SECRET LIFE OF CARPET CANVAS

Visitors of exhibition in Kiev called him Kalymar. This is a Ukrainian name for artists who create carpets. The exhibition with the unforgettable works of the Azerbaijani artist, master of carpet painting Eldar Hajiyev was open for a whole month. The artist's personal exhibition, which ended on January 16 in the Kiev National Taras Shevchenko Museum, was immensely popular. And it is not surprising. Ukraine has no ancient tradition of carpet weaving, which the Azerbaijani masters have developed since the Bronze Age.

One of such masters is Eldar Hajiyev. The well-known Azerbaijani artist is originally from Shusha. For more than 20 years he has been faithful to his credo of using national themes in his works, always underlining his national affiliation to the ancient culture of the Azerbaijani people. These are not just words. This is the meaning that fills his every day life. The meaning, which dominates over everything: his family, everyday life, communication with friends and colleagues, life in professional circles. It is the works of Nizami Ganjavi, Vazeh, Mashati Ganjavi, Omar Khayyam, etc. that encourage him to create his own works. Eldar’s creative thought is constantly pulsating. Same as the process of artistic rethinking of our classical literary heritage, historical truth, cultural heritage of ancient carpet-makers, and traditions of art carpet-making. It is a state of mind and soul that dominate every moment of the artist’s life. And whatever Eldar is doing, whatever he is engaged in, he is always in search of new themes, detailed compositions, new colour schemes for the plot that will form a basis of the pattern.

“In the Bronze Age, there was no such rave of colour as we see on the carpets of our artists today...”

“In ancient times, masters used seven or eight colours, applying natural dyes to threads. Today, artists have a huge palette at their disposal. Therefore, no matter where we exhibit our works, be it Europe, Russia or Ukraine, contemporary Azerbaijani carpet art does not go unnoticed. Both professionals and amateurs of applied art always note special colours, composition, and technique of our national carpets.”

“How many colours do you use in your carpet miniatures and paintings?”

“It all depends on the size of the carpet and the subject matter. As a rule, it is between 30 and 60 different tones.”

“Do you use natural dyes for woollen threads?”

“Yes, sometimes. But I mostly use good German dyes. They give a fairly wide range of colour shades.”

The master spoke while we gazed into the faces and figures of characters living their own lives on his carpets. The rave of colours is mesmerising, filling us with a sense of pride. For this is our art, what we can create only, they bear and improve the encoded messages of our ancestors coming all the way through the depth of centuries from the ancient Tabriz, strengthening the positions of local applied art internationally. Here is a miniature composition called Mahsati Ganjavi, which reflects everything: both the space and the event, which is undoubtedly associated with one of the works of the priestess of Azerbaijani poetry, Mahsati Ganjavi. The poetess, as a talented director, governs a festival of music, dance, and poetry. Her art is an endless chanting of Life in the diversity of its manifestations: feeling, sensuality, pleasure, and joy! The joy of everyday moments of being, expressed in the work of the 11th century poetess and the artist of the 21st century.

Here is another work titled Novruz. It bears all the signs of spring and the ancient tradition of beautiful and joyful festival of spring celebrating the awakening of life. A holiday which was declared the International Day of Novruz by a respective resolution of the UN General Assembly in 2010 and a few years earlier in 2009 was included by UNESCO in the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Just look at how much colour and life is on the faces of these characters! Here one can see the waves of the Caspian, blue sky colour, a traditional khnocha, a burning torch held by a young rider. Fire is a symbol of sun and new life.

Two other compositions of the artist also radiate a special kind of magnetism. One of them is Girls Collecting Pomegranates. Even a quick glance at the carpet will not let you go, making you gaze at the faces, eyes and hands of the girls holding pomegranates. One of them holds the halves. Each of the halves rests gently in the palms of her hands. There is something inexplicable about the appealing power of the girls' expressions and the pomegranates.

Girls from Shusha. This is how mornings started in a Garabagh family with many children: on carpets and cushions. Young girls would sitting on the rug with glasses and sweets to drink tea and chat to each other. And here the author leaves us unlimited space for imagination. The main thing is to look closely into the ornamental symphony of carpets and rugs, traditional clothes of Garabagh women to get aesthetic pleasure from the harmonious fusion of different colours. This rave of colours is not gaudy and doesn’t impose its expressiveness on you. No, it spills over you with quiet joy of a true celebration – Novruz for girls and Art for us. 

