Dimitri Tavadze (; February 6, 1911 – March 6, 1990) was a Georgian artist and scenographer.

Biography

Tavadze was born on February 6, 1911, in the village of Tkhilagani, Kutais Governorate; at that time, Tkhilagani was part of the Russian empire. In 1926, he graduated from the secondary school of Kutaisi. During his apprenticeship, he took up drawing lessons together with Petre Otskheli at the art studio under the guidance of Vano Tcheishvili. In 1926, Tavadze entered Tbilisi State Academy of Arts majoring in painting. His teachers included Ioseb Sharleman, Gigo Gabashvili, Evgeni Lansere.

Starting in 1927, Tavadze began working at the Shota Rustaveli State Academic Theatre, first as an assistant producer (1927–1930), then as an artist (1930–1948). Subsequently, he was appointed to the position of the chief artist (1948–1976). In 1932, Tavadze made his artistic debut at the Rustaveli Theatre in O. Samsonidze's play, "The Hoop", directed by Sandro Akhmeteli and Shota Aghsabadze. In 1933, he made his first artistic appearance outside Georgia in Shakespeare's "Othello" in the Kirovabad Theatre, Azerbaijan.

In 1933, the painter Lado Gudiashvili dedicated a complimentary letter to Tavadze: "Dimitri Tavadze, a young artists was distinguished for consciousness and discretion; he, from the beginning owned the mystery of painting only feasible for rather experienced painters"."The Soviet Art" – 1933, № 16

Tavadze illustrated over 150 plays in 20 different theaters. He collaborated renowned directors such as Sandro Akhmeteli, Dimitri Aleksidze, Mikheil Tumanishvili, Robert Sturua, and Irina Molostova. The majority of Tavadze's projects were staged at the Rustaveli Theatre (57 plays). Fletcher's comedy "The Spanish Curate" and Pavel Kohout's play "Such Love" won special recognition and success. Tavadze's last project was "Do not Abandon the Fire, Prometheus" (Kirovabad – 1983). Dimitri Tavadze died on March 6, 1990, in Tbilisi.

Tavadze was awarded the "Honored Art worker" (1950), the "Laureate of the State Prize" (1951), and the "People's Painter of Georgia" (1967). Starting 1933, Tavadze participated in a number of exhibitions. Tavadze's works were displayed numerous times in Tbilisi, as well as in Moscow (1937, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1967, 1971, 1979), in Leningrad (1937), in São Paulo (1967) and in the German Democratic Republic (1968). He had personal exhibitions in Tbilisi (1964, 1975 ["Shakespeareana"], 1982) and in Moscow (1971).

Tavadze's works are preserved in the Bakhrushin Theatre Museum, Moscow, the National Pushkin Museum, Saint Petersburg, the Georgian State Museum of Theatre, Music, Cinema and Choreography, Tbilisi, and the Museum of Rustaveli Theatre. In addition, some works are preserved in theatres and private collections around the world.

