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100th anniversary jubilee event of an outstanding Georgian scientist, statesman, architect and art historian, academician Vakhtang Beridze was held on May 30, 2014.

Vakhtang Beridze (1914-2000) was a full member of Georgian Academy of Science, one of the founders of the main centre of Georgian art research – the G. Chubinashvili Institute of Georgian Art History and its director in 1973-1988 and in 1996-2000.

Vakhtang Beridze, a student of George Chubinashvili, raised the science of Georgian art history, founded by his great teacher, to a new level and helped to obtain its international authority. Numerous international symposiums (1974, 1977, 1980, 1983, 1986, 1989) organized by his efforts and the books published in different languages brought Georgian art the world significance: “13-16th cc Architecture of Samtskhe” (1955); “16-18th cc Georgian Architecture” (two volumes) (1986 and 1994); “Ancient Georgian Architecture” (1977); “The Development of Georgian Domed Architecture” (1983); “The Architecture of Tao-Klarjeti” (1981); “The Architecture of Tbilisi in 1801-1917” (1960); “The History of Georgian Embroidery” (1983), monographs dedicated to L. Gudiashvili, D. Kakabadze and N. Pirosmani and many others. 

Several generations of art historians brought up by V. Beridze successfully serve national deeds started by V. Beridze and his predecessors.

Vakhtang Beridze’s contribution in research of Tbilisi history and architecture is priceless. His work – “Tbilisi Architecture” is still a handbook for those who are interested in the history and antiquities of our capital city.

Vakhtang Beridze was not only an outstanding scientist, but an acknowledged statesman as well. He had a deep knowledge in different spheres of art: music, theatre, literature, poetry. He had an exceptional personality full of dignity and he created the whole epoch in Georgian art history, as well as in Georgian society.

On May 30, at 7 p.m. a jubilee celebration dedicated to Vakhtang Beridze’s 100th anniversary was held in the minor auditorium of the Rustaveli Theatre.

In the auditorium hall there was arranged an exhibition of caricatures executed by the scholar. The exhibition had a great success among the guests invited to the jubilee.
The centenary celebration was conducted by the director of the George Chubinashvili National Research Centre for Georgian Art History and Heritage Preservation Mariam Didebulidze.
Musical part was performed by the Sulkhan Tsintsadze  State Stringed Quartet (Konstantin Vardeli, Tamaz Batiashvili, Nodar Zhvania, Otar Chubinishvili) and the pianist Edisher Savitski.
Teimuraz Sakvarelidze, Leila Khuskivadze, Dimitri Tumanishvili, Vasil Kiknadze, Vakhtang Davitaia, Rezo Tavadze and Merab Kokochashvili spoke about Vakhtang Beridze’s personal and professional merits.

In the end the guests were shown a documentary with the interview with V. Beridze.

On June 2, also in the frames of the jubilee celebration, Georgian Academy of Science held a jubilee meeting and a documentary, describing Vakhtang Beridze’s merits was shown

On May 27, 2014 an exhibition “Georgian Fresco – Easter” was organized in the palace of Georgian President.
There were exposed religious theme paintings of Merab Abramishvili and Irakli Parjiani, as well as an illustrative material of photo laboratory of the George Chubinashvili National Research Centre for Georgian Art History and Heritage Preservation. The material represented high quality photographs of the patterns of Georgian mural painting, icons, miniatures and chasing art from Gelati Virgin Mary and St George churches, Kintsvisi and Katskhi churches, David-Gareji monastery, Tskarostavi Four Gospels, Ishkhani Processional Cross, etc.

His Holiness and Beatific Ilia II Catholicos Patriarch of Georgia and representatives of Georgian society were invited to the exhibition.