KHAZRI FROM SUMGAYIT

Khazri is the name of the exhibition, which opened recently at the Emin Gahramanov Art Gallery. A small cozy room hosted the works of six artists from Sumgayt: Intigam Aghayev, Aydin Askerov, Rahim Hashimov, Namik Javad, Elchin Bunyadov and Nurlan Mammadov. The exhibition is dedicated to the 70th anniversary of Sumgayit, a satellite city of Baku, the birthday of which, in accordance with the presidential decree, will be widely celebrated nationwide in November 2019.

Sumgayit

On November 22, 1949, by the decision of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Azerbaijan Republic, Sumgayit was given a status of a city, hence initiating large-scale construction and infrastructure works, turning the city into an all-Union international construction project and attracting specialists and workers from all over the Union.

The settlement was first mentioned in the records of an English traveller and sales agent Christopher Barrow in 1580. In his book, Journey to the Caucasus, French writer Alexandre Dumas in 1858 talks about the settlement with the same name. In the notes of a Russian traveller and orientalist Ilya Berezin, an attempt is made to etymologically analyze the name of the settlement. According to the author, the name comes from two words - “su”, which is translated from Azerbaijani as “water”, and “gayit” means “come back.” He suggested that the city was named Sumgayit because " the heat of the water in the river dries up, and with the rain the river comes to life."

Exhibition

The inspirer of the exposition, Emin Gahramanov, believes that all authors' works very accurately reveal the identity of each artist, and the energy background of the works is poured into the world in a positive way, which is based on the authors' endless love for their small and big homeland. And even in the title of the exhibition - "Khazri" - lies a special meaning. This is a cold sea breeze blowing from the north, which walks over the Absheron Peninsula for a year and brings a refreshing coolness. It is called Absheron or Baku Nord. The works exhibited in the gallery, as well as the Khazri, with the life-giving and refreshing flow of thoughts and feelings of the authors, flow into the general flow of visual arts in the country. By the way, Azerbaijani artists, like poets, praising Khazri as a symbol of renewal of thoughts and feelings, as a force capable of changing the habitual and stagnant flow of life, made this a cultural tradition. Emin Gahramanov is convinced that the work of six artists from Sumgayit is exactly the breath of fresh air that is necessary for professional renewal.

Intigam Agayev:

"Country Child"

"From a long road"

"Icheri Sheher"

“Icheri Sheher: A Bedtime Story”

"Icheri Sheher-2"

“Roofs of Sumgayit”

It is difficult to give preference to any of the works exhibited by the author. Because they all have a single feeling of love for life. Surprisingly bright, joyful, almost fabulous work! A camel lying beneath the walls of the city, conveniently arranging itself and the variegated load of cargo as if it were going to “tell” the story about the Silk Road and a thousand one night spent on the way! But the image of Icheri Sheher, which attracts the author and us with his own unsolved mysteries. And, of course, the roofs of the beloved city of Sumgayit! The energy and attractiveness, which the artist filled his work with are in these roofs. At first glance, they look like the roofs of Icheri Sheher. But this is only at first glance. In fact, each of these roofs has their own 'identity'.

Namik Javadov:

"Roses"

"Landscape"

"Still Life with Plums"

"Still Life with Melon"

"Quince"

It would seem that special? Still life and still life. Written by all the laws of the genre. But here’s a mystery: if you stop in front of the canvas and look at the work, you begin to smell the smell of flowers and fruits. This is the smell of sun-warmed plums and melons. This is the smell of quince - with nothing comparable, not like any other. This is the smell of childhood, the smell of home, the smell of happiness, the smell of time, when they were still alive: mother, grandmother, and aunt ...

Nurlan Mamedov:

"Angel"

"Created"

Two sculptural works, which reflect two diametrically opposed views of the author on the essence of being. And, by the way, this is a variant of the author's artistic provocation, which allows us to unravel the coded message, showing the ability for artistic imagination and generalization.

Rahim Hashimov:

"Workshop"

"Barbershop"

"One summer evening"

"Memory"

"Relaxation"

"Feast"

Almost all of us, Bakuvians, have visited Absheroni cottage houses, so called dachas, at least once during our lifetime. We still keep memories of those summer sun-sunset sensations, hot sand that does not cool down for a long time, the smell of freshly caught fish from the sea, barbecue and dinner with friends under the seaside stars. The author of these works not only takes our elusive memories back, but also makes us relive the feeling of harmonious merging with the world around us, the joy of finding moments of happiness.

Elchin Bunyadov:

"Sweet dreams"

"Ancient well"

"Shadow"

These works return us to the traditions of the Absheron school of painting. Whether we like it or not, our memory throws up examples of past artistic experiences of the Azerbaijani visual arts. But these works have their own signature, own story of love for space, giving happiness. The artist unobtrusively helps us see what we have long ceased to see: happiness is just a moment that is impossible to keep, but you can live and feel. It can be “caught” by the wing, if you like. And for this you have everything: a tree, a house, a well, and an eternal sun over your head, sun in the peaceful sky, giving you the serenity of a day lived.

Aydin Askerov:

"Still life with cacti"

"Ficus"

"Still Life with pineapple"

If you look at these works for a long time, it will seem as if they live their own lives: filling themselves and controlling all the space around them. Cacti, ficus and pineapple have something in common. They seem to be familiar with each other and secretly carry on endless conversations from people. About what? Maybe about their masters? Or about hot countries? Or…

About gallery

Emin Gahramanov Art Gallery was created six months ago. It represents modern art of Azerbaijan in the 21st century, including painting, sculpture, graphics, and photography. The goal is to support and promote, among other things, talented young Azerbaijani artists; to educate art lovers, collectors, professionals and amateurs; to provide practical professional assistance in interior design, in organizing the art space of exhibition halls. In a word, here you can always find a professional interlocutor and personally the founder, Emin Gahramanov, can get qualified information about the modern fine arts of Azerbaijan, and at the same time have an excellent guide who will help you to make a tour of the pages of the history of the Absheron painting school. You are always welcome at the Emin Gahramanov Art Gallery.