Sculpture and Plastic form Modeling Course “360 Degrees”
The Sculpture and Plastic form Modeling Course “360 Degrees” is an intensive practical-theoretical program centered on the volumetric perception and modeling of form. The course is designed to develop participants’ spatial thinking, creative vision, and technical mastery through a comprehensive exploration of sculptural practice.
The program combines the principles of classical academic sculpture and the experimental approaches of contemporary art. Participants will engage in the complete creative process – from the initial conceptual idea to the presentation and exhibition of a three-dimensional sculptural object.
Mamuka Chkhaidze
SculptorMamuka Chkhaidze, artist-sculptor and academic, is a prominent representative of the contemporary Georgian sculptural school. His practice encompasses monumental-decorative sculpture, minimalist forms, and conceptual objects, characterized by urban contextualism and a transformative approach to materiality.
A graduate of the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts (2005), Chkhaidze is recognized for his ability to visually “lighten” solid materials such as iron and bronze. This approach is particularly evident in his work Iron Paper Airplane (2022–2025), where childhood nostalgia and industrial solidity merge into a conceptual synthesis. The Memorial of National Unity, created in collaboration with co-authors, further demonstrates his ability to translate complex historical narratives into monumental sculptural forms.
Alongside his artistic practice, Chkhaidze has been actively engaged in pedagogy since 2011. As a visiting lecturer at the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts, he leads courses focused on plastic form research and the development of spatial thinking. In 2025, he also served as visiting lecturer at the Free University, leading a course in object design.
Vladimer Imerlishvili
SculptorVladimer Imerlishvili is a distinguished sculptor and one of the leading reformers of contemporary Georgian sculpture. His work is defined by a departure from academic – particularly Soviet – sculptural conventions and by a conceptual reinterpretation of form, where sculpture functions as both object and idea.
He is among the first Georgian artists to introduce interactive sculptural installations into urban space, moving beyond ideological symbolism and proposing a new understanding of public sculpture. His works explore the relationship between time, space, and material through the synthesis of stone, metal, and wood.
Notable works include Swing (2017–2020), consisting of two visually identical functional sculptures formed from three-meter wooden horses, and Cell 23, where the combination of materials, such as stone, metal and wood, redefines the language of memorial sculpture. Imerlishvili’s works are installed in both Tbilisi, including the Irakli Charkviani Monument (co-authored), and Kyiv, including the Shota Rustaveli Monument, contributing to the re-evaluation of post-Soviet urban sculptural practice.
Target Group
The program is designed for both emerging practitioners and practicing designers, architects, and artists seeking to deepen their knowledge of plastic form modeling and advance their professional practice. Registration is open to participants aged 18 and above.
Prerequisites
No prior formal training is required to participate in the program. A strong creative interest, motivation, and willingness to engage in conceptual and practical work are sufficient for admission.
Objective
The primary objective of the program is to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental principles of sculptural form-making, including:
- Spatial Modeling: transforming a two-dimensional concept or sketch into a three-dimensional form;
- Volume Management: maintaining proportions and developing a three-dimensional vision;
- Technical Competence: studying the properties of various sculptural materials (clay, plasticine, plaster) and mastering their processing techniques;
- Art of Presentation: developing the ability to articulate and present the conceptual and technical aspects of one’s artistic work in a clear and coherent manner.
Outcome
Upon completion of the course, each participant will have produced an original hand-made sculptural work and acquired the theoretical and practical knowledge necessary for the development of a professional portfolio.
Learning Methods
The teaching methodology is based on the principle of “Learning by Doing.” The program incorporates interactive lectures, individual studio practice, and group critique sessions, ensuring the practical application of theoretical knowledge and the development of analytical and conceptual thinking skills.
Format
Lectures and practice
Topics
- Perception of form in space
- Construction of the architectonics of the human body through geometric forms
- Balance and movement
- Transmission of energy within static form
- The musculoskeletal system as the internal rhythm of form
- Surface treatment techniques and the influence of light on the perception of form
- Modeling specific body fragments (e.g., hand or torso)
- Intentional deformation of form to intensify emotional expression
- Relationship between the figure, surrounding environment, platform, and negative space
- Refinement and completion of sculptural work
- Achieving conceptual and visual integrity
- Preparing works for exhibition
- Presentation and articulation of the authorial concept
Gallery
Registration Form
You are registering for: Sculpture and Plastic form Modeling Course “360 Degrees”