Modern Orthodox icon painting has followed a definite and distinct direction, which is surely a continuation from the old tradition. At the same time, many diversities of ancient iconography have been lost and forgotten. The revival of these traditions is a defense of the inheritance of the Orthodox Church.
The inheritance of ancient Cappadocian, Antiochian and Georgian mural painting has not only historical and cultural importance, it should be reflected in contemporary Orthodox Liturgy.
Lasha Kintsurashvili is a painter and iconographer of Georgian Patriarchate and one of the founders of st. John the Theologian Iconographer’s Brotherhood.
Lasha works simultaneously in archaic and classical style in icon painting. He uses minerals, natural pigments (half precious stones, minerals and colors made of the ground). This is the principle question because such colors give inner brightness to painting.
Lasha Kintsurashvili was born on 13 March in 1968 in Tbilisi. In 1985 he finished Physical Mathematical School after V. M. Komarov. The same year he finished art specialized school of Georgia Ministry of Education with painting specialty. He continued his education the same year at Georgia technical University at the architectural Department which he graduated in 1991. In 1989-90 he participated in restoration of mural painting of medieval centuries in the highland region of Georgia-Svaneti. He painted icon and fresco copies.
In November 1988 Lasha’s first personal exhibition was arranged at Architectural faculty of Georgia Technical University. In 1989 in historical part of Tbilisi Abanotubani, in Young Painters’ Club Pirosmani, his second exhibition took place.
At the end of 80s Lasha Kintsurashvili became involved in iconography. Lasha Kintsurashvili established icon painting class with several other painters at Tbilisi Theological Academy. In 1992 he painted Martkopi Father Monastery, the Basilica of St. George with iconographer David Khidasheli. After this he performed mural paintings in some Georgian Churches. In 1995-2001 he painted St. George’s Church in Moscow.
While painting Moscow church he simultaneously worked in drawing, painting, and took part in different exhibitions. In December, 1995 in the Gallery of Moscow Painters’ Union in 21 Tverskaya Yamskaya st. the exhibition of his works took place. In January-February of 1996 his personal exhibition was arranged in Georgia Embassy Exhibition Hall where his paintings and icons were exhibited. Also, in January 2001 he had personal exhibition the Gallery located on Arbat A-3.
At the end of January 2001 Lasha returned to Georgia and painted several churches in Tbilisi. In 2004 in Tbilisi Old Gallery his personal exhibition took place. Lasha’s paintings and icons are in America, Europe, Russia, Japan and Georgia. They are in churches, cathedrals, museums and personal collections.
As it has been mentioned above, he has taken part in many exhibitions, but he considers that his best exhibitions are those mural painting of churches which can always be visited by people.
List of the Churches, painted under Lasha Kintsurashvili’s leadership.
- Tbilisi All Saint Church chancel, dome, prothesis (1992-94).
- St. Shio Mgvimeli Church in Shio Mgvime Monastery (1993).
- Likhauri Holy Virgin Church, the chancel, western porch (1993-95).
- Moscow St. George’s church (1996-2001).
- The Residence Church of Akhalkalaki (1998).
- The Refectory of Georgian Patriarchate (2001).
- The bell tower of Sioni Cathedral (2001).
- Prophet David Church in Tbilisi (2002).
- St. Ketevan the great-martyr's church (2003).
- St. father David's monastery bell tower church in Tbilisi (2003-2004).
- St. father David's monastery north church, Tbilisi (2004).
- St. King Vakhtang Gorgasali chapel, Sioni Cathedral.(2007-2009)
- St. John the Baptist Church, Holy Trinity Cathedral (2005-2010)