Works

Shota Rustaveli State Academic Theatre 1932 – P. Samsonidze, "The Hoop" (). Dir.: Sandro Akhmeteli, Shota Aghsabadze 1933 – G. Shatberashvili, "The Enemy" (). Dir.: Sandro Akhmeteli, Shota Aghsabadze 1936 – S. Kldiashvili, "The Autumn Gentry" (). Dir.: Kukuri Pataridze 1937 – G. Mdivani, "Alkazar" (). Dir.: Dimitri Aleksidze S. Kldiashvili, "The Generation of the Heroes" (). Dir.: Kukuri Pataridze 1938 – G. Mdivani, "The Motherland" (). Dir.: Dimitri Aleksidze 1939 – S. Mtvaradze, "Upon the Mountain Range" (). Dir.: Dimitri Aleksidze 1940 – S. Kldiashvili, "The Widow of an Earl" (). Dir.: Dimitri Aleksidze 1941 – S. Kldiashvili, "The Last Knight" (). Dir.: Akaki Vasadze F. Wolf, "Professor Mamlock". Dir.: Dimitri Aleksidze 1946 – C. Goldoni, "Servant of Two Masters" (). Dir.: Dimitri Aleksidze G. Berdzenishvili, "Beginning of the End" (). Dir.: Akaki Vasadze, Sergo Chelidze B. Chirskov, "The Winners" (). Dir.: Sergo Chelidze 1947 – Ar. d'Usseau and J. Gow, "Deep Are the Roots". Dir.: Dimitri Aleksidze N. Pogodin, "The Man with a Rifle" (). Dir.: Akaki Vasadze O. Goldsmith, "She Stoops to Conquer". Dir.: Shota Meskhi 1948 – S. Dolidze, G. Berdzenishvili, "The Aerie" (). Dir.: Akaki Vasadze W. Shakespeare, "Othello". Dir.: Akaki Vasadze, Shota Aghsabadze V. Mass, M. Chervinsky, "To Friends, to Comrade" (). Dir.: Shota Meskhi 1949 – I. Mosashvili, "The Sunk Stones" (). Dir.: Akaki Vasadze V. Pataraia, "Ucha Uchardia" (). Dir.: Akaki Vasadze V. Karsanidze, "Evergreen Ridges" (). Dir.: Mikheil Tumanishvili K. Simonov, "Alien shadow" (). Dir.: Dimitri Aleksidze 1950 – Sh. Dadiani, "Out of Sparks" (). Dir.: Akaki Vasadze V. Vishnevski, "Unforgettable 1919" (). Dir.: Micheil Tumanishvili 1951 – G. Mdivani, "People of Goodwill" (). Dir.: Shota Meskhi 1952 – P. Kakabadze, "The Forge of Happiness" (). Dir.: Akaki Vasadze D. Kldiashvili, "The Adversity of Darispan" (). Dir.: Akaki Vasadze N. Gogol, "The Gamblers" (). Dir.: Akaki Dvalishvili I. Vakeli, "The Steel" (). Dir.: Shota Meskhi I. Chavchavadze, G. Berdzenishvili, "Otar's Widow" (). Dir.: Akaki Vasadze 1953 – A. Sumbatashvili-Yuzhin, "The Betrayal" (). Dir.: Akaki Khorava 1954 – I. Dubois, "Haiti". Dir.: Akaki Vasadze, Mikheil Tumanishvili V. Kandelaki, "The Weed" (). Dir.: Akaki Dvalishvili J. Fletcher and Ph. Massinger, "The Spanish Curate". Dir.: Mikheil Tumanishvili 1955 – L. Kiacheli, "Tariel Golua" (). Dir.: Mikheil Tumanishvili 1956 – I. Vakeli, "A Busy Man" (). Dir.: Mikheil Tumanishvili 1957 – A. Pushkin, "Boris Godunov" (). Dir.: Dimitri Aleksidze 1958 – G. Sevastikoglu, "Angela". Dir.: Leila Varsimashvili, Otar Zautashvili Al. Apkhaidze, "The Aragvians" (). Dir.: Archil Chkhartishvili 1959 – P. Kakabadze, "Kvarkvare Tutaberi" (). Dir.: Dimitri Aleksidze P. Kohout, "Such Love" (). Dir.: Mikheil Tumanishvili V. Kandelaki, "Once Dead" (). Dir.: Archil Chkhartishvili 1960 – A. Arbuzov, "The Irkutsk Story" (). Dir.: Mikheil Tumanishvili K. Senderbiu, "The Revolt of Women". Dir.: Mikheil Tumanishvili 1961 – V. Kandelaki, "The Lights of Kartli" (). Dir: Dodo Antadze G. Khukhashvili, "The Sea Children" (). Dir.: Mikheil Tumanishvili 1962 – L. Sanikidze, "The Kutaisians" (). Dir: Dodo Antadze C. Goldoni, "The Mistress of the Inn" (). Dir.: Mikheil Tumanishvili O. Ioseliani, "Once a Person is Born" (). Dir.: Dimitri Aleksidze 1963 – W. Gibson, "The Miracle Worker". Dir.: Sandro Mrevlishvili V. Rozov, "Before Dinner" (). Dir.: Robert Sturua 1964 – W. Shakespeare, "A Midsummer Night's Dream". Dir.: Mikheil Tumanishvili 1965 – I. L. Caragiale, "The Lost Letter" (). Dir.: Merab Jaliashvili N. Aziani, "The Last Masquerade" (). Dir.: Gizo Jordania 1967 – L. Kiacheli, "Gvadi Bigva" (). Dir.: Mikheil Tumanishvili 1969 – O. Ioseliani, "Until the Ox-Cart Turns Over" (). Dir.: Mikheil Tumanishvili, Carlo Sakandelidze

