Statue in Batumi, why love without hands. The sculpture “Love” in Batumi is the most romantic monument

Many tourist cities have their own highlights, captured in the form of historical monuments, architecture, and painting. Places like the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen or Manneken Pis in Brussels become a magnet, attracting crowds of tourists and meeting places for couples. The sculpture of Ali and Nino in Batumi (Batumi, Georgia), which has no analogues in the world, attracts a full house every evening on the embankment of the seaside resort town. Men and women confess their love to each other, take pictures against the backdrop of a mesmerizing picture, and shoot on video.

Heroes love story

When creating the sculpture of Ali and Nino, the famous Georgian sculptor Tamara Kvesitadze drew inspiration from an ancient romantic legend. The love story of the Georgian princess Nino Kipiani and the Azerbaijani Muslim Ali Khan Shirvanshir took place at the beginning of the 20th century, against the backdrop of the tragic events of the First World War, the Bolshevik Revolution, and civil strife. The novel “Nino and Ali” was first published in 1937 in Germany. It was written by a mysterious author hiding under the pseudonym Kurban Said. The manuscript was anonymously left to a book publisher, and after publication it became a bestseller. The work has been translated into 30 languages, films have been made based on it, and performances have been staged. The main events take place in Baku, on the territory of modern Armenia.

Young people meet while studying in Baku gymnasiums located not far from each other. The Governor's Garden becomes the place for romantic meetings, where the first kiss and declaration of love take place. The marriage proposal of an ardent young man does not meet with approval from the family of a girl who professes the Christian religion. They are frightened by Muslim traditions and the attitude towards women in Islam, so the wedding is postponed under various pretexts.

At this time, a close friend of the family, secretly in love with Nino, kidnaps her with the aim of marrying her and taking her to Sweden. Ali finds the offender, kills him in a fierce battle and frees his beloved. They get married and begin to live together, but the revolution and the events that followed it force them to leave their homeland and find temporary refuge in Persia. After the proclamation of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, Ali and Nino return to Baku and their daughter Tamara is born. The novel ends tragically, war comes again, Ali dies in a battle with Russian troops on the Ganja Bridge, and Nino leaves with her daughter for her homeland in Georgia.

History of the creation of the monument

A native of Georgia and now a US citizen, Tamara Kvesitadze worked on creating the sculpture of Ali and Nino for two years, trying to convey her emotions from reading the novel in the most original way. Her creation was first demonstrated at the Venice Festival in 2007 and was included in the list of audience choice leaders, receiving high marks from the public and professional critics. The demonstration in London also made a lasting impression on connoisseurs of contemporary art. The audience was simply fascinated by the realized idea of ​​figures moving towards them, gradually merging into one whole.

The monument, made of metal plates, is striking in photographs and videos with its size, towering against the backdrop of the city landscape. In fact, the height of the statue of love in Batumi does not exceed 10 meters. Every day after 7 pm, lovers will have to move towards each other for 10 minutes in order to merge together. The moving figures are designed to merge into one silhouette as they approach. The unusual futuristic design captivates the eye when the figures of a girl and a guy converge at one point, as if merging in a loving embrace.

Beloved by many, it was installed in 2010 and since then has delighted citizens and tourists every day. The original title “Man and Woman” did not accurately describe the composition, so it was replaced with “Ali and Nino” in 2011. During daylight hours it is impossible to fully enjoy the view of the monument, since it is static most of the day. But when the sun sets below the horizon, the colorful lighting of the sculptural ensemble turns on, giving the figures a mysterious and enchanting shade.

How to get there

The sculpture delights city residents and tourists on the embankment running along Rustaveli Avenue. It is located on the territory of the Wonderland Park, next to the Kempinski Hotel. Nearby is the Ferris Wheel, Batumi Lighthouse, Georgian Alphabet Tower, Chachi Tower. You can visit the attraction on your own by getting to the embankment by public transport or as part of an excursion group. It is better to plan a visit in the evening, since you can fully enjoy the view of figures moving against the night sky after sunset.

