"Paolo Iashvili, book of life and creativity" — presentation of the publication

The book presents a selection of Paolo Iashvili's works, memories of contemporaries, rare documents preserved in state or private archives, with comments. The collection is accompanied by an overview of the literary processes and creative environment of Tbilisi at the beginning of the twentieth century, under the title "Modernist Tbilisi". The visual side of the collection, together with archival photographs and manuscripts, includes memorial sites in Kutaisi and Tbilisi photographed especially for this publication. Among them, the poet's father, Jibo Iashvili's house in Kutaisi, with rare relics. Also, the house-museum in the village of Argveti and the temporary exposition dedicated to Paolo Iashvili, opened in the House of Writers. Some of the materials are published for the first time and partially fill in the heritage that survived after the repressions and the lost pages of the biography. Compiler and editor of the book - Nino KhoferiaDesigner and photographer - Zviad MikeladzeThe collection was published with the financial assistance of the European Foundation "Horizon" and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Protection of Monuments of Georgia.

13, I. Machabeli St., Tbilisi

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Yolo

Georgian

Description

On January 29, at 19:00, the presentation of the collection "Paolo Iashvili, the book of life and creativity" published by "Caucasian House" will be held at the House of Writers.

The collection, together with the images of the era, simultaneously expresses: the artistry and drama of the poet's existence; His inner strength and insecurity in his own times. As far as possible, the cause-and-effect connections are told, due to which the declared ideal of "Blue horns": "The poet must tell his autobiography" was fatally unfulfilled.

Photos and videos

Location

Writers' House of Georgia

13, I. Machabeli St., Tbilisi

The Writer's House of Georgia is a mansion in Tbilisi dedicated to the promotion of literature and a focal point of Georgian literature. The mansion was built by David Sarajishvili, an entrepreneur, between 1903-1905. The architect of the building was Karl Zaar, and the building combines art noveau with neobaroque style elements. The terrace mosaic is made from tiles by Villeroy and Boch. It is located in Sololaki, on Ivane Machabeli Street 13. The Writer's House was a location in which major figures of Georgian literature, such as the Blue Horns group, met in the early 1920s. Paolo Iashvili committed suicide at the Writer's House on July 22, 1937. As an article in the Financial Times put it, the Writer's House "has been the centrepiece of Georgian literary society for over a century, its triumphs and tragedies tracing the political contours of the country’s history." From 2008 onward, the building was re-dedicated to literature, and now serves as a hub for major literary and cultural events. In 2017, the Writer's House launched a residency program. On the 100 year anniversary of the Soviet occupation, in 2021, with support of "Tbilisi - UNESCO World Book Capital 2021", the Museum of Repressed Writers was opened at the Writer’s House. This exhibit, covering two rooms and with multimedia elements, has been designed by Mariam Natroshvili and Detu Jincharadze, also with documents from the SovLab Research Laboratory. The Writer's House founding director was Natasha Lomouri, who was appointed in 2011 and led the institution until August 2023. In August 2023, Ketevan Dumbadze, a member of parliament for the ruling Georgian Dream party, was appointed as the new director of the institution. A number of Georgian writers have protested against this appointment, and demanded a consultative process that involves writers and people from the publishing sector. In summer months, the Writer's House also houses a restaurant in its garden. The goals of the Writer's House are the popularization of Georgian literature, the growth of creative translation, support for various literary processes, the establishment of literary competitions and awards, active engagement with foreign governmental and non-governmental structures, and the publication of literary journals. The Writers' House focuses its operations on enhancing literary-cultural activities, locally and internationally, as well as public outreach and education.

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