Born 10 January 1953 in Tbilisi (Georgia). He has been living and working in Europe for 28 years (from 1993) and uses as a painter and poet, “Kalanda” as his artistic name.
Fields of Expertise (occupation): Visual arts, poetry, scientific research in the field of literature (textual scholarship and editorial studies).
Studies: Music school – violin, guitar (1965-1973); Universary and private studies in literature and visual arts (1969-1978); Doctoral study (1984-1988, Tbilisi) – completed with scientific degree.
Work: Designer in the cooperations: “Iveria” and “Musphondi” (Georgian musicions Union, 1972-1973); Literary scientist at the Academy of Science (Institute of Shota Rustaveli, 1977-1994); Founder and Director of the publishing house “Mtatsminda” (1989-1994); Founder and Chairman of “Nobati Publishers” (1990-1993); Founder and Meneger of the society “Kibula” (1994-1995, The Netherlands); Founder and maneger artists group “Arttrio contrast” (2000, The Netherlands); Founder and Chairman of the Artistic society “Muze” (2000-2002, The Netherlands); Editor at the publishing house “Mtatsminda” (from 2008 till now). As a free artist from 1987 going on participated in around 200 expositions worldwide (Georgia, United States, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Curasao, Belgium, Russia, Czech Republic, Hungary, China and Nigeria).
Meantime he has published 30 volums (books and project booklets of painting, poetry and scientific researches in Georgian, Russian, English, Dutch, Italian, German, Spanish and French languages. Various painting, which are published in these books are mostly accompnied with poems.
International projects (menegment and/or participation): in the direction of contemporary art: “Looking for the light” (1994, Belgium); “Breaking down barriers” (1994, The Netherlands); “Kaleidoscope of life” (1995, Belgium); “Have a nice Smoke” (against smoking habit, 1999, Belgium); “Meeting with Art” (2001, The Netherlands); “All you need is love” (Artistic factory, 2005, The Netherlands); “World of beauty” (2007, Germany); “European Art Developments” (2007-2008, The Netherlands); “International art vision” (2009, The Netherlands); “Tell me what you feel” (2010, The Netherlands); “Georgian Contemporary Art” (2012, The Netherlands); “Contemporary spirits” (2012, The Netherlands); “Days of Georgia In the Netherlands (2013, The Netherlands); “Mosaique Vivant” (2019, Belgium); “Art on Wills” (2020, Germany).
Membership: Member of artists union “Open Ateliers” (1995, The Netherlands); Member of Artists union “De Illusie” (1998, The Netherlands); Member of “Georgian artists Union” (2000, Georgia); Founder and member of Artists group: “Arttrio Contrast” (2000, The Netherlands); Member of “RAR – Artists union Regio Art Rijnmond” (2003, The Netherlands); “The Federation of artists Associations” (2003, The Netherlands); Member of “Kunstgebouw”: foundation of Art and culture of South-Holland (2003); Member of “BBK – Union professional artists” (2004, The Netherlands); IAA (International Association of Art, UNESCO NGO partner, 2017).
Artistic stile: From 2001 going on by some art critics “Mythopoetic Realism” was pointed out as a stilistic direction, artistic line of Zurab Kalandadze. In 2018 at his Jubileum exposition in the “Cappellenhus” of Cappelle aan de Iijssel (The Netherlands, Zuid-Holland) for the first time was officially presented “Mythopoetic Realism” as an artistic direction.
Information about: 1. Information in art dictionaries: – “Lexicon Beeldend Benelux” (biografish handbook). “Stichting studiecentrum voor Beeldende Kunst”, Tilburg, Nederland, 2000. – “Aktuele Kunst”, De hedendagse professionele kunstenaars in Nederland. “Akku”, NL. 2002. 2. Around 100 big and small publications exist about Zurab Kalandadze (Kalanda) in differen languages.
