Niko Pirosmani Display Typeface by Elene Tabaghua

This project is a tribute to our beloved Niko Pirosmani (Nikala) - to his art, his vision and the quiet depth he gave to Georgian life. The display typeface was drawn from the core shapes of the characters in his paintings. Throughout the pages you’ll see how the typeface comes to life across different applications, echoing the culture he so lovingly portrayed in his work.

This is for Niko - with all the love he wasn’t able to receive during his lifetime and all the love he gave through his art.

Typeface ‘Nikala’ was inspired by the core shapes and visual language found in Pirosmani’s art. Just as his work simpli es yet claries reality , this typeface aims to express clarity through reduction.

Below, you can see the typeface applied in di erent contexts, such as an exhibition ticket, various animations and stamps.

Ticket Design- Each ticket is dedicated to one of Niko’s paintings and is designed to unfold like a small narrative experience. the front features the artists name laid out in a crossword format, with hand-drawn elements from selected painting,referencing his iconic motifs. when opened,the inside reveals the full artwork along with the information about the event. on the back a custo QR code with the silhouette of Pirosmani himself.

This animated illustration is inspired by Niko Pirosmani’s real-life a ection for French actress Marguerite de Sevres. Moved by her presence after a performance in Tbilisi, he gifted her an enormous amount of roses - so many that the story became legendary. The animation transforms blooming roses into her name and the dress she wore in the portrait Niko later painted for her.

During the exhibition , visitors from di erent countries experimented with the typeface by writing their names in it.

The project will be part of the Naplavka Exhibition in the very heart of Prague - from September 19 to October 17 - at the Rasin Embakment ( the right bank of the Vltava River). If anyone happens to be in the city during that time, you are more than welcome to stop by!

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