ABOUT GENA LAKOBA
My name is Gennady Lakoba. I was born on August 11, 1948, in Sukhumi, Abkhazia (Georgia).
In 1962, I enrolled at the Sukhumi Art School, where I had the privilege of interacting with prominent figures who significantly influenced my artistic growth, such as the renowned Russian artist Varvara Bubnova (who spent 40 years living in Japan and whose niece is Yoko Ono), art critic Pyotr Kulchitsky (a close associate of Pavel Filonov), sculptor Merab Tsintsabadze, and artist Tatiana Shalamberidze.
From 1969 to 1975, I studied at the Tbilisi Academy of Arts under distinguished mentors. My drawing instructor was Vasili Shukhaiev, an accomplished artist who collaborated with Sergei Diaghilev in Paris during the 1920s. At the Academy, I also studied sculpture under the guidance of Shota Mikatadze, Nicholas Kandelaki, Gogi Ogiauri, and Merab Tsintsabadze.
In 1976, I joined the Union of Artists of the USSR. In 1978, I further expanded my artistic education by continuing my studies in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg).
Throughout my career, I have been honored to become a member of several prestigious art institutions, including the International Association of Artists (UNESCO), the Moscow Union of Artists, and an Honorary Member of the Russian Academy of Arts.
Since 1992, I have lived and worked in various countries, including Belarus, Russia, and Spain. Currently, I reside and work in Spain, focusing on a series of sculptures crafted from bronze and marble and creating drawings for a tapestry series.
Anatoli Kantor,
President of Art Critics' Academy of Russia, Merited Art Worker of Russia
I haven't seen any other artist who were talented to such an extent and obviously predestined for the decoration of big public buildings, majestic walls and structures, and moreover in the most original and impressive of artistic images.Unfortunately, the fortune hasn't yet turned to him with this side. But I still hope and believe that there will appear the people and the countries for which Gennady Lakoba will be able to create his images implying heroic courage, the spirit of power and beauty.
Larisa Skobkina,
art critic, Department Head of the Central Exhibition Hall "Manege", Saint-Petersburg
Gennady Lakoba is the name in modern art which I hope will represent our time to following generations with dignity. He is a serious artist creating not “goods” but “works”. Possessing a powerful innate gift Gennady Lakoba also uses in his creative work the golden reserve of cultural and artistic erudition which enables him to seek himself in various creative directions and to create his own unique style while learning from the masters of the past.
Lyudmila Pavlova,
Head of the exhibition department of the Sochi Art Museum
Gennady Lakoba gives the impression of a contemporary artist of the European type, based on traditional modernism, capable of wider contextual assessment of works of art and other phenomena of the realities of life. And it's true. Many years have been passing since he left native Abkhazia. Since 1992 he has lived in Belarus, travelling around the countries of the world, showing the works in the museums and galleries. In his exhibition list we can see Germany, France, Croatia, Spain, America, and, of course, galleries of Minsk, Grodno, Moscow, St. Petersburg. Also he doesn't forget Abkhazia where his works are well known. Thus, his considerable professional and life experience became a basis for artist's worthy mature creativity.
Irina Shurskaya
Creativity of the artist is unique, extremely multifaceted and wide, he works in various forms of art: sculpture, painting, drawing, tapestry. Today during the meeting Gennady Lakoba told about his development as an artist, about important events of the creative life, the history of his works. Guests and parishioners were able to touch the high art, the wonderful world of the artist, which is fascinating with colors and volumes, depth and wisdom. The meeting had been lasting more than two hours, but nobody wanted to let the talented person leave. The parish priest Alexander Hombak expressed gratitude to Gennady for unusually interesting, bright and sincere meeting.
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