LORD OF SHADOWS

Artist Rasad Alakbarov draws pictures from shadows. Instead of the easel and paints, he uses a white wall, searchlight and the simplest materials - paper, wood, metal, and even old stuff. The nonstandard thinking and imagination of Rasad generate exciting and provocative art. In order to about learn how to draw with shadows, the most unusual material that can turn into a real work of art and many other things, R+ talks with the artist of the YARAT! Contemporary Art Space, Rasad ALAKBAROV.

- Tell us where you started your path as an artist of shadows?

- I graduated from the faculty of applied arts of the Azerbaijan State Academy of Arts. My speciality is an artist in metal. After the university, I took MA and postgraduate courses. At first I worked in painting, and to be honest, I liked it. Then I decided to experiment and try to "draw" with shadows. I did my first "shadow" work in 2000. It was called "A look at the city from two points of view". It was an installation collected from unnecessary and old stuff - old boxes, CDs, pencils. I laid it all in the corner of the table so that a city appears on the wall when the spotlight is on. On the left there were skyscrapers and modern buildings, and on the right - there was an eastern city with minarets and mosques. In such an unusual way, I stressed Baku's location between East and West. By the way, later this work was acquired by an Italian collector. This is when a new "shadow" period of my work began. Then there were the exhibitions Wings of Time and 7+7. More Transparent; the international exhibition of contemporary art Orientalism: Inside & Outside; the International Biennale of Contemporary Art in Baku; the Transfusion exhibition in Switzerland and others. In 2007, I represented Azerbaijan at the 52nd International Biennale in Venice, and in the spring of 2013 my work "Lost in translation. This too shall pass" was presented at the Venice Biennale at the pavilion of YARAT! Contemporary Art Space within the framework of the major Love me, love me not show.

- How did you get the idea to paint with shadows?

- We all made shadow horses or dogs from our palms in childhood. One day I decided to try to do the same, but with individual items. I laid various objects on the table, directed the spotlight at them, and the wall turned into a snow-white cloth on which the shadow of a mysterious town appeared. Then I did not know that there were artists seriously engaged in "shadow" art, and that in their performance, the shadow of an object turns into a real masterpiece ... A year later I found a lot of articles on this topic on the internet. It was Japanese artist Shigeo Fukuda who first began to work with shadows. Being not only an artist but also a graphic designer, he had a very peculiar view of art, which gave him the opportunity to become the founder of the "art of light and shade". It was his famous construction of knives and forks that cast a shadow in the form of a motorcycle. And this composition is called "Lunch in a motorcycle helmet".

- I wonder what metal construction stands in your studio. It also casts some unusual shadow.

- In this structure, there are about 70 metres of iron bars and they are interconnected in such a way that the phrase Try to save is encrypted in this seemingly chaotic pile of metal. I assembled it specially for the YARAT! exhibition in Paris - Home sweet home.

- Describe the process of drawing words and pictures on the wall?

- First you put the light and then assemble the installation. Step by step, piece by piece. You try dozens of options before the shadow words fall correctly on the wall. Then the whole structure is fixed and awaits its meeting with the audience. I love my job. You know, it's like a chess game - a lot of moves to achieve only one result - victory.

- Rasad, you're one of the first artists who made a shadow drawing coloured. Before you, "shadow" art was black and white. Tell us about it...

- In 2012, I was invited to participate in the exhibition Fly to Baku, the opening of which was to be held in London. I decided to come up with something new and unusual in "shadow" art - to "draw" a picture from coloured shadows. I ordered 90 little airplanes from coloured plexiglass and hung them so as to create a landscape familiar to every resident of Baku - the famous Bay of Baku. I associate Abseron with two colours - blue and ochre. For me these are shades of the sea and land.

- What are you working on now?

- I'm preparing for the International Exhibition of Modern Art devoted to ecology. I have assembled silhouettes of animals from metal. In my opinion, this is a very interesting idea. A plaque with a list of the most brutal of mammals in the world will be installed next to the installation. In second place - the hyena, and in third place - the wolf, and in first place - ellipsis. Everyone can decide for themselves what the most ferocious animal on the planet is, but my answer can be read on the wall - the human. I believe that it is the human who is the most ruthless creature on our planet. He is capable of destroying all life for the sake of his own interests, and sometimes he does it just like that without any particular purpose.

- What is the most unusual material with which you had to work?

- I had an idea to make a shadow picture from water. I even invented a special structure consisting of a large swimming pool with a fountain. The idea was to make streams of water "write" an inscription on the wall. I wanted to present this installation at the exhibition in Venice, but was forced to abandon the idea. The exhibition hall, where the composition was supposed to be presented, was located on the second floor of an old building and was not able to withstand a pool with five tonnes of water. So I left this idea for later. Someday I will definitely fulfill it...

- You have been cooperating with YARAT! Contemporary Art Space for several years. What impact did this organization have on your career?

- I'm glad about this collaboration. YARAT! supports me and helps in everything. Recently we moved into a new building, where each artist has his own studio. They created all conditions for us to work and create. YARAT! makes every effort to acquaint the public with the works of young artists and sculptors. Working alone, I was not sure about my creative future. I lived with one day. Having begun to work with YARAT! in 2011, I can now plan and coordinate my steps, clearly knowing where I am going and what I want. Perhaps, this is the most important thing for a creative person - to know what he wants and to be able to put all his ideas into practice...