Last month, the third edition of the International Ceramics Symposium ‘Bird of Paradise’ took place in the breathtaking setting of Georgia’s Caucasus Mountains. Organized by Lopota Lake Resort & Spa and the Ceramic Gallery/Studio “White Studio”, with the support of LIKANI as a general sponsor, the symposium brought together 14 artists from 10 countries to create ceramic sculptures for a unique outdoor museum. We spoke with Nato Eristavi, whose passion and vision have been essential in realizing this dream. In our conversation, Nato shared the inspirational story behind the symposium, the challenges overcome, and the magic that makes this event a memorable experience for artists and visitors alike.
Artists: Claude Aussage (France), Elizabeth Le Retif (France), Julia Repina (Germany), Reinhard Keitel (Germany), Douglas Black (USA), Mamie Yamamoto (Japan), Ruth Hazi (Israel), Sayumporn Kasornsuwan (Thailand), Elina Titane (Latvia), Delia Maxim (Romania), Radenko Orovic (Serbia), Nato Eristavi (Georgia), Otar Vepkhvadze (Georgia), Malkhaz Shvelidze (Georgia)
Ceramics Now: Hi Nato. Could you share the story behind the Ceramic Park Sculpture Symposium ‘Bird of Paradise’? What was the vision, and how has it evolved since the first edition in 2022?
Nato Eristavi: The story started 18 years ago from the friendship between Goga Maisuradze, the founder of Lopota, his family, and me. Nobody believed he would realize his dream and create a paradise around the lake, which was far from civilization and lacked communications and infrastructure. There was just this beautiful lake surrounded by mountains, in the heart of the Kakheti Wine region of Georgia. He started with a wine cellar and a small wooden house, and all his friends could offer was motivation and trust in his vision.
At the same time, Ana, his younger daughter, started attending my ceramic classes at the age of six (I was teaching in my studio at that time). Her interest and love for ceramics began in her childhood. Knowing my profession and involvement in ceramic art and design, Goga and I spent many evenings discussing how to integrate ceramics into the Lopota environment. Unfortunately, we could not find any financial support for our creative ideas at that time.
The year Goga passed away, I felt a deep responsibility to realize his dream of incorporating ceramic decorations into the Lopota landscape. I already had a significant list of residencies I had participated in worldwide, and I proposed the idea of organizing an International Park Sculpture Symposium to Ana. As she grew up in Lopota and tried to continue her father’s concept of “handcrafted hospitality,” she immediately accepted my proposal. Together, we started working on the “Bird of Paradise” project dedicated to his memory (as Goga was the first bird in the Lopota area). My memorial work was an installation symbolizing Goga as a white bird on top of the old big Oak he moved to Lopota for decoration.
In 2022, with the help of my friends and wonderful Georgian artists Malkhaz Shvelidze and Otar Vepkhvadze, we decided to organize a first testing Symposium without any support and with a minimal budget. There were seven of us: I invited four of my international ceramic friends, three of whom were Georgian artists, and one helper. We all enjoyed the working facilities, firing possibilities, and technical support from the Lopota staff. It was successful. After the first attempt, Ana and our ceramic team gained valuable experience and documentation for sponsors.
With artists from ten different countries participating this year, I am curious to know how you select the artists. What are your criteria?
As Lopota Resort is a private space, Ana, as the main host, is very sensitive about choosing the works that will be presented in Lopota. So, we decided to announce an open call for artists. All applicants are required to send sketches and portfolios. Of course, my friends and I, as professionals, are responsible for the results. All works must be created, dried, fired, and placed in less than two weeks.
The main idea is to create an International Outdoor Sculpture Museum with a beautiful collection from all over the world. So, we receive professional works from different countries simultaneously. It is also important for sponsors to support a variety of countries. Our criteria are to choose artists who practice large-scale sculptures, hand builders, and artists proposing interesting challenges or experiments.
Can you tell us more about the workshops and masterclasses offered by the participating artists during the symposium? What impact do you think this has on the local community?
A very important part of our symposium is presentations and workshops. After the 1990s, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the ceramic field of art in Georgia stagnated. There was no electricity, factories were closed, all the reserves of materials from Soviet countries were depleted, professionals changed jobs, and no factory produced Georgian clay. It was impossible to continue working in ceramics, not even at the Academy of Arts, where I was teaching. The long tradition of ceramics in Georgia almost stopped. Only a few of my colleagues and I, several artists, continued ceramic activities by traveling and participating in international workshops and exhibitions. We tried to improve our skills and bring home information about new techniques, technologies, and trends from around the world.
Considering the above, the international professional artists’ talks and workshops are a huge contribution to the interest and development of ceramics in Georgia, benefiting our colleagues and students.
How does the unique setting of Lopota Lake Resort near the Caucasus Mountains influence the artist’s creative processes? Can you share some memorable moments from this year’s event?