This summer, when I found myself in the port of Batumi, I saw the monument “Ali and Nino” - two metal structures moving towards each other. These “lovers” looked especially beautiful at the moment of their “kiss” at night, against the backdrop of the endless sea surface, illuminated by multi-colored lights...
I wanted to share with you what I learned about the monument and its author.
Having already started working on this post, I discovered about a dozen posts by different LiveJournal users on the same topic, but that didn’t stop me. A very pleasant topic!

On November 16, 2010, the moving sculpture “Love” was opened in Batumi. The seven-meter sculptures cost the city 5 thousand dollars, and are notable not only for their history and size. Ali and Nino slowly move towards each other, changing position every 10 minutes, until they meet and merge into one. After this, the reverse process begins, and then everything starts again. The author of the work is the famous Georgian sculptor Tamar Kvesitadze, who works and lives in the USA.

Author of the monument

At the very beginning, the sculpture was called "Man and Woman". But after the decision was made to install it in Batumi, the figures received the names of the heroes of Kurban Said’s book “Ali and Nino,” which tells about the love of an Azerbaijani and a Georgian princess - Ali and Nino.
The model of the monument was previously presented several times at various exhibitions in Europe and the USA and received high marks.
According to sculptor Tamar Kvesitadze, she is happy that her work has received such recognition. “I am very happy and want to thank everyone who participated in these works. I think that the new sculpture is very suitable for the city of Batumi,” said Kvesitadze. The mayor of Batumi, Robert Chkhaidze, noted in turn that “a sculpture symbolizing love has been installed in Batumi and it will always be one of the city’s attractions.”

A few words about “Ali and Nino”.
This novel was shrouded in secrecy, like probably no other novel of the 20th century. "Ali and Nino" was first published in German in 1937 in Vienna. The manuscript of the novel disappeared without a trace, and scientists from different countries are still scratching their heads over the question of who is hiding under the mysterious pseudonym “Kurban Said.” However, no matter who the author of the novel is, one thing is clear: before us is a brilliant and inspiredly told romantic story, the action of which unfolds in the Caucasus and Iran against the backdrop of the dramatic events of the first quarter of the last century. Released in pre-war Germany, the novel "Ali and Nino" has already become a world bestseller today and has received enthusiastic responses from readers.
This is a purebred romantic novel - not from the word "romance", but from the word "romanticism". If it had been written a century earlier, the reading public would simply go crazy. Exotic adventures in intricate oriental settings with true love to the grave, blood feud, heroic deeds in the name of the homeland and the woman you love - candy, not a novel. Why it became popular half a century after it was written (and it was written in the 20s, and the identity of the author is dark and incomprehensible) is quite understandable: the modern reader sometimes wants to take a break from complex texts with hints and tricks, open a book whose plot would be crystal clear pure as spring water, and heroes as simple as road dust. What is important is that these heroes really have values, they have honor and faith, their feelings are sincere, and they always say exactly what they mean. And you gradually gain respect for this simplicity and naivety - “heroes, not us...”

In Azerbaijan, it is believed that the famous Azerbaijani writer Yusif Vezir Chemenzeminli was the author of “Ali and Nino”. However, it should be noted that in the literary works of Yusif Vezir the idea of ​​ethnic and cultural mixing was considered unacceptable and even a betrayal of the homeland. This contradicts the fundamental line of the novel "Ali and Nino". According to another version, "Ali and Nino" was written by Baroness Elfried Ehrenfels von Bodmershof, wife of Baron Omar-Rolf von Ehrenfels. In the German book catalog Deutser Gesamkatalog of the times of the Third Reich, under the name Kurban Said, it is written “pseudonym Ehrenfels, f. Bodmershoff, Elfried, Baronesses.” According to the third version, the author of the novel was the writer Lev Naussimbaum, also known as Essad Bey, the son of the Baku oil magnate, Avram Naussimbaum.