Passages from some articles:
Zura Kalanda has developed his own special style as a visual artist. His drawings and paintings are the Impressions of his own personal desire for justice, freedom and happiness. They show the emotions of a man who has his roots in the mountains of the Kaukusas, but who now lives in the West. It is, therefore, inevitable that a visual synthesis is the result of both those worlds. The forms and lines created in Kalanda’s work are based on the shape of the Georgian script. The subjects are recognisable and richly provided with symbols: organic shapes, mother and child and other themes derived from fairytales, myths and make-belive (Piet Augustijn, art critic and curator of contemporary art, Gorcums Museum).
This artist, whose present operational base is the Netherlands, applies his interest in the human psyche to the purpose of his ideal mission to gather strength for universal freedom and justice. Apart from his great craftsmanship, it gives Zura Kalanda the extra dimension of ethical animation and completes his unique personality as a citizen of the world (J. Coenraads, MA in Art History, Registered European auctioneer).
Discovering the direct correlation between the representational system of Kalanda’s paintings and graphic works and the stylistic peculiarity of the Georgian script you arrive at the idea of super-positive nationalism that is surely present, although not always apparent, in the artist’s oeuvre as something fundamental, formative, as a quintessential. Irene Sergeeva writes: “What is the name of the author’s Muse? Sakartvelo, Iveria, Georgia, Motherland, which has never abandoned his heart…” As you get to know the geographical splendour of this blessed country, the profundity and inexhaustive potential of its ancient, deeply Christianized and at the same time exceptionally original culture, you get to know the artist’s unique universe: the mythopoetic reality of which is mysterious and inimitable, just as befits the universe (T. G. Chudinovskaya, Doctor, Senior curator of contemporary art, State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg, Member of the International Association of Art Critics – AICA).
“Kalanda’s spiritual richness is reflected in the versatility of his artistic expressions. One can “read” in them both an ultra strong historical sense and a deep human consiousness… The actions of such an all-round artist truly respect the Dutch cultural climate without any doubt contributing fascinating images… as a worldcitizen he appears able to manifest himself by pure spiritual strenght…” (Harry Veamings, Tutor at the academy of Fine Arts).
As a visual artist, Kalanda developed his very own style, which is difficult to attribute to an existing art movement. The works are poetic in nature: the colours are the Sounds and lines form the poem’s rhythm. Artist Huub Tielen also wrote about this: “The first impression that his work made on me was an impression of poetry. Poetry balancing on the edge of interior and exterior, on the edge of day and night, as some dream images do. Symbolist, mythical, philosophical and poetical motives make his work greatly stratified…” (Chris Kondijk, Director “FCA Editions“).
Zura Kalanda can be considered as making a personal and talented contribution to Dutch painting (C. Bol, lecturer Royal Academy of Arts, The Hague).
“Kalanda is an artist who is able to play an important role in the growth and development of contemporary art…” (Drs. Caro Sicking, Deputy directer the Husstege Gallery).
At the end of the 20th century Dutch artist Dr. Zura Kalanda, Georgian from birth, created the artistic group “Attrio Contrast“. I support his ambition and underline its value: even though it really is a century of large contrasts, let’s make sure we live in freedom and peace with another (lneke Dezentjé Hamming – Bluemink, member of the Dutch Parliament, member of the Liberal Party for Freedom and Democracy and Member of Parliament Art committee).
Zura Kalanda is concerned mainly with oil painting. To express as completely as possible the basic idea behind a picture he creates different informational levels by the gradation of the depth of color and the detail in the main form or background. He uses sources culled primarily from universal culture, mythology, fairy-tales and literary masterpieces in a combination of personal philosophical and psycological observations. In this way he creates personal symbols in form as well as colour, applying them as an additional means of communication. The use of round shapes, individual colour-structure and specific technology gives his work a special brilliance and colourfulness, at the same time creating the stylisti independence of an author. Based on the ideas of the members, their intelligent attitude towards art and the highly professional quality of their work, art trio “Contrast“ is an excellent representative of Dutch modern art (L. van Lien, Director of “Van Lien Museum“, Fijnaart, the Netherlands).