Not-implemented settings 1930 – P. Samsonidze, "Director" () 1931 – I. Kantaria, "Cholipa" () 1933 – I. Kantaria, "Berikaoba" () 1946 – G. Eristavi, "Separation" () 1952 – A. Lipovsky, "Mayakovsky" () 1959 – P. Kakabadze, "Kvarkvare Tutaberi" (; Not implemented version)

Marjanishvili State Academic Drama Theatre 1958 – R. Tabukashvili, "The Secretary of the Regional Committee" (). Dir.: Lili Ioseliani M. Baratashvili, "Marine" (). Dir.: Leo Shatberashvili, Giga Lortkipanidze

Tbilisi Griboedov State Academic Russian Drama Theatre 1957 – S. Shanshiashvili, "The Mountain Law" (). Dir.: Dodo Antadze 1961 – O. Chidjavadze, "A Lucky Loser" (). Dir.: Abram Rubin Gr. Abashidze, "A Journey into Three Epochs" (). Dir.: Abram Rubin 1964 – L. Chubabria, K. Chavchanidze, "The First Step" (). Dir.: Konstantin Surmava 1965 – K. Buachidze, "Story of Love" (). Dir.: Abram Rubin M. Mrevlishvili, "Destiny of the Poet" (). Dir.: Abram Rubin K. Buachidze, "Remember our Youth" (). Dir.: Archil Gomiashvili 1966 – G. Mdivani, "Your Uncle Misha" (). Dir.: Sergo Chelidze 1969 – V. Ejov, "Night of the Nightingale" (). Dir.: Sergo Chelidze

Tbilisi Vaso Abashidze Music and Drama State Theatre 1949 – V. Cagareishvili, "Arsen Odzelashvili" (). Dir.: Boris Gamrekeli 1950 – Fr. Lehár, "The Merry Widow" (). Dir.: Dude Dzneladze G. Cabadze, "The Love Song" (). Dir.: Boris Gamrekeli R. Lagidze, "Friends" (). Dir.: Dude Dzneladze N. Gudiashvili, "Meeting at the Cottage" (). Dir.: Boris Gamrekeli 1951 – G. Cabadze, "A bright Future" (). Dir.: Boris Gamrekeli V. Cagareishvili, "The Queen of Tsani" (). Dir.: Dude Dzneladze Sh. Milorava, "Once in Spring" (). Dir.: Ioseb Kutateladze N. Gudiashvili, "Gift" (). Dir.: Boris Gamrekeli 1956 – I. Jarkovsky, "Love Knot". Dir.: Shota Meskhi A. Kereselidze, "Three Brides" (). Dir.: Boris Gamrekeli 1957 – Sh. Milorava, "Dali" (). Dir.: Boris Gamrekeli Sh. Azmaiparashvili, "The desirable Groom" (). Dir.: Shota Meskhi R. Lagidze, "Komble" (). Dir.: Boris Gamrekeli 1958 – G. Kakhiani, "Bastard" (). Dir.: Shota Meskhi 1960 – A. Kereselidze, "Arriving from the Moon" (). Dir.: Shota Meskhi Sh. Milorava, "Strange Guests" (). Dir.: Boris Gamrekeli 1966 – Sh. Azmaiparashvili, "It will never be the same again" (). Dir.: Leri Paksashvili 1967 – A. Shaverzashvili, "Nino" (). Dir.: Shota Meskhi 1968 – Sh. Milorava "The Fatal Operation" (). Dir.: Shota Meskhi 1951 – Z. Paliashvili, "Abesalom and Eteri" (). Dir.: Shota Aghsabadze 1952 – S. Rachmaninoff, "Aleko" (). Dir.: Shota Aghsabadze N. Rimsky-Korsakov, "The Noblewoman Vera Sheloga" (). Dir.: Shota Aghsabadze 1953 – P. Tchaikovsky, "Eugene Onegin" (). Dir.: Archil Chkhartishvili Ch. Gounod, "Romeo and Juliet". Dir.: Shota Aghsabadze 1954 – G. Rossini, "The Barber of Seville" (). Dir.: Shota Aghsabadze 1957 – G. Verdi, "La traviata". Dir.: Shota Aghsabadze 1959 – R. Gabichvadze, "Nana" (). Dir.: Shota Aghsabadze

