THE MODEST SCULPTOR OF THE GREATS

“The art of sculpture has always been a big part of my life since my childhood. I try to delve deep into the inner world of a man, his way of life, spiritual beauty, his struggle with fears, negative and evil sides in order to identify his true self“, says the young Azerbaijani sculptor Imran Mehdiyev. Recently, one of his works - a bronze monument of the great Azerbaijani poetess Khurshidbanu Natavan was erected in one of the parks of Waterloo, Belgium, becoming a symbol of peace and friendship between the two countries.

- Imran, tell us about your development as a sculptor. Is it true that you were destined to be a sculptor since, after all, you were born into a creative family?..

- That’s true. My grandfather from mother's side is the People's Artist of Azerbaijan Rafig Mehdiyev, my uncle is the Honored Artist Rashad Mehdiyev, my mother is Lala Mehdiyeva, a known musicologist, and my sister is Leyla Mehdiyeva, the lead singer of the Vagif Mustafazadeh Vocal Ensemble Sevil. My father, Yunus Mehdiyev, is an oilman and has no direct relation to art but he loves and admires fine arts. I began painting very early. My grandfather had noticed my interest in painting and had taken me to his studio. Initially, I was just watching him: his working style, mixing of colors and making the sketches. He was explaining me the basics of art, principles of composition, the golden ratio and how it works. I have learned a lot from him! Along with painting, I became interested in modeling. First, I sculpted different figures from playdough, and then switched to clay. Grandpa saw some of my works and praised me. He then insisted that I had to start sculpting immediately. It was him, who first ordained my future. After graduating from the high school, I entered the Azerbaijan State Academy of Arts. Sevil Suleymanova was my teacher in the first class. She taught me the basics of sculpting. In the second year, the students were divided into two groups. My new teacher was the People's Artist of Azerbaijan, Rector of the Academy Omar Eldarov. Mr. Akif Askerov was one of my teachers too. I have learned a lot from them: the ability to embody master's design into a real piece of art and the mastery of composition. When I finished the second year, I had a chance to create a portrait of my favorite singer, baritone Muslum Magomayev. It was my gift - a gift from the heart. My mother teaches at music school №26, which in 2011 was named after Muslim Magomayev. It was difficult and easy at the same time. It was easy because I have been listening to Maestro’s songs since my childhood and that was enough to make his portrait. But it was also difficult since Magomayev is a world-famous person, a true genius, who requires a great admiration and responsibility.

In 2013, an exhibition dedicated to the Khojaly Genocide was held in Baku. I could not stay away from this event. I have presented my own work, which is still exhibited at the gallery “Berlin-Baku” in Berlin.

In the fourth class, I had to make a sculpture of the legendary defender of Ganja, Javadkhan. Akif Askerov was my coaching instructor. I remember that before sculpting, I had made about ten sketch models and showed them to Omar Eldarov. He had carefully reviewed the figures made of playdough and then asked to bring my first sketch, the initial version of the sculpture, which he had immediately approved. As a rule of thumb, the real emotions and thoughts are perfectly realised in the first sketch, he said. It took me five months to complete Javadkhan’s sculpture: I had read a lot about the historical events of that time and had to redo the two-meter sculpture several times.

- Where is your master's thesis now?

- They wanted to keep it at the museum of the Academy of Fine Arts but... I broke it.

- Why?

- Well, the truth is after taking the exams to join the master course, I thought I could not get the necessary score and was very sad. Being under the bad mood, I have impulsively broke the sculpture of Javadkhan, which was expected to move from my workshop to the academy. Luckily, I still keep the photos and sketches and I hope Javadkhan’s sculpture will see the light of day someday.

- But did you join the MBA course?

