Phantasmagoric painting as a reflection of the soul: Heartfelt paintings by Givi Siproshvili

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Now on the Internet you can often find works of contemporary artists who impress the viewer's imagination with a positive vibration and give an unforgettable pleasure from what they see. Much less often on the web, we come across the works of artists that evoke certain associations and force us to think figuratively and penetrate into the depths of the state of mind of the heroes of the paintings. Among such amazing masters I would like to name a name Georgian artist Givi Iraklievich Siproshvili. For some, his works will seem incomprehensible and unacceptable, for others - they literally reveal a subtle vibration of a wise perception of the world and a phantasmagoria in its purest form.

Such original authors are a rarity in the world of contemporary art. Siproshvili's work is so extraordinary that a receptive viewer associates it with the other world, with one in which there is no coarse matter, where color vibrates and merges with each other without clear boundaries. And there are those in whom his painting evokes persistent associations with the canvases of Bosch and Brueghel. Some experts argue that this is not painting at all, but rather light painting. Sometimes it even seems that Givi has some kind of connection with the other world, and unearthly forces inspire him to create stunning paintings. But, at first glance …

In fact, the master's range of sources for inspiration is much wider: in his works you can see touching innocence and sensual frankness, windy youth and experienced maturity, joy and sadness, biblical wisdom and "Freudian" motives, seething life and serenity of the other world. Almost every painting by the artist has elements of symbolism, allegory and metaphor. And the work of the master as a whole is literally imbued with love through and through.

It is also worth noting that the rich spectrum of associations inherent in the paintings is intellectually and emotionally charged. And the esotericism of the mythological past is so organically intertwined with modern modernist trends that it creates an extraordinary integrity and harmony.

Creating his unique paintings, the artist lays in them not only the plot, form and image, but also the soul. And therefore this picture soul easily finds harmony and empathy with the soul of a subtle spectator. Living things are drawn to living things … Therefore, the artist's works are instantly perceived by the heart. Warmth literally flows from them, there is a great positive and a subtle feeling of harmony. The most suitable concept here is spirituality. And who doesn't want to have a source of warmth in their home?

Therefore, the paintings of the Georgian master are widely popular not only in the art market. His works are exhibited in leading art galleries in Germany, USA, Poland, Czech Republic, France. His work is highly appreciated by collectors around the world.

His paintings are an example of the very art that should purify and elevate a person, direct beyond ordinary values, and also remind that behind the colors of our physical world there is a much more perfect and beautiful world …

The painting of this original painter is distinguished by a phantasmagoric fusion of genres and styles of different content. Many of his works are shrouded in philosophical symbolism. Among other things, Art Nouveau and abstractionism, impressionism and expressionism are felt in his creative research.

A master from Georgia works in the genre of psychological portrait, landscape, still life, using various techniques of oil painting. Sometimes it is difficult to believe that oil paint was used in textured works, so it sometimes looks like tempera, and sometimes it strongly resembles pastel.

As a painter, Givi is very individual: in his work he uses original painting techniques, developed by him, as well as various techniques for applying several layers of paint. In this masterful skill of the artist to use and transform the visual material, lies the author's handwriting, or, as they say now, the face of the author.

Looking at the gallery of his portraits, very soon thoughts about artistic technique by themselves fade into the background, and inspired faces begin to magically attract the viewer's attention, forcing them to look more closely at the image. And at some point, an epiphany suddenly comes: it is not people who are looking at us from the canvases, but their beautiful souls. The originality and sincerity of Givi Siproshvili's portraits captivates even a discerning viewer at first sight, very deeply touching his spiritual strings.

The artist himself described one of his works as follows:

But working on female images, Givi Siproshvili, with a truly Georgian national temperament, declares:

A little about the author

Givi Iraklievich Siproshvili (born 1940) - painter, graphic artist, member of the Union of Artists of the USSR and Georgia, member of the International Federation of Artists (UNESCO), member of the Union of Artists of Russia. In 1971 he graduated from the Tbilisi Academy of Arts with a degree in painting.

The artist's work was primarily influenced by the ancient national culture and history of Georgia. Born on its warm and hospitable land, Givi Iraklievich always considered himself an integral part of it. Therefore, in his paintings, he expresses his national worldview and position in life:

However, not everything in the artist's creative career was smooth and smooth. Preparing for the jubilee solo exhibition, the artist did a great job. But the paintings never saw their viewer. Due to an unfavorable combination of circumstances, literally the entire collection of his paintings was stolen. The artist, though not immediately, but coped with this twist of fate:

Years later, the artist restored his works and nevertheless held an exposition, exhibiting paintings in the White Gallery (Tbilisi, 2002), the Art Gallery (Tbilisi, 2005, 2006.) and taking part in the International Festival of Arts “Traditions and modernity”(Moscow, 2008). His creations were very warmly received by the public everywhere.

But there really is something to see and warm the soul …

Continuing the topic of unique techniques in contemporary painting, read our review: Looking at the world through stained glass: Israeli artist creates paintings in a unique technique.