Tbilisi: An exhibition of paintings of famous Georgian artist Velentin Sherpilov is all set to be opened at Dimitri Shevardnadze National Gallery. The exhibition will include painting work of Velentin Sherpilov and his students.
Valentin Sherpilov (1911-1974) initially (1932-1938) studied sculpture at the Tbilisi Academy of Arts, but on the advice of Davit Kakabadze, he transferred to the Department of Painting and continued his studies with him.
Later on after graduating from the Academy, he worked as an assistant to Mose Toidze at the Department of Painting. In the late 1930s, this young teacher was dismissed from the academy for propagating “wrong ideas” (impressionism) among his students. In 1938-1974, he taught at the Tbilisi Art School.
Sherpilove from an early age painted portraitsand scenes depicting Tbilisi life. His work is characterized by expressiveness of colour and a free style of writing. Sherpilov was an unmistakable colourist, who has the ability to convey his own visions and feelings into the most complex language of colour.
That is why special attention is paid in his painting to the maximum manifestation of the possibilities of colour.
Valentin Sherpilov also trained large number of young artists. He with his selfless and almost self-sacrificing attitude towards creativity has inspired many young people.
Most importantly, he added dignity to the name of an artist and teacher not only through his creativity, but also through his lifestyle.
The changes that took place in Georgian painting in the 1950s are associated with the group of artists and with their assistance Valentin Sherpilov made a great contribution as a teacher.
In those years Sherpilov’s work also provided the basis for young artists to deepen their specific pictorial searches.
It is also noteworthy that it was these young artists namely Edmond Kalandadze, Gibson Khundadze, Zhani Medzmariashvili, Zurab Nizharadze and others, who determined the face of modern Georgian painting.
They appreciated, first of all, the impressionistic richness of colour, impeccable knowledge of composition and mastery of drawing in the teacher’s canvases.
The exhibition will feature 11 paintings by Valentin Sherpilov and 28 paintings of his students .The exhibition will open on January 15 and will last for two months.
