"GOOD DEEDS ARE NOT DONE FOR GLORY..."

The large collection of awards held by Azerbaijan's Honoured Artist Sakit Mammadov has been supplemented by the Vatan Ovladi (Son of the Fatherland) gold medal from The World of Azerbaijan international magazine and the Dada Qorqud National Foundation. The medal was presented at the opening of the artist's solo exhibition at the Sattar Bahlulzada art gallery. The famous painter received congratulations from many artists who had come to the exhibition: Minister of Culture and Tourism Abulfaz Qarayev, People's Artist Tahir Salahov, composer Xayyam Mirzazada, filmmaker Samil Nacafzada, actor Bahram Bagirzada and others. The exhibition was also attended by the wife of the visiting Turkish Defence Minister, Sevim Gonul. By the way, few people know that Honoured Artist of Azerbaijan and member of the Azerbaijani Painters' Union, Sakit Mammadov, was the founder of Azerbaijan's first private gallery. His paintings can be seen in Baku, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Germany, Switzerland, the USA, Australia, Poland, Turkey, Belgium and many other countries. At the 4th Art Fair exhibition, his paintings were exhibited alongside works by Salvador Dali, Juan Miro, Juan Gris and Max Papart. The works of the Azerbaijani artist are held in the private collections of Ilham Aliyev, Vladimir Putin, Abbas Abbasov, Suleyman Demirel, Iosif Kobzon, Walter Schwimmer, Ajda Pekan, Elcin Orucov, Monica Bellucci and many other celebrities. By the way, the Italian actress liked the work of our compatriot so much that she has asked Mammadov to paint her portrait. The artist will travel to Italy to paint her portrait from life in the near future.

- Mr Aliyev, which of your works supplemented Monica Bellucci's collection?

- It is the painting "Ballerina". Monica liked several paintings. She especially liked the painting "Nude", which she immediately wanted to buy. I had to disappoint her because the painting had long been sold to another man and "was living" happily in his house. I decided to give Monica Bellucci another painting - "Ballerina".

- As we know, one of your works - a portrait of Pope John Paul II - is kept in the Vatican Museum. Could you please tell us how this picture was created?

- Nine years ago, I participated in an exhibition, together with Italian artists, at the famous Florentine art gallery - the most prestigious in the world. And just imagine, I was awarded a gold medal. Then the head of the gallery asked me to paint a portrait of Pope John Paul II. I must confess that I did not expect that kind of trust from the Italians. Naturally, the Pope himself could not pose because of his health and age. But the clients sent a photo album of the Pope to Baku. The photos were taken at different times and from different angles. I spent almost two months working on this important order. The result was a canvas 1.70 by 1.20 cm. By the way, the picture shows the four sacred scriptures on the desk near John Paul II with the Koran on top, because this is the last Holy Book sent to mere mortals. When the portrait was completed, the Italians wanted to donate it on behalf of the Florentine gallery, but I turned them down. Why should a canvas painted by an Azerbaijani be given on behalf of the Italians? I decided to wait and present the picture on behalf of my own country. The portrait was presented to the Pope himself during President Ilham Aliyev's visit to the Vatican.

- When did you realize that you wanted to become a painter?

- I have always painted. I was about nine when I had that idea. I was born in Neftcala and was a curious and restless child. I loved to draw. My parents noticed my interest in art and enrolled me in a painting circle at the Pioneers' House. I learnt the basics of art from my teacher, the talented artist Adil Haciyev. Naturally, after leaving school, I did not have to think long about my choice of profession. In the late 1970s, I entered the Azimzadeh Azerbaijan State Art College from which I graduated with honours. Then I continued my studies at the Repin Academy of Painting in Leningrad. I still have good memories of my teacher Yevsey Yevseyevich Moiseyenko!

- Your works adorn numerous galleries and private collections. Are you not sorry to part with your paintings?

- Before parting with a picture, I make inquiries about the person who will get my creation. After all, pictures are like daughters who grow up and move into another house. And every parent cares for them and wants his children to fall into a good and noble family. Likewise, I want my paintings to continue their lives in homes where they are valued and understood. Our country has always been rich in talent - painters, sculptors, performers and athletes whose names are known throughout the world.

I have an explanation for why we are successful in so-called individual arts and sports, while our teams are defeated. The thing is that, alas, our people have no inherent collective spirit. I'm sorry that we cannot learn to unite... We must learn to appreciate and cherish talented people. We need to make sure that they do not want for anything and have the support of intelligent, worthy leaders, especially as, in my opinion, Europe, once famous for its art school, has waned and faded considerably. Do you want to know why? Because human values have changed, people have lost their roots and have become cosmopolitan. And in the East, traditions and customs are still revered and remembered.

- They say that a real artist must be a psychologist, able to transfer a person's mood onto the canvas. Do you agree with this statement?

- Sure. I think that a good artist should be able to reveal and show a person's positive qualities. Before we begin, I talk with my future character and only then do I take up the paintbrush. And for me, by and large, there is no difference between, for example, a minister and an ordinary shepherd. Both were created by the Almighty and in essence they are the same. When people ask me who I prefer to paint, I say: beautiful women and intelligent men. All women are equally beautiful, and this beauty is noticed only by clever men. So, I have a special attitude towards beauty. I do not like the kinds of beauty contests that have become so popular in Azerbaijan in recent years. From numerous young, long-legged girls, they choose one girl - the most beautiful one. I wonder what criteria they use to evaluate this beauty. By height? By the colour of the eyes? Well, let's suppose so, but then what do you say about their intellect and attitude to the world? For me, inner beauty is more important. Sometimes, the regular features of a dazzling beauty who has lived a useless and unworthy life, are an evil mask by the time she gets old. And sometimes, a seemingly unremarkable girl - with dignity, honesty and kindness - becomes a real beauty radiating light over the years.

- It is known that when painting a portrait, an artist must capture one most important trait, which animates the canvas and gives life to the picture...

- Indeed, this unique trait is very important in a portrait, which, like a coin, has two sides. With a single stroke of the brush, you can show the foul or pure, sublime basis of man. People often ask me if I believe in fate. I do, but I think that unfortunate fate, as people say "alin yazisi", can be "washed away" with hard work and "rewritten". God is merciful! I am a workaholic by nature. I live on the principle "not a single day without work". If I don't work in my studio even one day, I get irritated and everything goes wrong. I restore my power only during work. For me, work is a kind of ritual which restores peace of mind.

- Is philosophical meaning incorporated in all your pictures?

- In most of them. I try to draw with meaning. For example, I have a canvas called "Billiards". The plot is simple - a boy and a girl are playing billiards. Through this ordinary game, I tried to convey the eternal struggle and interaction between men and women. Or take my work "Metro". A metro hall is divided into two parts. A train with passengers arrives at one platform and departs from the other. The first means birth and the second - death. There is a similar meaning in the triptych "Escalator". On the right escalator, people come to the earth, and on the left one they leave. In the middle there is a track, on which mortals are not allowed. It is intended only for those who have left this world and will appear before God. In general, I often turn to the topic of faith and spirituality. I am myself a religious person and I believe that good deeds need to be done not for praise or glory, but solely in the name of God.