CULTURE
GEORGIA TODAY
SEPTEMBER 30 - OCTOBER 3, 2016
19
Gerda Taro – the First Woman Photographer on the Frontline BY LILY FÜRSTENOW-KHOSITASHVILI
I
n a series of lectures, panel discussions and film presentations that took place throughout September 2016 in Rosa-Luxemburg Stiftung, Berlin, an attempt was made by the organizers to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). The impetus of the war was the military putch of Franco on July 19th, 1936 supported by the German and Italian fascists, conservatives and the Church. The Franco putsch was opposed by hundreds of thousands of representatives of the Spanish civil population, people from all walks of life, as well as by progressive writers, intellectuals and artists Europewide. “NO PASARAN” was the slogan that inspired the masses for the fight against fascism and dictatorship and these words still remain in the memories of the following generations as a motto calling for the selfless struggle against genocide, political and military dictatorships of all kinds. The 80th anniversary of the Spanish Civil War was commemorated by a photo exhibition “Bilder der Solidarität” (Photos of Solidarity) documenting the tragedy of the war, the photos depicting soldiers and ordinary people who volunteered to sacrifice their lives for the cause of justice, those who came to Spain from all over Europe to fight against the fascists. The photos exhibited at the Rosa-Luxemburg Stiftung were made by a famous photo reporter Gerda Taro, the first female photojournalist to cover the front
Gerda Taro & Robert Capa in Paris, 1936, by Fred Stein
lines of the Spanish Civil War. She was the close friend and colleague of Robert Capa both of whom documented the war in Spain. Together with works by Taro, visitors can see photographs by writer-photographer Alfred Kantorowicz. Taro's photos were discovered in 2007 in the so-called Mexican Suitcase that also contained the negatives of Spanish Civil War photos by Robert Capa and Chim (David Seymour), which had been considered lost since 1939. According to the International Center of Photography these three photographers, who lived in Paris, worked in Spain, and published internationally, laid the foundation for modern war photography. Their work has long been considered some of the most innovative and passionate coverage of the Spanish Civil
War. Gerda Taro sacrificed her life while photographing military events, becoming severely injured while taking photos on the front line during the battle of Brunette in Spain and dying shortly afterwards. Kantorowicz, whose photographs are exhibited together with those of Taro, joined the Tschapaiew Batalillon of 21 nations and documented in his works his comrades in arms. The curator of the exhibition is Dr. Benedikt Behrens. Although not all controversies concerning the historical events of the Civil War in Spain have been solved and the repercussions of the war are still noticeable in our society, commemoration of the war atrocities is fundamental for awareness-raising, especially among the younger generation.
SPORTS
The Long Wait for the Batumi Football Stadium BY MARIAM NATSARISHVILI
F
ootball is a symbol of unity, support and respect in Georgia. “It used to draw us together at the Stadium to watch football matches to enjoy time with family and friends cheering for our favorite teams. It is unfortunate that over the years one of the most developed cities in Georgia had no stadium,” says Nikoloz Merabishvili, a resident of Batumi. The first stadium in Batumi was built in 1935. With a great location at the seaside it offered fans 18,000 seats. In 2002, the local government started to destroy it aiming to use the area for luxurious hotels and business center by the sea. Four years later, the stadium was gone, forcing local football teams to practice in various venues throughout the regionat Kobuleti stadium ‘Chele-Arena,’ for example, 30 km away from Batumi, or at the small stadium in Ureki. However, after 14 years of this discomfort, Batumi is at last to have its own
20,000 seat stadium as the Government of Adjara has decided to spend 38,000 000 GEL to build a new one. It announced a design contest which the Turkish company Bahadur Kul Architects won. The company has designed 22 stadium projects and 17 sport centers all around the world, including in Turkey and Kazakhstan. The new stadium will no longer occupy a prime real estate location near the beach but will be located inland, spread over 8 hectares on Leonidze Street, in the suburbs of Batumi . “The stadium will satisfy the standards of UEFA and FIFA,” said Ramaz Bolkvadze Adjara Minister of Economy and Finance. “In addition, it will also serve the region for holding cultural events such as large scale concerts. The stadium zone will have cafés, shops, parking and comfortable spaces for people to spend time in, and will be fully adapted to the needs of the disabled. The stadium may wellbecome a tourist destination, too,” he added. The façade of stadium is to replicate the Georgian national dance ‘Khorumi,’
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designed to look like dancers who moving and dancing. The stadium will be roofed and will house an elaborate lighting system able to be changed according to the event. The exterior of the stadium will light up in the colors of the flags of Georgia, Adjara AR and Dinamo Batumi. The construction of the stadium is set for completion in 2019. Batumi inhabitants feel positive about the new design of the stadium. They say the project is modern and innovative and hope that local people will find employment there through all stages of construction and after the stadium is built.
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