afraid of being labeled as retrograde. Life - what a frightening thing...

On September 11 2006 a monument to the victims of international terrorism “Teardrop of Grief” (“To The Struggle Against World Terrorism”) was unveiled at a solemn ceremony in the American city of Bayonne in New Jersey.