So who is this Kurban Said?

It is known that, among other pseudonyms, the name “Kurban Said” was used by the German writer, journalist and hoaxer of Azerbaijani origin Lev Nusenbaum.

Lev Abramovich Nusenbaum was born in 1905 in Kyiv in the family of a merchant of the second guild and soon an oil magnate from Tiflis, Abram Lvovich Nusenbaum, of the Jewish religion. At the age of one he was transported to Baku. From 1914 to 1920, Lev Nusenbaum studied at the Russian-language Baku Men's Gymnasium. He studied German from childhood under the guidance of a Baltic German governess (Frau Alice Melanie Schulte). In 1920, without finishing high school, he moved to Georgia, then to Turkey and France, and from there in 1921 to Berlin.
In Berlin he graduated from the Seminary of Oriental Languages ​​at the Friedrich-Wilhelms-University, specializing in Turkish and Arabic. In 1926, he converted to Islam at the Turkish embassy in Berlin, and later took the name of Muhammad Assad Bey. If we compare Nusenbaum’s biography with the biographies of his characters, it turns out that he described his life.
Excerpt from the novel “Ali and Nino”:
“... Lyceum students in blue uniform dresses, the color of dreams, and white aprons, walked sedately through the garden. Among them was my cousin Aishe. She walked arm in arm with the most beautiful girl in the world, Nino Kipiani. Seeing me, Aishe waved her hand. I approached them and began to talk about the battle that took place in the geography lesson.
“Ali Khan, you are a fool,” said the most beautiful girl in the world, wrinkling her nose. - Thank God we are in Europe. If we were in Asia, I should have put on a veil long ago, and you would never have seen my face.
I was completely defeated. The controversial geographical location of Baku truly gave me the favor of the most beautiful eyes in the world.
Upset, I decided not to go to the rest of my lessons and went to wander the streets, looking at camels, and then stood for a long time by the sea, sadly thinking about Europe, Asia and the beautiful eyes of Nino Kipiani.
Suddenly a creepy-looking beggar appeared in front of me. I tossed him a coin. He immediately grabbed my hand, intending to kiss it. I pulled my hand back in fear. And then, full of remorse for the callousness shown, I spent almost two hours looking for the disappeared beggar to allow him to kiss my hand. It seemed to me that I had offended him by refusing him, and remorse did not give me peace. However, I was never able to find a beggar.
Five years have passed since then...”

Did I manage to intrigue you?

If one romantic story is not enough for you, feel free to read another novel by the writer that is no less beloved by me - “The Girl from the Golden Horn.” In "The Girl from the Golden Horn", the author, following his writing style and taking readers to different parts of the world - Berlin, Istanbul, Bosnia, New York, pays close attention to the inner experiences and thoughts of the characters. Kurban Said’s favorite theme is the confrontation between East and West, their sincere desire and attempts at rapprochement remain futile and lead nowhere, the hearts of each of the heroes remain devoted to their blood traditions, their homeland, their concepts of duty, honor and love. The main character - Asiade (Asia) - amazes with her purity, integrity of views, femininity and wisdom.
"The Girl from the Golden Horn" is one of those rare books that you want to recommend to your friends. No vulgarity or far-fetchedness. All about life...

Enjoy your reading!

My project "Summer in Georgia"

In the seaside city of Batumi there is a huge statue that testifies to true love. Every resident of Georgia and all guests of the city know the history of the sculpture “Ali and Nino”. For the sake of the spectacle of personified history, thousands of tourists come to Batumi to at least once look at the incredible and amazing sculpture.

Love story

In 1937, a novel was published that won the hearts of millions. A tragic story can cause admiration or joy, tears and disappointment. This is a novel about hearts in love who went through everything in order to be together. It features the main characters Ali and Nino. For religious reasons, the couple could not be together, because the guy was a Muslim and the girl was a Christian. The life of young people is described in vivid colors: they had to survive both the revolution and the civil war, and witnessed the formation of the Azerbaijan Republic.