Curiously, most of the sketches sent by the artists were totally changed after their first walk around the environment with Ana. The spirit and story of the host helped the artists better understand the space and feel the magical energy and beauty of nature surrounded by the Caucasus Mountains. The symbol and the main host of Lopota is Goga’s clever dog Bobi, who this year inspired the artist from Romania, Maxim Delia, to create Bobi’s sculpture. The artist from Germany, Reinhard Keitel, discovered that this quiet and peaceful paradise needs to be cared for, so he made the composition named “Guardians of Paradise.”
Organizing an international symposium of this scale must come with its challenges. Could you discuss some of the difficulties you’ve overcome and what you consider to be the symposium’s biggest achievements?
My extensive experience participating in different international symposiums worldwide, as well as Malkhaz’s and Otar’s, has provided our team with invaluable knowledge. The Ceramic Gallery/Studio “White Studio,” the ceramic company I founded, also helped a lot with equipment and tools.
As every participant from the past and this year knows, the organization was perfect. We tried to pay attention to any requirements of the guests, and of course, famous Georgian hospitality played a crucial role in our success. Ana and the Lopota staff were ready to help at every stage of the process. The main achievement is understanding the time required for each stage. Our unique invention of a handcrafted drying room helped to start the firing process very soon, so we had enough time to fire, refire, and exhibit all the works by the closing ceremony. The main thing during every ceramic symposium is assembling the right group of professional artists and fostering a friendly atmosphere. The biggest achievement is intuition, which helps predict the character and mood of different people from many countries. These people will live, work, worry, have fun together, and feel comfortable with each other for two weeks.
Establishing Georgia’s first outdoor art museum is integral to the symposium. Could you elaborate on the vision for this sculpture park, how it integrates with the local cultural landscape, and the long-term impacts you envision for the local community?
Fortunately, Lopota Resort is very famous not only among Georgians but also attracts many visitors from abroad. The collection is already quite large, with about 35 sculptures measuring 100-150 cm around the extensive territory. We take care of all sculptures from past years and repair minor damages caused by the weather. We are currently working on a Lopota Park Sculpture Map that will be shared with all visitors so guests from different countries can easily find the sculpture made by the artist from their homeland. We plan to add lighting and QR codes to all the exhibits so people can learn more about each artist’s work. On the property, we already have a small gallery for ready-made works that artists have donated, as well as small works made during the symposium. Everyone interested in the sculpture park can visit Lopota Resort and see the collection.
How have the participating artists received the symposium? Could you share some feedback regarding the organization and what aspects they appreciate the most?
I am happy that we continue to stay in touch with groups from past years. The most gratifying thing is when they send messages from unknown people who visited Georgia and Lopota, discovered their sculptures, and wanted to share their excitement.
We also receive many photos of Georgian traditional food made by artists at home, Georgian words, and good memories from Georgia. Some share articles in local newspapers or interviews about their experience in Georgia and the symposium. During their stay, we organized cultural tours, traditional food-making masterclasses, and visits to Georgian artisans and historical places. We try to help people feel the essence of Georgian culture and history. This is most important because, unfortunately, not everyone has heard about the small country of Georgia.
Douglas Black, an American artist who participated in the symposium earlier this year, noted, “We took a piece of Georgia with us.”
Looking to the future, what are your long-term goals for the Ceramic Park Sculpture Symposium ‘Bird of Paradise’? Are there new initiatives you hope to implement in the coming years?
Lopota Resort is growing fast, adding more territories, so we hope to add new, interesting sculptures every year. The unique collection of outdoor art worldwide will grow and motivate sponsors to support ceramic activities and development throughout Georgia. We hope that Lopota Resort and the White Studio team will be able to host artists for ceramic residencies and conferences in the future.
June 2024
Nato Eristavi is a ceramic artist and founder of the Ceramic Gallery/Studio “White Studio”.
Lopota Lake Resort & Spa is located in the heart of Kakheti region, Georgia. It spreads around the lake and is surrounded by the picturesque Caucasus Mountains. The 60-hectare resort offers guests diverse impressions during all four seasons in a two-hour drive from the capital, Tbilisi.
“White Studio” is an award-winning creative ceramic studio renowned for its contemporary approach to fusing traditional Georgian ceramic making with highly skilled porcelain artistry. Famous for creating signature pieces of pottery in Georgian white clay as well as more commercial lines like “Georgian Souvenirs”, WS designs, and hand paints. “White Studio” produces showstopping pieces for galleries, design collections for hotels and unique ceramics for those looking for something special. “White Studio” was founded in 2013 by two friends: ceramic artist Nato Eristavi and interior designer Nino Kambarashvili.
Interview by Vasi Hirdo, Editor of Ceramics Now.
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I want to work in Georgia for the rest of my life