“Your parents are from Shusha...”

“Yes. My father Rasim Hajiyev is a well-known Azerbaijani dermatologist, professor, who was born in the village of Malybeyli in Shusha, where one of the most beautiful eponymous carpets is made. He moved from Shusha to Aghdam, then left it for Moscow for study. I was born when he moved finally to Baku. My maternal great-grandfather, Gasim-bey Behbudov, was from Shusha too. He was one of the respected people of the city where he owned a large estate. I was lucky see these places with great excitement and joy during my trip to Shusha to join the Xarıbülbül music festival organised by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. I can't describe all my emotions when I saw the land of my ancestors. There were tears of joy in my eyes... After all, I still remember their faces from my childhood. My great-grandfather's estate was shown to me by Vasif Guliyev, a journalist and publicist, who is also the editor of the Shusha newspaper. He has been researching the history of this ancient region and Garabagh for almost half a century. It was an incredible and unforgettable experience. All this happened due to the wise leadership of the President of Azerbaijan, the victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev and the valour of the Azerbaijani army during the 44 days of the Patriotic War. May the souls of our martyrs rest in peace.”

“Your personal exhibition in Kiev, judging by numerous articles and feedback on social networks, was held at a very high artistic and organisational level. How did you get to Ukraine?”

“I was just lucky...”

“...and talented...”

“Not without a chance, which brought our ambassador to Ukraine Elmira Akhundova to my works. Thanks to her attention, professionalism and initiative, as well as the support of our embassy to Ukraine 14 of my paintings and 5 carpets appeared in Kiev. In one of the prestigious museums named after Taras Shevchenko.”

“This is not the first time you travel abroad with your works. What is your impression of Ukraine?”

“I keep the warmest and most enthusiastic impressions. Thanks to the care and attention of our embassy, Ukrainian Ministry of Culture, interest of professionals and simply fans of fine arts I got a tremendous charge of creative energy, a desire to create...”

“Any practical suggestions?”

“I have received two offers from Ukrainian colleagues. One of them is to take part in a joint exhibition to be held in Dubai this year. The other is to take part in the jury of the 4th International Art Festival of Drawing called Malyuy.UA.”

“Is the festival a competition?”

“Yes. It will take place on February 14-28 online. Young artists and sculptors from 14 countries, including from the US to China, will send their works to Kiev. They will be exhibited at the Ivan Kavaleridze Museum in Kyiv. I have been invited to represent Azerbaijan in the jury.”

“You have been there during a week since the opening of the exhibition. Did you encounter any curious incidents?”

“One day, after looking at the carpets, a woman from Kiev approached me wondering if carpet weaving was an ancient form of art practised in Armenia. Long time ago she was on a tour in Garabagh and an Armenian guide claimed that carpets were an invention of Armenians. She listened to the true story of the birth of our national carpet very attentively. The story impressed her and she said she wanted to learn more about the artistic features of Azerbaijani carpets according to their ethnic zones.”

Carpet painting of Eldar Hajiyev has its own unique individual style, which, while preserving the centuries-old traditions of many generations of artists, looks very modern. It is a true representation of his talent. We are only talking about carpets. Not because his easel paintings do not deserve mentioning. No. We simply decided to focus on his carpet works, which is quite a phenomenon in Azerbaijan. Not uncommon, but still unique.

“What are your future plans?”

“Our President declared this year the Year of Shusha. I designed a carpet, which is 2.5 by 3.5 metres. It should have everything: horses, traditional Garabagh motifs, Shusha and its architectural monuments.”

Everything in this workshop is teeming with creativity. It seems that if you look around, you will see Nizami's characters Fitne and Bahram Gur and their fellows following you step by step. And here is a carpet painting from the Garabagh Horses and Carpets series. A very energetic horse trampling on a defeated and very unsympathetic serpent...

We do not want to leave this space of art, where the characters of carpet miniatures and paintings exist so peacefully. There is the pristine beauty of colour harmony and the life-affirming power of the artist and his works. And just like in your childhood you suddenly think: what if at midnight all these horses, people, carpets, flowers and ornaments begin to live their own fairy life?