Tbilisi Nodar Dumbadze Professional State Youth Theatre 1937 – G. Berdzenishvili, "In the Mountains of Adjara" (). Dir.: Boris Gamrekeli E. Schwarz, "Red Riding Hood". Dir.: Aleksandr Takaishvili 1938 – G. Nakhucrishvili, "The Line of Fire" (). Dir.: Aleksandr Takaishvili B. Gamrekeli, "Hero" (). Dir.: Boris Gamrekeli Molière, "Scapin's Deceits" (). Dir.: Aleksandr Takaishvili V. Balaban, "Green Valley". Dir.: Giorgi Darispanashvili 1939 – A. Tsereteli, "Patara Kakhi" (). Dir.: Aleksandr Takaishvili 1940 – K. Gogodze, "Kadjana" (). Dir.: Giorgi Darispanashvili 1941 – G. Nakhucrishvili, "Achakune" (). Dir.: Aleksandr Takaishvili Sh. Kutshava, "Blue Carpet" (). Dir.: Giorgi Jordania 1950 – G. Gogichaishvili, "Bright Path" (). Dir.: Otar Aleksishvili 1952 – G. Berdzenishvili, "Old Wound" (). Dir.: Otar Aleksishvili 1953 – S. Mtvaradze, "Surami Fortress" (). Dir.: Aleksandr Takaishvili 1954 – E. L. Voinitsh, "The Gadfly". Dir.: Iuri Kakulia 1956 – G. Nakhucrishvili, "Little Warriors" (). Dir.: Revaz Tsharkhalashvili 1963 – V. Kataev, "A White Sail Gleams" (). Dir.: Shalva Gatserelia 1964 – W. Shakespeare, "Twelfth Night". Dir.: Sergo Chelidze 1965 – A. Chkhaidze, "When Childhood Ends" (). Dir.: Shalva Gatserelia

Tbilisi Youth Russian Theatre 1970 – A. Kuznetsov, "The Moscow Holidays" (). Dir. Abram Rubin

Tbilisi Petros Adamian State Armenian Drama Theatre 1956 – M. Mrevlishvili, "Avalanche" (). Dir.: Ferdinand Bjikyan

Kutaisi Lado Meskhishvili State Drama Theatre 1956 – M. Japaridze, "Fellow Countryman" (). Dir.: Akaki Vasadze 1958 – A. Sumbatashvili-Yuzhin, "The Betrayal" (). Dir.: Akaki Vasadze Dumanoir and A. d'Ennery, "Don César de Bazan". Dir.: Tamaz Meskhi 1959 – K. Lortkipanidze, "The Dawn of Colchis" (). Dir.: Akaki Vasadze 1960 – V. Daraseli, "Kikvidze" (). Dir.: Akaki Vasadze D. Kldiashvili, "Irina’s Happiness" (). Dir.: Akaki Vasadze L. Sanikidze, "The Kutaisians" (). Dir.: Akaki Vasadze P. Kakabadze, "The Farmer's Wedding" (). Dir.: Akaki Vasadze, Tamaz Meskhi 1962 – G. Mdivani, "Millions of Guga and Gigo" (). Dir.: Tamaz Meskhi P. Kakabadze, "The Wheel of Life" (). Dir.: Akaki Vasadze G. Taktakishvili, "A White Bat" (). Dir.: Tamaz Meskhi 1963 – M. Japaridze, "Bughara" (). Dir.: Otar Aleksishvili