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© Lasha Adamashvili
© Lasha Adamashvili
© Lasha Adamashvili
© Lasha Adamashvili
© Nikoloz Jorjikashvili

Tatia Tvaladze & Toma Glurijdze

Tatia Tvaladze & Toma Glurijdze Woodcarver
Contact
Georgian, English
Hours:
By appointment only
Phone:
+995 598797219
© Lasha Adamashvili

Inspired by Georgian nature

  • • Tatia and Toma have a background as book illustrators
  • • In 2017, the couple started their new project “Katamura”
  • • The artists promote Georgia’s biodiversity through research and creative interpretation

Tatia Tvaladze and Toma Glurijdze, artistic duo from Tbilisi, create small wooden figurines of Georgian wildlife including various species of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and insects. They met at the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts, in the Faculty of Book Illustrations. Tatia was interested in graphics and painting, while Toma chose to concentrate on sculpture. In 2017, they established the brand name Katamura, or 'Hen' in Georgian. “We chose wood as a key material, it is the closest medium to the nature we try to embrace and reflect in our works.” Their work stands out for their detailed execution – the figurines are realistic and site specific. Most of their works are made of basswood, pine and copper. Each item is labelled with a detailed description of the species. “Our goal is to promote Georgia’s biodiversity through the research and creative interpretation of Georgian fauna.”

Read the full interview

Works

  • © Nikoloz Jorjikashvili
  • © Nikoloz Jorjikashvili
  • © Nikoloz Jorjikashvili
  • © Nikoloz Jorjikashvili
  • © Nikoloz Jorjikashvili
Photo: © Nikoloz Jorjikashvili
Greater Horseshoe bat

The dark brown sculpture of this Greater Horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) has been finished with copper-colour paint. The central part of the figure is hand carved out of of basswood. The ears and wings are made with sheet copper, while eyes are made with brass. The figure is tinted with watercolour paints and is perched on a block of scrap wood. The proportions are based on the natural proportions of the bat.

Length 39 cm
Width 8 cm
Height 16 cm

Photo: © Nikoloz Jorjikashvili
Kinetic seagull

The figure of the seagull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) is hand carved from basswood using knives and other carving tools. The surface of bird is toned with watercolour paints and acrylic. The work includes small copper details – legs and bill. The bird is mounted on a block of scrap wood using copper wire, which is bendy enough to make the bird figure flutter on touch.

Length 12 cm
Width 7 cm
Height 18.5 cm

Photo: © Nikoloz Jorjikashvili
Crow

The figurine of a hooded crow (Corvus cornix), is hand carved of basswood using small knives and other hand tools. The legs are made with copper wire. The little crow is perched on a block of scrap wood (natural wood colour) and carefully hand-painted with grey, white and black acrylic paints.

Length 5 cm
Width 6 cm
Height 12 cm

Photo: © Nikoloz Jorjikashvili
Tawny owl

This miniature Tawny owl (Strix aluco) is hand carved from basswood in minute detail, using small knives and other hand tools. The figurine is tinted with watercolour paints in browns and yellows. Some parts of the object are painted with black and white acrylic paints. The item is perched asymmetrically on an orb of scrap wood (resembling a pine cone), and affixed with copper wire.

Length 5 cm
Width 3 cm
Height 6 cm

Photo: © Nikoloz Jorjikashvili
Tawny owl

This little Tawny owl (Strix aluco) figurine is hand-carved out of pine wood and toned with natural brown watercolour on a wood bark texture. Some features of the owl (including the eyes and nose) are carefully painted with white and black acrylic paints. The figure is perched on a piece of scrap wood.

Length 5 cm
Width 5 cm
Height 10 cm

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