თბილისის სახელმწიფო სამედიცინო უნივერსიტეტში „თავისუფალი მოქალაქის“ სკულპტურა გაიხსნა

Sculpture “Free Citizen” at Tbilisi State Medical University

On May 7, 2021 sculpture “Free Citizen” was opened at Tbilisi State Medical University. This is the second sculpture created by the sculptor Levan Vardosanidze in collaboration with the author of the idea, TSMU graduate, Professor Arsen Gvenetadze. The first monument “Happiness” is very popular in public and among the city guests. The model of the second sculpture “Free Citizen” is also located in the Ben-Gurion University (Israel), the Tbilisi International Airport, the National Parliamentary Library of Georgia and City of Batumi. International Group granted the sculpture to Tbilisi State Medical University. The aim of this group is to place “Free Citizen” in various locations: universities and cities as the sign of a personal freedom recognition. 

TSMU was visited by the sculptor Levan Vardosanidze, Professor Arsen Gvenetadze, International Counsel Joseph Boccuzzi  (New York, the USA), Professor Asher Bashir (the Ben-Gurion University, Israel), Professor Nadey Hakim (London, the UK), Company “Tori” representatives who participated in creating the 2.60 meters, stainless steel sculpture.

The event was opened by the Head of the TSMU PR Department, Giorgi Tchitchinadze. Prof. Arsen Gvenetadze recalled his years spent at Alma Mater and respectfully noted that he is happy as the monument symbolizing free citizen is located at the TSMU courtyard. The Professor also delivered congratulations from the Sheikh, Dr. Al Jassmi (Dubai, United Arab Emirates) who was not able to attend the event due to private reasons. 

TSMU Rector. Prof. Zurab Vadachkoria noted, the sculpture will become an integral part of the university. The sculptor, Levan Vardosanidze said: "I am an artist and freedom is not unfamiliar to me. I wanted to create a sculpture that would be easily understandable and minimalist. There are hugs in the heart of the earth, because if we do not take care of the earth, we will not be free". The Laureate of State Prize of Georgia and author of three books about monuments, Badri Kutateldze assessed the monument as a modern and an extraordinary composition. “There are other monuments in the TSMU courtyard. The sculptor, Kote Merabishvili’s monument - “Ivane Tarkhnishvili” and Memorial of Fallen TSMU students during the war in Abkhazia. But sculptures “Happiness” and “Free Citizen” are completely different compositions and at the same time logically fitted to the university environment”.

Head of the Georgian-Jewish Friendship Society, Jamlet Kukhashvili noted, Levan Vardosanidze is a three-time winner in the sculpture competition, which is held every four years before the opening of the Olympics. Each new work of this talented sculptor is an important event in the art space. 

The sculptor, Levan Vardosanidze presented honorary gifts - small copies of the sculpture to the TSMU Rector and Chancellor, International Counsel, Joseph Boccuzzi, Prof. Asher Bashir and a small girl who was attending the event and has become a symbol of the future generation.

At the end of the meeting, Professor Arsen Gvenetadze addressed the public with a new initiative: to recognize the first September Sunday as the "Free Personality Day", and allow everyone to celebrate this day as their free souls strive for. The society united around the idea and signed a commemorative petition.