Sculpture of Ali and Nino in Batumi: real history and fiction

Almost everyone who has visited the seaside resort of Batumi has seen the moving sculptural composition “Ali and Nino” on the coastal boulevard, created by sculptor Tamara Kvesitadze.

At first, the man and woman move toward each other, and then slowly separate, heading in opposite directions. This is a symbolic representation of impossible love.

However, few people know that the story of the relationship between Nino Kipiani, a young woman from a Georgian noble family, and Alikhan Shirvanshir, a representative of an ancient Azerbaijani lineage, is based on real events. The sculptural figures have real prototypes. Their story inspired both a novel and a feature film.

The statue “Ali and Nino” is one of the most expressive and striking modern art installations symbolizing love and unity. Here are three interesting facts about it:

Symbolism.

The sculpture depicts two characters, Ali and Nino, the protagonists of the novel of the same name written by Kurban Said. The story tells of a tragic love between Ali, an Azerbaijani Muslim, and Nino, a Georgian Christian, set against the backdrop of World War I and the revolutionary period. The novel has become a symbol of hope for peace and unity between different cultures and religions.

Uniqueness of the design.

Created by sculptor Tamara Kvesitadze, the statue is unique in that it consists of moving segments that slowly approach each other, merge to create the illusion of an embrace, and then pass through one another, symbolizing the impossibility of their union. This mesmerizing process repeats every 10 minutes.

Technical characteristics.

The sculpture reaches a height of approximately 8 meters and is made of metal plates. This artwork not only showcases impressive visual design but also a highly technological approach to sculpture. The engineering solution that allows the figures to move and pass through each other without damage is the result of complex programming and mechanical engineering.

The “Ali and Nino” statue has become a significant cultural and tourist landmark of Batumi, attracting visitors from all over the world who come to see this unique work of art symbolizing eternal love and reconciliation.

The place of action is the village of Inashauri

A touching legend about love is associated with one of the oldest villages in Georgia — Inashauri, in the Van municipality, the region of Imereti.

Now there is no ancient settlement. But the fact that people lived in these places is evidenced by cultural monuments. Two temples have been preserved, presumably erected in the 5-8 and 13-14 centuries. Not far from the village, on the Dzhidzhour mountain, there are ruins of a fortress built during the reign of Queen Tamar.

According to legend, there were often devastating landslides here. Residents fled, putting their belongings on carts. One day, travelers they met on the road asked where the fugitives were coming from. The villagers replied that they were from places with landslides, or "nashvauri". Hence the name Inashauri.

Famous people in Georgia lived in the village, such as People's Artist Georgy Kharabadze, geologist Kallistrat Gabunia, Elefter and Georgy Khurtsidze, etc.

"Ali and Nino" is a novel by an Azerbaijani writer

Kurban Said was born in Kiev, but spent his childhood in Baku. His real name is Lev Nussimbaum. He wrote novels and biographies of famous people. He published his works under the pseudonyms Mohammed Essad Bey and Kurban Said.

The plotline of the novel is based on the tragic story of Georgian Nino Kipiani and a representative of the rich Azerbaijani family Alexander Sakandelidze. The events described take place in the Caucasus during the war of 1914-1918 .

Relatives on both sides were against this relationship, but the young people loved each other very much and could not part. Differences in upbringing and religion did not become a hindrance for them.

To make his beloved happy, Alikhan decided to move from his native Azerbaijan to Georgia. Nino was also willing to do a lot for the sake of her beloved.

But the First World War began. Alikhan had to leave Nino and go to defend his homeland. He died in a battle near the city of Ganja. A notebook with notes was found next to the deceased, on the basis of which the novel was written.

In the book, of course, there is fiction. The author slightly changed the fate of the main characters, but he did it superbly.

The book was published in pre-war Vienna, in 1937. Now the novel is popular in many countries, many positive reviews have appeared. The sad story of loving hearts touches to the depths of the soul.

In 2016, director Asif Kapadia made a film based on the novel.

The counter theme of the novel is the conflict of East and West, which is described against the background of the horrific events of the First World War, the Bolshevik Revolution and the collapse of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Throughout the book, the author invariably returns to the problem of East and West, which covers the daily life of the characters.

In the spring of 2007, Azerbaijani director Elvin Mirzoev staged the play “Ali and Nino” at the Actors' House in Baku and became the first performer in the world of the role of the main character Ali. Thanks to the positive reviews of critics and reviews of the audience in Azerbaijan, the play has been further developed and a stunning success on international theater stages.

Today there are more than 30 editions of the novel in various languages of the world. It is known that about 100 publications of the book were published, most of them had the original German or English translation. Similar topics in literature were touched upon by other authors: “Asli and Kerem”, “The Red Veil”, “In 1905".

The real story

Nino grew up in a Georgian noble family. Alexander Sakandelidze is the owner of oil wells in Baku, a very rich man.

They got married in 1916 and settled in Baku. With the advent of Soviet power, Alexander lost all his property. Unlike many, he did not want to emigrate.

The family returns to their native village. They are happy, despite the difficulties and all kinds of harassment by the new authorities. The main thing is that they love and — together.

The couple are buried in the courtyard of the village church, which Alexander built before he lost his capital.

6 Facts About the Statue of Love in Batumi

📌📚 “Ali and Nino”: experiencing a fleeting moment of eternal love

❤️ In 2010, the heart of Batumi was adorned with a unique installation — the moving monument “Ali and Nino”, often called the Statue of Love. This work of art symbolizes the eternal movement of feelings: coming closer, a brief touch, and inevitable separation.

❤️ The sculpture was created by the talented artist Tamara Kvesitadze. She dedicated two years to the project, first presenting it in Venice, then in London, and finally bringing it to its permanent home in Batumi.

❤️ The statue consists of two 7-meter-tall metal figures that move slowly, as if dancing. Over the course of 10 minutes, they approach each other, touch, and then drift apart again. Evening illumination adds a special sense of magic.

❤️ The sculpture is named “Ali and Nino” after the protagonists of the novel written by the mysterious author Kurban Said. Both the novel and the monument pay tribute to an extraordinary love story.

❤️ Despite a society that opposed their union because of religious and ethnic differences, their feelings remained unshaken, even against the backdrop of global catastrophes and historical upheavals.

❤️ Their story became a bridge between two worlds — Islam and Christianity, East and West. And even when tragedy separated them, their names remained a symbol of eternal love.