H e i m l i c h U t a B eye r

H e i m l i c h U t a B eye r

This is This.

That is That.

This is not That.

This is not This.

What's left is either this, or not this.

It's all either that, or not that.

What's not that and not this, that is not this and not that.

What is this and also that, that is itself Itself.

What is itself Itself, that might be that but not this, or else this but not that.

This went into that, and that went into this. We say: God has puffed.

This went into this, and that went into that, and we have no place to leave and nowhere to come to.

This went into this. We asked: where? They sung in answer: Here.

This left That. What is this? It's That.

This is that.

That is this.

Here are this and that.

Here went into this, this went into that, and that went into here.

We watched, but did not see.

And there stood this and that.

There is not here.

That's there.

This is here.

But now both this and that are there.

But now this and that are here, too.

We long and mope and ponder.

But where is now?

Now is here, and now there, and now here, and now here and there.

This be that.

Here be there.

This, that, here, these, be, I, We, God.

Daniiel Kharms, Notnow, May 29, 1930

Catalogue

Ms Galina, b. in 1940 in Kharkov, Ukraine, printer. Met her Georgian husband, Mr Gvidon, b. in 1938 in Kvareli,

when he spent time in Ukraine with the army. Mr Gvidon worked as turner until 1990, when the factory was

destroyed. The couple has two sons and one daughter. The daughter took part in the 9 April 1991 protests in

Tbilisi, which were cracked down by the Soviet army. She became mentally ill after these events, and died in 1997.

Ms Galina and Mr Gvidon live in a 20 sqm room with balcony, shared kitchen and toilet. Mr Gvidon has mortgaged

the room for his turner’s workshop, but the business failed and the couple will have to move out soon. They do

not know where to go.

Mr Vladimir, b. 1932 in Tbilisi. During World War II his father was in Crimea, and later moved to Moscow with

his family. Mr Vladimir is a cinematography graduate from Moscow University, spent six years with the army in

Germany, and worked for television stations and in a radio factory in Georgia. He recalls his time in Germany as

the best years of his life. He married and divorced once and has no children. He lives in his wooden house with

garden, the main part of his home serves as archive and storage. The living room’s roof is collapsing. There is no

kitchen and no bathroom. Mr Vladimir spends most of his time working meticulously, collecting, researching, and

inventing.

Mr Nodar, b. in 1941 in Laila village, and Ms Venera, b. in 1939 in Zestafoni. The couple married in 1972. Mr

Nodar was a musician in the Georgian Song and Dance Company for 12 years, performed all over the world, and

for 30 years in the Train and Trolleybusses Union. Mr Nodar’s son from his first marriage died in a car accident in

2002, aged 27. Ms Venera, a chemist, worked as town staff since the 1970s, but increasingly suffered from

osteoporosis and had a stroke in 2011. She lies in bed in the kitchen all day. The other room of the apartment

contains carton boxes and piles of clothes, and a bed for Mr Nodar. There is a shared toilet on the corridor.

Ms Venera, b. in 1934 in Khidari village, Kharagauli region. Worked in a sewing factory in Tbilisi all her life. She

married in 1972, the couple did not have children, the husband died at the age of 48. Ms Venera fell ill afterwards,

and suffers from various mental and physical sicknesses today. She lives in a two-bedroom apartment, which belongs

to her, in an old flat-roof wooden house; rain and humidity come in through the roof and walls. The kitchen and

bathroom are communal rooms in the yard; two other families live in the house. Ms Venera enjoys feeding and

talking to her cats and the neighbors’dog.

Ms Nanuli, b., in 1937 in Tbilisi. Finished railway school, wanted to become an actress, which her parants regarded

as indecent and did not allow. She became a nurse and married in 1958, her husband did not want her to continue

working. They have a daughter, b. in 1959, and a son, b. in 1969, both married today. Ms Nanuli’s husband died in

1996 from a sarcoma. Some years ago her son and son-in-law mortgaged Ms Nanuli’s house, the business failed,

the house was lost. Ms Nanuli now lives with her aunt’s daughter in a two-bedroom apartment.

Ms Natela, b. 1931 in Mtskheta. Ms Natela and her three siblings lost their father, an engineer, when they were

still very young. Some years later, their mother, an economist, died on her way home from work in Tbilisi in a train

crash. The four children were brought up by neighbours, relatives and Ms Natela’s teacher; to earn money they

sold fruits in the streets of Tbilisi. Later in her life Ms Natela got in touch with the Communist Union, something

she recalls as life-changing. She became Deputy of the City of Mtskheta. Until her retirement at the age of 50 she

worked as operator and in a candy factory. She has one son from from a short marriage. The son, a former

Afghanistan soldier, now unemployed, lives with her. They share a small two-room apartment with kitchen in an

old collapsing wooden house with a handful of chicken. There is a toilet in the yard. Every day Ms Natela looks

forward to feeding the chicken in her living room and collecting the eggs.

