Giorgi Robakidze & Elene Chlaidze
Khekutkhedi
Mixed media sculptor
Tbilisi, Georgia
Wood meets clay in elevated function
- Elene and Giorgi create sculptures, tableware and boxes with wood and clay
- Their pieces are adorned with Georgian motifs and ornamentation
- They find inspiration in their students' freedom in creativity
Partners in craft Giorgi Robakidze and Elene Chlaidze founded Khekutkhedi, a Tbilisi-based wood and ceramics workshop, in 2019. The name Khekutkhedi reworks the idea of a cornerstone, working with wood instead of stone and placing it at the centre of their practice. Giorgi’s foundation lies in wood, and Elene’s in ceramics: the result is sculpted wood paired with painterly ceramic surfaces. Their disciplines converge into a single material language where fine art and function can intersect. "Our work is rooted in tradition, yet driven by individual vision," Giorgi and Elene explain. "Every piece carries a clear, confident signature." In addition to their wooden and ceramic hybrid creations, the duo holds classes to share their skills with new generations of interested artisans.
INTERVIEW
Giorgi: Synthesis defines our work. Wood and ceramics are stand-alone materials, not ornaments. We create the ceramic form first, and shape the wood in response. We allow fine art thinking to elevate functional objects into authored pieces.
Elene: While Giorgi shapes and sculpts the wood, I lead the ceramic processes. We choose the designs, motifs and drawings together. We are constantly refining each other's processes. The final work is always the result of dialogue, precision and collaboration.
Giorgi: While we are not bound by traditional Georgian ornament and architectural references, they remain central to our work, especially in ceramics. Tradition gives us structure and memory, while experimentation keeps the work alive. The balance between the two defines our artistic language.
Elene: Teaching children is part of our creative life. Their freedom in drawing and form often leads us to come up with unexpected ideas. While we guide the students technically, their openness broadens our own thinking. Inspiration moves both ways.