The novel describes in detail the beauty, nature and life of Dagestan, Azerbaijan, Persia and Tiflis. Despite the fact that most of the events took place in Baku, the famous sculpture “Ali and Nino” was erected in Batumi (Georgia).

Features of the statue

This is a very unusual sculpture, because it is in constant motion. For this reason, many call such a miracle an installation. The creator and author of the symbol of the southern republic is Tamara Kvesitadze. The main task of the architect is to recreate all the experiences and difficulties that young people experienced in the famous history.

The sculpture of love “Ali and Nino” reaches eight meters in height and consists of two separate figures. You will immediately understand what each statue represents. If you look closely, you can see how the integrity of the figures is broken and there are gaps. But this is not without reason, because this innovative solution is the essence of the installation.

If you manage to visit Batumi, be sure to visit the famous sculpture “Ali and Nino”. Please note that for a beautiful spectacle, the city authorities set the installation in motion at 19:00 every evening. As you pass by, stop and just remember the tragic story of a man and woman who fought for their happiness to the last.

Why is this installation so amazing?

The sculpture “Ali and Nino” in Batumi is a continuous movement of huge buildings. To understand the whole essence of the installation, you need to spend 10 minutes of your life and enjoy the wonderful spectacle. You will see how two statues slowly approach each other, gradually uniting into a single whole, and then diverge in different directions.

Tamara Kvesitadze was able to convey all the tragedy, because Ali and Nino always met on the sly for the sake of love, but eternal difficulties threw them in different directions. Surprisingly, the difficult but inspiring story ended well, and the young people were able to get married.

View from the outside

In the video, the installation appears so large that it almost reaches the roof of a multi-story building. In fact, the height of the Ali and Nino sculpture does not exceed ten meters (including the stand). Based on reviews from tourists, we can say that even the small size of the installation evokes delight and surprise. The moral here is simple: lovers need to travel a long way to sneak into the arms of their other half. It is the halves that we are talking about, because two figures pass through each other, literally merging into a single whole.

Tourists' opinions:

• This installation is so magnificent that it makes you want to take a closer look at the famous novel.
• The figures move very slowly and pass through each other for 10-15 minutes, while they make a circle.
• The sculpture is mesmerizing; it is impossible to take your eyes off it. All the time you spend near the pedestal, you begin to remember your love story. At such moments, you can feel a shiver throughout your body.
• It is recommended to watch man’s creation in the evening or at night, as the beautiful lighting turns on.

Look at the photo and see for yourself: Tamara Kvesitadze has recreated a wonderful installation that will amaze for many years to come.

How to get there

You need to get to the embankment of the square along Rustaveli Avenue and turn onto Gogebashvili Street. After the roundabout you will see a huge square from which you can see the Batumi lighthouse, the majestic KEMPINSKI hotel and the Ferris wheel. When you get to the embankment, use our landmarks. You will find the famous installation just 100 meters from the Ferris wheel.

Tip: Until 2010, the famous statue was called "Lovers", and on the map it is indicated as a metal sculpture "LOVE". However, more recently it has been dubbed the famous sculpture “Ali and Nino”. The description above will help you easily find your way to an unforgettable installation.

We are confident that the work of art will inspire you. But don’t be disappointed if the figures seem small to you. Just wait until dark and enjoy the pleasant spectacle in seaside Batumi.

Every city in Georgia has its own flavor. A unique, beautiful and unusual highlight. Batumi was no exception. Here, at the very entrance to the city, there is a very original statue, which was installed in 2011. From the very first day of its existence, the statue received a simple name - “Man and Woman”. But soon the city residents renamed it and gave it another name - Ali and Nino. But few who come to Georgia know who Ali and Nino are and why these huge seven-meter figures are named by these names.

And few people realize that Ali and Nino are two people who, by the will of fate, were first united into one whole, and then again, by fate, separated forever...

