Nino Kharatishvili: What We Believe About Art

NINO KHARATISHVILI is a German-based Georgian author of bestselling works, playwright and theater director. She has received numerous awards, including the Adelbert von Chamisso Prize, the Kranichsteiner Literaturpreis, and the Literaturpreis des Kulturkreises der deutschen Wirtschaft.(CREDIT: G2 Baraniak)

Art does not provide black and white answers, art conveys issues, problems, thoughts, and even pain

Generally, I believe in art, I think it is the most stable and - also eternal form of expression, it was like that two thousand years ago, and it will continue to be that way for as long as mankind exists.

When we go to the theater, watch a movie, read a book, we are seeking answers to certain questions, that’s why we’re looking for art, but art does not provide black and white answers, art conveys issues, problems, thoughts, and even pain.

Art that is bare, authentic and in some way personal is what I value, because I feel that all great works, whether they are books or music, originate from personal need, pain or interest, not because this or that issue is relevant.

In the area of art, I am very passionate and it hasn’t disappointed me thus far. I’ve made many discoveries, met many people who have influenced my thinking and made me see things better.

Describe how art entered your life.

It came into my life with literature; I loved reading books since I was a child, and my teenage years turned out to be difficult for young people; The book was the alternative that made me realize that there are so many worlds beyond what I know; life, the world, the earth are so much more, and this journey has always fascinated me. My favorite thing about books was that I could identify with a character and suddenly find myself in Colombia, or in nineteenth-century Russia, Australia, or China; it allowed me to escape a depressing reality. Because of this, my desire to tell stories grew. Then, on stage, it all needed to be brought to life, which ultimately caused a chain reaction.

I founded a theater troupe at the age of sixteen. It was a very difficult time, and I remember rehearsing by candlelight in a freezing school hall; that was the only bright spot in an otherwise bleak period of time; I started writing plays because I loved the concept of making something into a play and then performing it before a live audience. Soon after, I entered a directing course at the University, since I couldn’t imagine learning to write and to apply for a journalism course; it was not that I couldn’t imagine introducing this to others; rather, I couldn’t imagine the institutionalization of these activities; I studied at the theater school for three years, then I went to Hamburg and enrolled in the Drama Academy; that’s how I ended up in Germany.

The book that made the biggest impact on you and the one you are most passionate about.

It is the diversity of art that I like, there are so many good movies, music, books to choose from depending on what stage of life you are going through and what you need. Pepi Longstocking was a great adventure for me when I was a child, then, different books attracted me at different times depending on who I was at that moment, what interested me, what bothered me. Today I read a lot of contemporary literature, I am interested in what is being written and created, and I always try to keep up with the process; I also enjoy poetry and it has left a huge impression on me. Poetry provides a way of transferring language to another form, to another layer; I have never written a poem myself, and I do not seek to do so; however, I enjoy reading collections of poets who have influenced me; it always inspires me.

Do you prefer to read Georgian or foreign authors?

Among Georgians, I would choose Terenti Graneli; among Russian poets, especially women - Marina Tsvetaeva, Anna Akhmatova, it was Tsvetaeva’s poetry that taught me so much; and a book that I always return to is Greek Mythology. Mythology has influenced me since childhood; there is great imagination, clear logic, and simplicity in it. When a story is easy to tell, I love it; it’s the same with myths. On one hand, they appear simple, but on the other, there is a depth beneath this simplicity.

What do you believe when you write?

As a writer, I believe in dialogue. While I may not know who will read the book, and what his background is, I believe I will be able to initiate a dialogue with him; however, this dialog will not be direct, but rather transformative. I hope that this story, which important to me, will also be meaningful to someone else. But, in truth, when I’m writing, I think less about my reader. I tend to think less about what’s going to happen next; The most important thing to me is the process; When my book is published, I put it on a shelf; It’s already a completed journey for me; Then, it begins to live separately - it’s like a child you raised and then it starts living on its own. If the author does not give this arena to the book, then he will never be ready for something new. This is why, when I write, I try to think less about the external effects, even though I really believe that this story will reach other people.

Dialogue: what is its power?

Human beings are social beings who require communication; We sometimes get to know ourselves through reflections on others, conversations with others, and in other people’s feelings; We cannot stand on a blank page; behind us, in front of us, and with us there is always a story; Ultimately, we are all connected by these invisible, if not real, chains; Therefore, I believe that few things in life are possible without dialogue.

The exchange of ideas, conversation, I think is very valuable; without this I don’t know how one can move forward in life. The dialogue, even with someone we do not share much in common with, I think is better than not engaging in a dialogue all together; the dialogue needs not necessarily be deliberate; it can be, even completely random, which can have an impact on you later.

Why is art so important to mankind and what is the way one becomes interested in it?

In order for young people to become interested in art, they need more opportunities, various incentive programs, and a library; for those who have little access and have grown up outside of literature, it is very difficult for them to become interested once they are older; we should encourage this from a young age. The best thing art can do is to build a bridge - to express compassion; art can make us more human; art is capable of making the world a better place; there are so many good works that do this; I also believe in logic, argumentation, and facts, as well as love.

How do you think people come to a lack of common sense?

Common sense comes from being able to think. In order to be able to think, you must have an education; however he may have received the information, but he did not understand its essence; unfortunately, common sense is in short supply; evolution is there, the potential for common sense exists, but we keep making the same mistakes, even fighting wars.

Common sense means taking more responsibility for yourself, to develop; It is not easy; It is always easier to pass responsibility to someone else; Being stuck in one worldview is more comfortable than having doubts, constantly searching; Some people prefer knowledge, even if it isn’t accurate, and stay in their comfort zones; Because the more you know, the more you doubt, and this is a difficult process for many.

What is the significance of love in human life?

Love, I think, is the beginning of everything. That doesn’t just mean love for a person; it includes love for yourself, love for your work, love for your country, love for your people, love for the world. When you love something, you are more interested in it; You want to know more and more, and you have more courage and energy.

If a work is not done with love, it might lead to a rather tragic situation, imagine a doctor who does not love people, or a kindergarten teacher who does not like children, or even politics, people often enter politics based on instinct, based on personal interests; this never results in success; without love, it is very difficult to create something worthwhile.

Is there a lack of love in the world today?

Human history has been characterized by a lack of love. It can be said that lack of love breeds lack of love. For example, a child who was not loved by his parents is a lot less likely to break that chain of aggression, and the chance that he will not be aggressive is quite low. The society in which you live is very important, sometimes people are not lucky, they are at the wrong time, they are in an uncomfortable place, they are hurt, and that is also understandable; after that, the distance between being evil and lacking love is very short; I believe, whatever work we do, we should love, only then will we be able to conquer new heights.