Ochiauri, Iraklii Alekseevich

Born Nov. 20, 1924, in the village of Akhiela, Dusheti Raion, Georgian SSR. Soviet sculptor, master of chased metalwork. Honored Artist of the Georgian SSR (1965).

From 1945 to 1951, Ochiauri studied in Tbilisi under S. Ia. Kakabadze at the Academy of Arts and in la. I. Nikoladze’s studio. He revived the ancient art of Georgian chased metal-work, enriching the technique by introducing the freehand scratching of drawings on already chased surfaces and various methods of toning that enhance the color of the metal. His works include the plate Samaia (copper, 1962; now in the Picture Gallery of Georgia, Tbilisi), the relief Love (brass, 1964; Wedding Palace, Tbilisi), and the panel The Abduction of the Sun for the Soviet pavilion at the World’s Fair in Osaka (copper, 1970; Ministry of Culture of the USSR, Moscow). He was awarded the State Prize of the USSR in 1971.