And this tragic and bright love story is described in the book of the same name, the authorship of which is attributed to Kurban Said. However, there are two other authors who could also write this wonderful book. One of them is Lev Nussimbaum, a German who converted to Islam. He, like the hero of the novel, studied at the Baku gymnasium. Some even claim that Kurban Said is just a pseudonym for Lev Nussimbautu. The second possible author of the text is Yusif Chemenzeminli, an Azerbaijani writer. His daughters, like Nino, studied at the Baku girls’ gymnasium.

The names Ali and Nino are well known in Georgia. It is for this reason that after the installation of the sculpture, local residents renamed these figures and gave them real names. And those buildings in Baku that are described in the book have survived in the city to this day. But they are not included in any guidebook, and none of the tourists simply know about their existence, unless, of course, local residents tell about it. And there really is something to talk about.

The main character of the work is Ali Khan Shirvanshir. He is a descendant of the ancient and noble aristocratic family of Shirvanshirov. Once upon a time, long ago, the ancestor of Ali Khan named Ibrahim Khan, with his own hands, handed over to the ruler of Baku the sword with which the Russian general Tsitsianishvili was stabbed to death. Throughout the entire novel, Ali Khan's parents remain adherents of Asian culture and everything European in their souls does not find shelter. But Ali Khan himself is brought up in a very ordinary school and there he also experiences the power of the West.

At the same time, the daughter of the Prince of Georgia, Nino Kipiani, is studying at the girls' gymnasium. And one day Ali met a girl not far from the place where the gymnasium itself is located. Friendship first strikes up between young people, and then real first love breaks out.

Ali constantly helps his young friend with her homework; they often meet in the Governor’s Garden, where they walk along its alleys and kiss for the first time. But the trouble was that Ali Khan was a Muslim, and Nino was a Christian. And the clash of these two religions is very vividly described in the novel itself.

But through his love for Nino, Ali Khan begins to get used to the Christian faith more and more, to come closer and closer to the European world and its traditions. After the young people finish their studies, Ali proposes to Nino. But at first the girl refuses, and only when Ali promises her that he will not require her to wear a veil and will not marry anyone else, Nino agrees. Ali Khan's father is not at all against this state of affairs and approves of the wedding, but Nino's father is strongly opposed to his daughter becoming the wife of a Muslim.

In the summer, the young couple and their parents leave for Shusha, where Ali encounters an aristocrat from Armenia Melik Nahararyan. The guys strike up a friendship, but Melik is attracted to the beautiful Nino at first sight and makes every effort to take the girl with him to Sweden.

But then the First World War breaks out. All Muslims were exempted from military service and participation in hostilities, but they still went to war. But Ali Khan did not go. And this greatly angered his father. I didn’t understand my lover and Nino. However, Ali Khan did not want to go to war for the Russian Empire.

And then Melik suddenly arrives in Baku and organizes the kidnapping of the girl. Nino is not very opposed to this kidnapping. Her ardent love for Ali is already beginning to cool down and the girl really misses adventures. But Ali Khan, in anger, overtakes the fugitives on his horse and, during a fight that breaks out between the young people, kills Nahararyan. After this murder, Ali turns out to be a blood enemy of the Nahararyan family, and in order to save his life he is forced to hide in a Dagestan village. After some time, Nino finds him. Ali Khan forgives his beloved, and they arrange a wedding according to all Muslim traditions. During this marriage, the girl Tamara is born.

At the end of the book, Russian soldiers capture Baku. Ali Khan sends his beloved to Tbilisi, while he remains to defend his homeland. He never accepted the Russian Empire and Ali dies during a battle with Russian soldiers.

An unusually beautiful statue in Batumi is named after these two people - the courageous and proud Ali Khan and the flighty but faithful Nino. As in life, the seven-meter statues of a girl and a boy first approach each other, then merge into a single whole, and at the very end they part once and for all. But, despite this separation, eternal love will always live in their hearts, respect and admiration for each other will always live.

