A Great Friend of Painters

Great people

Ziyadkhan ALIYEV Honored artist of Azerbaijan A great friend of painters

THERE ARE PERSONALITIES THAT GAIN POPULAR LOVE IN THEIR LIFETIME AND BECOME DEAR TO EVERYONE, OF COURSE, FOR THE GOOD DEEPS AND LOVE FOR THEIR HOMELAND AND NA- TION… THE FIRST SECRETARY OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF AZERBAIJAN (1969-1892), HEYDAR ALIYEV, WHO SUBSEQUENTLY SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF THE AZERBAIJAN REPUBLIC (1993- 2003), WAS ONE OF SUCH HAPPY PEOPLE. IN HIS LIFETIME, PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT PROFESSIONS REGARDED HEYDAR ALIYEV AS DEAR TO THEM- SELVES. IN THIS SENSE, PAINTERS, WHO WERE IN LOVE WITH BEAUTY, WERE NO EXCEPTION. THIS WAS ALSO DUE TO THE FACT THAT HEYDAR ALIYEV STUDIED AT THE FACULTY OF ARCHITEC- TURE OF THE AZERBAIJAN INDUSTRIAL INSTITUTE FOR SOME TIME AND WAS ENGAGED IN PAINTING.

e will not be wrong if we say that Heydar Aliyev’s Wleadership in the republic from 1969 allowed him to ex- ert inﬂ uence on the settlement of unpleasant problems facing our national painting art “within the socialist ideological framework”. Heydar Aliyev, who could not accept the fact that in the Soviet period,

4 Eldar Jalilov, Bookplate, 2003 www.irs-az.com

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there was no exhibition hall that would meet modern requirements in a big city like Baku, fi rst of all de- cided to establish such a center of culture. A spacious and bright exhibition hall opened in the 1970s on two fl oors of a multi-story building near the Go vernment House where prominent intellectuals lived. After a short while, this place was named after painter Sattar Bahlulzada who glorifi ed Azerbaijani nature. Heydar Aliyev, who personally attended the opening of interesting exhibitions here, became convinced that the numerous painters of our republic had a wonderful hall to exhibit their works. Being well-aware that the studios in the Painters’ House, which

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Heritage_2_(13)_2013_LAST.indd 5 4/22/13 2:07 PM Great people Eldar Mikayilzadeh, The doer, 2003

was built on Inshaatchilar Avenue years of independence, Heydar Ali- ness trips and exhibitions in foreign in the capital in the late 1950s, were yev signed an order to hand over all countries. In a word, every deci- not enough for artists, Heydar Ali- studios leased by painters to them sion and order concerning those yev also thought about improving for ownership free of charge. working in the sphere of painting the working conditions for painters. Sensing that the fi nancial situ- art was aimed at the survival, de- On his instruction, two fi ve-story ation of painters was diffi cult after velopment and international pro- four-block buildings-studios were the collapse of the socialist eco- motion of Azerbaijani arts. built and handed over to painters nomic system, Heydar Aliyev as- Growing a new generation of in the Ahmadli residential estate in signed a special presidential stipend painters was one of the issues priori- 1978 and in the 4th microdistrict in to various generations of painters, tized by the head of state. Although the 1990s. Now about 300 painters increased the amount of the fees for there were the Baku Painting Col- and sculptors are engaged in cre- their works and issued an instruc- lege and the University of Culture ative work in these buildings. In the tion to increase the number of busi- and Arts, he wished for many years

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to open an institution of higher ums in the capital and in the village laws, it was allowed to erect a mon- education in Baku, which would of Amirjan are examples of respects ument to a person who was granted give young people academic edu- for the memory of the prominent this title twice in his homeland. After cation, and was able to implement artists. that, the artist created monuments his dream in 2000. The Azerbaijani During his speech at a ceremony related to the personality of Heydar State Painting Academy, which to mark the 85th birth anniversary Aliyev several times. Eldarov is also opened in 2001, is demonstrating of the people’s painter Sattar Bah- the author of the monument to that the spiritual bridge between its lulzada in 1994, Heydar Aliyev said: Heydar Aliyev in the Turkish city of talented students educated during “By marking the jubilee of Sattar Kars and the monument installed this period and creative generations Bahlulzada, we demonstrate our re- on his grave at the Alley of Honor af- is strengthening at the desired level. spect for all artists and painters. With ter his death. In those monuments, Heydar Aliyev considered it im- a great feeling of pride, we can say the positive features of the promi- portant to value the artistic contri- that in the 20th century, the Azerbai- nent statesman were expressed in a butions of creative people to Azer- jani painting school and Azerbaijani real plastic form. baijani arts. Hundreds of painters painters took a prominent place in The bronze monument cre- and sculptors were given honor- the world. We are proud of this. We ated by people’s painter Natig Ali- ary names and dozens of creative should take care of the works of all yev and erected in Kiev (Ukraine) people were granted state awards. our painters and create conditions in 2004 is also a valuable piece of The memory of painters who con- for them to create wonderful works.” art that refl ects the wisdom and tributed to the development of It is natural that our painters and fi ghting spirit characteristic of the our national culture was immortal- sculptors are giving an artistic look personality of Heydar Aliyev. ized. Today the streets of Baku and to the bright actions of Heydar Ali- Monuments to Heydar Aliyev other population centers bear the yev. The fi rst work dedicated to him made from diff erent materials in names of Sultan Mahammad, Azim and publicized is a bust erected in various cities and district centers of Azimzada, Sattar Bahlulzada, Kazim the Soviet period in his home town our republic were created by A. As- Kazimzada, Talat Shikhaliyev, Salam of Nakhchivan. The fact that this garov, S. Guliyev, A. Zeynalov, A. Kari- Salamzada and other artists. The sculpture, created by prominent mov, N. Mammadov, A. Rustamov buildings where they lived are deco- sculptor and Hero of Socialist Labor and others at diff erent times. rated with commemorative plaques. Eldar Omarov, was erected in Heydar Among the paintings dedicated The erection of monuments to Azim Aliyev’s lifetime was because he was to Heydar Aliyev, a portrait created Azimzada and Sattar Bahlulzada and granted the title of Hero of Socialist by the prominent painter, Acade- the opening of their home muse- Labor twice. According to the then mician Tahir Salahov, in 1998 takes