Ms Nazi, b. in 1938 in Tbilisi, librarian, and Mr Aliosha, b. in 1937 in Jikhai village, tobacco factory worker. The

couple married in 1958, they have two sons, both teachers. In 1990, Mr Aliosha suffered from a stroke, and is

paralysed since then; he lies in bed all day. Ms Nazi looks after him. The couple shares their two-room apartment

with a number of cats in an old communal two-storey wooden house; one of the rooms serves as bedroom for

Ms Nazi and storage for clothes and furniture. There is a shared toilet in the yard, no kitchen.

Mr Shota, b. in 1933 in Kandaura village, Gurjaani region. After graduation from school he worked in a collective

farm. He joined the army in 1952 in the Republic of Bashkortostan. After his return to Tbilisi in 1956 he became

a driver. Mr Shota married in 1958, the couple had one daughter, b. in 1959, and one son, b. in 1963. The daughter

was hit by a tractor and died in 1982; she had no children. Mr Shota’s son died of a heart attack in 2011, he was

married and had one son. Mr Shota’s wife died from heart attack, too, but he does not remember when. Mr Shota

now shares his two-bedroom apartment with his daughter-in-law, her son and various cats. There is a toilet in the

yard. Mr Shota had an eye operation in 2012, and is blind on one eye now. He enjoys spending his days at the bus

stop, playing backgammon with neighbors.

Ms Vera, b. in 1937 in Ozurgeti. Graduate from the faculty of light industry, Tbilisi University. Worked in a polyclinic

and later in a Tbilisi museum for 22 years, received the medal ‘hero of labour’. She married in 1961; her husband,

an illusionist at the Tbilisi Music Hall, received the ‘insignia of honour’ for his 40 years work life. He died in a car

accident in 2001. The couple’s daughter works as a military topographer in Samara, Russia. Ms Vera lives in a two-

bedroom flat in an apartment block, which she shares with a chicken.

Ms Makvala, b. in 1939 in Tbilisi. Studied singing in the conservatory, worked as music teacher in schools, sang

solo parts in operas under Vakhtang Faliashvili. Became famous for her voice, the Georgian patriarch called her

the ‘nightingale’. She married once but divorced again, has no children. She lives in a three-bedroom apartment in

an apartment block. Was voted ‘Super Grandma 2012’ in the charitable old-age day centre Catharsis.

Mr Budu, b. in 1935 in Zestafoni. Economist, worked in tool and food factories as manager, and as secretary for

the party until 1989. Married Ms Tsisana in 1964, they have a daughter and a son. The daughter is mentally

handicapped due to birth complications. Ms Tsisana suffered from a stroke in 1989, was subsequently paralysed,

and died in 2006. Mr Budu lives in his house with garden, where he also looks after his daughter. He grows fruits

and vegetables in the garden and enjoys manufacturing them into pickles, jams, and juices.

Ms Tamar, b. in 1933 in Tbilisi. Worked as nurse in a childrens’ hospital for 40 years. She had four siblings, of

which two died of measles within one day. Her sister died five years ago. Her remaining brother is still alive. Ms

Tamar got married in 1953, but divorced her husband during her pregnancy, her son was born in 1954. Today, he

is married and runs a restaurant. Ms Tamar sings in the German church choir in Tbilisi. She lives in a 10 sqm room

in a communal house, there is no kitchen and bathroom.

Ms Babuca, b. in 1925 in Gori, biology teacher, and Mr Avtandil, b. in 1925 in Akhalsike, forester. The couple

married in 1944 and had three children. One of their sons, b. in 1957, had diabetes, became blind, later lost one

leg due to the illness; he died in 1996. The family’s home in Vale burnt down in 2008. Ms Babuca and Mr Avtandil

now live in a 12 sqm room in Tbilisi, with shared bathroom, no kitchen. The owner wants the apartment for own

purposes soon. They have no other place to live.

Ms Aza, b. 1939 in Tbilisi. Nurse. Worked in a children’s hospital and kindergarden in Tbilisi until retirement age.

Never married and does not have children. Developed breast cancer 15 years ago and had to undergo breast

amputation. She lives in her sister’s house, in an old wooden house in the centre of Tbilisi, where she has a tiny

room with a bed and some shelves.

Ms Maiso, b. in 1941in Signagi, history teacher, and Mr Suliko, b. in 1936 in Kutaisi, geographer, laboratorian.

They married in 1982 and moved to Tbilisi, where Ms Maiso worked in the Ministry of Education until 2003. They

have no children, but raised Ms Maiso’s sister’s children. Mr Suliko has been a patient in psychiatric clinics since

1967, but continued working in the Geography Institute until the beginning of the 1990s. A few years ago, Ms Maiso

mortgaged their apartment, to bail her nephew out of prison. They lost the apartment as they were unable to pay

the mortgage back. The couple now lives in an occupied space on the corridor of the apartment block. Mr Suliko

had a stroke recently and is partly paralysed.