Well, all we can do is watch this sacred merger and sad parting in the late evenings in Batumi, which will exist as long as the world exists.

The statues themselves are made of steel. Every 10 minutes they begin to move towards each other, and then merge into a single sculpture, and then disperse again. But it is best to contemplate the monument in the dark. Then this movement looks like a magical dance of love and at the same time so much charm emanates from it that it is simply impossible not to succumb to it.

The romantic statue of Nino and Ali in the pearl of Georgia, the resort city, has been attracting the attention of tourists for many years now. Everyone who walks along the embankment undoubtedly finds themselves under the influence of her spell.

And if previously the sculpture stood at the very edge, on a concrete platform, then after severe bad weather in 2015, it was moved closer to other structures and entertainment of the Park of Wonders, almost right next to it.

Now the moving statue of lovers is available for public viewing at any time of the day. Undoubtedly especially beautiful and it looks unique after sunset, when the multi-colored lights turn on and the figures are either approaching or moving away from each other to the sound of the waves and the twinkling of stars.

Statue of love in Batumi

At the Batumi statue of love, like in the novel, thanks to which the sculpture arose, has its own history. Although less short, it did not have time to become tragic.

The movement of the sculpture does not stop either day or night. But in the evening the lights turn on, which adds romance to it.

Her amazing work, the result of two years of work, was shown in 2007, first on the famous Venice exhibition world art, and then in London, causing a furore among those present.

Subsequently, they decided to install the statue in Batumi, next to the sea terminal on the embankment. From 2011 to August 2015, it successfully withstood all natural disasters. It was only at the end of August 2015 that the statue was moved to a safer place.

At the same time, there were some “victims”. Transporting the sculpture one of the figures was damaged(according to another version, it was broken during a hurricane and rain). Fortunately, everything was quickly corrected, and the composition, as before, continues to bring joy to connoisseurs of beauty.

The sculpture of Ali and Nino was made under the impression of reading the novel of the same name, presumably by Kurban Said. The authorship could not be established for certain, despite the world fame of the book, published 80 years ago (in 1937). The novel tells about the uneasy love of a Muslim guy and a Christian girl, about the search for compromises between two cultures and the future fate of the lovers.

Initially, the composition was planned to be called “Man and Woman,” but after editing in Batumi, it was decided to change it to “Ali and Nino.”

In about 10 minutes, two figures manage to show the entire love story: from meeting to separation. They gradually get closer, pass through each other and part. The thing is that the images of a man and a woman are made of metal lattice, essentially similar to blinds.

The height of the sculpture is only slightly taller than a human, but due to the rather high platform on which they are mounted, the impression of the scale of the composition is created.

There are benches around the platform where passers-by like to sit in the evenings, admiring the yachts, ships and the setting sun. Nearby, tourists are making dates, tourists are walking and taking pictures in front of the statue, and passers-by are riding bicycles and rollerblading. And the unusual symbol of love, the sculpture of Nino and Ali, continues its graceful movement for eternity...

Sculpture of Nino and Ali in Batumi on the map

The Wonderland Park, in which the statue of love between Nino and Ali is installed in Batumi, is a popular vacation spot among tourists and city residents. Finding it is not difficult, and yet, for convenience, we attach a map with the exact location of the sculpture and other attractions located nearby.

All icons are signed and briefly characterize this place (if you click on them). If necessary, the map can be enlarged by clicking on the rectangle in the upper right corner.

How to get to the monument to Ali and Nino in Batumi?

The easiest way to see the moving monument to Ali and Nino on the Batumi embankment is to walk to it. The convenient location of the sculpture allows you to approach the park both by car and by bus. In the first case, you can get quite close to the monument and leave the car in any suitable place (for example, near). Suitable bus numbers are: 1, 1a, 2, 4, 10, 13. To avoid funny incidents, we advise you to ask the driver or passengers of the minibus whether you will get to the right place.