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Heritage_2_(13)_2013_LAST.indd 7 4/22/13 2:07 PM Great people Omar Eldarov working on H. Aliyev’s statue a special place. At present, this tableau, which decorates the Azer- baijani National Museum of Arts, portrays Heydar Aliyev at work in his oﬃ ce. The small and big details included by the author in this composition create a memorable image of this eminent head of state. In the artistic description of Hey- dar Aliyev’s image (1998) created by people’s painter Ogtay Sadigzada, the artist relied on principles of real- ism and was able to create a piece of art that leaves a deep impression on the viewer with its genuineness. The tableau “Thoughts” created by the republic’s honored painter Rafael Abbasov in 1996 is regarded as one of the memorable pieces of art dedicated to Heydar Aliyev. Re- fusing a solemn and formal presen- tation, the painter portrayed Heydar Aliyev at home - looking in an un- known direction and immersed in thoughts. The simplicity of clothes and posture, the small number of details surrounding the image and compact and penetrating colors make the image simpler… In a portrait created by prominent painter Ali Verdiyev (2008), Heydar Aliyev is shown against the background of Azerbaijani nature. The optimistic colors that character- ize the horizontal composition and the picturesque panorama in fact serve to tell that the creative and reconstruction work carried out by Heydar Aliyev yielded successful results. A tableau dedicated to the personality of Heydar Aliyev created by painter Asif Azerelli, who has enriched our national painting art with interesting works on Azerbai- jani history in recent years, is called “There is no excuse for occupation!”. The statesman who is shown

8 Ulviyya Hamzayeva, The leader, 1998 www.irs-az.com

Heritage_2_(13)_2013_LAST.indd 8 4/22/13 2:07 PM Ogtay Sadigzadeh, Heydar Aliyev, 1998 Eldar Mikayilzadeh, H. Aliyev and Z. Aliyeva, 2003

against the background of the map of Azerbaijan on this large composition is surrounded by photographs and documents that show the bitter results of the Karabakh tragedy and expose Armenian occupation. The words “There is no excuse for occupation!”, which the painter chose for the work, in fact refl ect Heydar Ali- pieces of art dedicated to the great Among the carpets dedicated yev’s position on the problem fac- leader by prominent carpet-weaver to Heydar Aliyev, we can also name ing us and the tragedy experienced and painter Eldar Mikayilzada. The two carpets created by people’s by our people. artistic image created with knots and painter Kamil Aliyev at various times. The graphic work “The Great colors in those carpets and paint- One of them shows Heydar Aliyev Leader” created by honored painter ings is notable. In one of the car- dressed up as a general while the Ulviyya Hamzayeva (2008) also cre- pets (2003), Heydar Aliyev is shown other shows him in civilian clothes. ated a memorable image of Heydar sitting in an arm-chair against the The international ex-libris exhibi- Aliyev. The fl ags of Turkic-speaking background of a comprehensive tion and competition held in Baku states, material-cultural samples that panorama that combines the most in 2003 to mark the 80th birthday symbolize the Azerbaijani people, beautiful parts of Azerbaijan’s cap- of Heydar Aliyev was also a mani- architectural buildings and pictures tivating nature. It must be noted festation of interest in a prominent of our prominent fi gures that make that the carpet-weaver and painter person who headed the republic for each of us proud, placed around the also recreated this composition in many years. In ex-librises sent to the portrait that forms the center of the a painting. This time the image is competition from several countries, composition, make the image more surrounded with various buildings there were enough works that gave comprehensive and memorable. constructed in the republic under an artistic and compact look to the A memorable image of Heydar his leadership and placed in the most characteristic features of many Aliyev has been created in several main margin of the carpet. years of Heydar Aliyev’s activities.

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