Publications of Books and booklets (of paintings, poetry and Literary-scientific researches):
1 – Time and Writing, “Nobati publishing house”, Tbilisi, Georgia, 1992. 2 – “The sun riches the zenith”, “Nobati publishing house”, Tbilisi, Georgia 1993. 3 – „Paintings”, foundation “Muze”, The Netherlands, 1997; 4 – “Fables Dutch and English”, “Elf and Elf Editions”, the Netherlands 1997. 5 – “Three years of production” (in Dutch and English) “Open Ateliers”, The Netherlands, 1998. 6 – “Christianity in Georgia” (In Dutch), Foundation “Muze”, NL, 1998. 7 – “Tranen” (Poetry and Graphic), foundation “Muze”, NL, 1998. 8 – “Arttrio Contrast” (two participants), Publishing house “Pamon”, NL, 2000. 9 – “European Art Developments” (one participant), “FCA Editions”, NL, 2007. 10 – “In front of the mirror” (Poetry in Russian and Graphic werk), publishing house “Litsei”, Sankt-Petersburg, Russia, 2008. 11 – “Tell me what you feel” (Poetry in Dutch and pendrawings), “FCA Editors” NL. 2010. 12 – “Me and my brother” (poetry in Georgian, one participant), “Mtatsminda Publishers”, Tb, Georgie, 2010. 13 – “Image and word” (Miniatures, one participant), “Petite Publishers”, Georgia, 2012. 14 – “Theatre of Feelings” (Poetry in English, one participant), “FCA Editions”, NL, 2012. 15 – “Spread Your Wings” (Poetry in English, one participant), “FCA Editions”, NL, 2012. 16 – “Partiture Flying Leaves” (Lyrics and melodyline), “Pegasus Publishers”, Tb., Georgia, 2012. 17 – “Graphics and Poetry” (Poetry in English and Dutch), “FCA Editions”, “Prearka”, Amsterdam, NL, 2012. 18 – “Paintings and Poetry” (Poetry in English), “Prearka”, Amsterdam, NL, 2013. 19 – “Skyblue Window” (Poetry in English, one participant), “Matsminda Publishers”, “Prearka”, London, 2013. 20 – “European Gardens” (Poetry in Dutch, one participant), “FCA editions”, NL, 2013. 21 – “Storms of times” (Poetry in Russian and graphics), “Pegasus publishers”, Tb., Georgia, 2014. 22 – “Three Portraits” (Literary- scientific researches in Georgian), “Mtatsminda Publishers”, Tb., Georgia, 2014. 23 – “Flying Leaves” (Poetry in English), “Mtatsminda Publishers”, Tb, 2014. 24 – “Eyes of the Sea” (Poetry in Georgian), “Petite Publishers”, Tb, 2014. 25 – “I am interested” (Poetry in Georgian and graphics), “Mtatsminda publishers”, Tb, 2015. 26 – “World of Flowers” (Poetry in Dutch), “Devijfwinden”, Rotterdam, NL, 2006. 27 – “To a traveller” (Poetry in French), “Prearka” and “FCA editions”, NL, 2017. 28 – “Utreamarine Shadows” (poetry in Spanish), “Prearka” and “FCA editions”, NL, 2017. 29 – “Rivulet” (Poetry in German), “Prearka” and “FCA editions”, NL, 2017. 30 – “Acqua Chiara” (Poetry in Italian), “Prearka” and “Petite Publishers”, Tb., Georgia, 2017. 31 – “Above the water” (Paintings, one participant), “Petite Publishers” and “Prearka”, NL, 2017. 32 – “Bad times – good times” (Grapfics, one participant), “Petite Publishers” and “Prearka”, NL, 2019.
Compiling and editing: From 1986 till 2019 prepared academical texts, compiled and/or edited around 50 books and published them mainly in Georgia.