Ms Marika, b. in 1927 in the village of Lagvanta, Racha Mountains. Moved to Tbilisi in 1945 to study economics.

Worked as secretary of the Communist Union, where she met Ms Elene. Ms Marika later married Mr Vasil, Ms

Elene’s brother. Ms Elene died few months after the wedding. The couple has one daughter, who they named Elene,

and one son, b. in 1962, who suffers from epilepsy. Mr Vasil died in 1994. Ms Marika shares her one-room 25 sqm

apartment in a communal apartment block with her son. Her daughter visits them regularly.

Mr Kote, b. in 1941 in Tbilisi. Worked as welder in wood processing factories in Soganlugy and Didube. Married

Ms Tea, b. in 1972 in Tetrickaro, in 1993, she is a baker. Their first daughter was born in 2002, she lives with her

aunt today, because there is no space at Mr Kote’s and Ms Tea’s home for her. The couple had twin boys, born in

2004, of which one died immediately after birth, the other when he was three years old, both due to a general

weakness. Mr Kote is blind today, he suffers from glaucoma. The couple lives in a one-room apartment with a

corridor, which serves as kitchen. There is a shared toilet downstairs. The apartment partially burnt down some

years ago, the walls and wooden structures are stained and smelling from smoke.

Ms Sophiko, b. in 1945 and Mr Nodar, b. in 1943, both from Tbilisi. Ms Sophiko worked in a clothing factory

until 1987 when she had a stroke. Since then she has difficulties moving and was grouped first grade disabled. She

married Mr Nodar in 1971, he worked as a driver. The couple has two children, both around 40 years old, the

daughter lives in St. Petersburg with her family, and the son in the Russian occupied territory Osetia. The family

regularly meets in Osetia, where, when there, Ms Sophiko sees her doctor for treatment. She is currently planning

her next trip there in a few weeks time.

Ms Julieta, b. 1935 in Tbilisi. Accountant. She has a sister, b. in 1942, and a brother, b. in 1931. The brother died

in 1996. Until her retirement Ms Julieta worked in a stocking factory, a geology department and a kindergarden.

She looked after her parents all her life, her mother died aged 92, her father aged 89. She never had a family of

her own. Now lives with her sister’s children. She has a 10 sqm room with two beds, a table, a chair and a cupboard.

She dreams of moving into a retirement home, where she has her peace.

Ms Eteri, b. in 1934 in Akhmeta. Graduate of light industry from Tbilisi Technical University. Worked as dress

maker in Lazishvili sewing factory, and for 20 years in Rustaveli theatre. She married and seperated from her

husband, the couple has two children, both are married. Ms Eteri lives in a one-bedroom 25 sqm apartment, with

shared kitchen and bathroom. She is descended from a a royal family in the Tusheti region, the ancestors’ castle is

a museum today.

Ms Namceca, b. in 1939 in Abasha, trade assistant, and Mr Besik, b. in 1936, engineer in a silk factory. The

couple married in 1967, they have two daughters, b. in 1968 and 1973, both married, one lost her husband early

of heart attack. Mr Besik had strokes in 2008 and 2012, and is unable to move. He spends all day in bed in the

living room. The couple lives in their own flat-roof house with garden. The house has not been maintained since

the 1980s, the rain is coming in in most of the rooms. One part of the house collapsed in an eathquake.

Mr Vitali, b. in 1940 in Tbilisi. Studied physics at Tbilisi State Univerisity, after finishing school as one of the best

with a silver medal. Worked as managing engineer in chemical companies and the railway calculation center in

Georgia, Russia and other Soviet Union countries in Middle Asia until his retirement in 1995. At the beginning of

the 1990s he run his own video rental store for two years. He was married for 20 year, his wife died in 1984. The

couple has two children. Mr Vitali lives in his own two-bedroom apartment, there is a basic bathroom, no kitchen.

He is currently planning a trip to Trabzon, Turkey, to work as a voluntary religion teacher with the Salvation Army.

Ms Izolda, b. in 1937 in Zestafoni. Economist fromTbilisi State University. Married in 1960, the couple has two

children, b. in 1962 and 1965. Ms Izolda worked all her life, divorced her husband in 1978, the same year she bought

a flat in Tbilisi. In 2007 a relative mortgaged the apartment, she had to move out. Shortly after, her son suffered a

heart attack and died. Ms Izolda now lives in her daughter’s husband’s garage, in the same apartment block. All her

belongings are stored in carton boxes in the garage. Ms Izolda spends her time reading legal text books and seeing

lawyers, to get her apartment back.

Acknowledgements

Heimlich would not have been possible without the generous support of the charitable

old-age day care centre Catharsis in Tbilisi, and all the women and men featured in this

book. Special thanks also to Darejan Ozmanovi for her assistence in this project.