- I did. I am graduated from the Department of Modern Sculpture headed by the People's Artist of Azerbaijan, vice-rector of the Academy of Arts Fuad Salayev, who had taught me a lot. I continued to participate in various exhibitions during my master's program. The most unusual of them distinguished by its concept was an exhibition entitled “Düyme”, where I met my talented friends, Vusal Agharaziyev, Mehriban Shamsaddinsky, and Asim Samedli. I should also note the plein-air exhibition held at the Art Council Azerbaijan. My master's thesis was about the eternal theme of mankind, Adam and Eve. I wanted to show the first people very young and innocent, a male and a female, the synthesis of whom gave birth to pure love preserved to this day as the beginning of life. I used the famous gesture from the Creation of Adam, one of the most famous compositions of the Sistine Chapel since my sculpture did not have an important Biblical element, the heavenly apple. That famous gesture from the Creation of Adam helped reveal the essence of my sculpture.

- As a student at the Arts Academy, you have participated in the international symposium on sculpture for art students of the CIS countries, Russia and the European Union.

- In 2011, Omar Eldarov based on the recommendation of Azad Zeynalov, the head of the Sculpture Department, sent me to a symposium in Moscow, where I represented Azerbaijan. For two weeks. we have been practicing at the creative workshop of Alexander Burganov, the People's Artist of Russia and the head of the Monumental and Decorative Sculptures Department of the S. G. Stroganov Moscow State University of Arts and Industry, and his son Igor Burganov. We have created new works, participated in the round tables, attended workshops of the renowned sculptors, modern education centers and museums. Special lectures were organized for us and we had discussions with the leading experts about the state of contemporary sculpture and arts in general. It was very interesting! By the way, Alexander Burganov was born and raised in Baku. During familiarization with the participants of the symposium, Alexander asked if anyone represents Azerbaijan. When he saw me, he shook my hand and encouraged me saying “Hello, countryman”.

Besides that symposium held in Moscow, a few years ago, I have also participated in the Azerbaijani-Turkish symposium held at our Academy of Arts. During this symposium, I created a sculpture called “Nirvana”, which is now kept in Turkey.

- You are the author of the monument to the outstanding Azerbaijani poetess Khurshidbanu Natavan opened at the Waterloo Park of Belgium earlier this year. Tell us about the history of your creation.

- When I was a graduate student, I was offered to do a few sketches of the monument. Before I started, I have read a lot of historical literature and the poems of Natavan to get to know and understand her versatile personality. As a result, I had molded about 20 sketches of which ten were selected. Then, this number was reduced to three. Incidentally, the sketch prototyped for the existing monument is the same sketch selected both in Baku and Belgium. The People's Artist of Azerbaijan Tahir Salahov was the expert who had to evaluate the result of my work in Baku. He had long examined my sculpture and delivered its verdict: “Good work!”. Today, a bronze monument of the great Natavan decorates one of the parks in Waterloo, the city where once the war was stopped. This is very symbolic... It is a historical place. It was in Waterloo where the French emperor Napoleon had a crushing defeat. There is even a monument erected in honor of the Battle of Waterloo. This city is famous as a location where the war was stopped giving way to the long-awaited peace and tranquility. Waterloo is the city that changed the destiny of Europe. Also, Alexander Dumas once met Khurshidbanu Natavan in Karabakh and lived in Waterloo. That is the reason why this park was chosen for my monument. It has a direct relation to Nagorno-Karabakh.

The monument of Azerbaijani poetess born in Shusha also represents the history of the Karabakh khanate. The pedestal of the monument reads: “Progressive eastern poet and educator Khurshidbanu Natavan, the Karabakh princess, Azerbaijan”.

- Imran, can you share your plans for the future? What are you making now?

- I am preparing to get my doctorate degree and my first solo exhibition. My doctoral thesis is dedicated to the lives and works of the Azerbaijani women sculptors. My first article is about one of the most talented and well-known national sculptors, Elmira Huseynova. By the way, maybe it is just a coincidence but my workshop at the House of Artists, where I am working now, was once owned by Elmira-khanym. You can still feel a sort of specific creative aura: it is cozy and quiet, and you seem to get charged with the creative energy that allows you to create and move forward.