An exhibition of the works by a famous Turkmen graphic artist Oraz Agabaev to mark the painter’s 50th jubilee and 25th jubilee of creative work is opened at the Exhibition Centre in Ashgabat. The exposition that became the master’s present for the main national holiday – Independence Day includes about 100 paintings created in the recent years.

A student of the Ashgabat State School of Art Oraz Agabaev graduated from the I. Fyodorov Printing Institute (Lvov). He started the professional activity as painter in the Ylym publishing house, worked in the editorial staffs of the magazines and newspapers in Ashgabat. Nowadays the master teaches at the State Academy of Fine Arts of Turkmenistan.

A member of the Artists’ Union of Turkmenistan from 1988 Oraz Agabaev is a frequent participant to various art exhibitions and contests in Turkmenistan and abroad. These include the prestigious international exposition Exhibition of Print in Moscow. Today his works are displayed at the largest art museums all over the world and in the private art collections in different countries. Oraz Agabaev is known as a talented illustrator. He created the illustrations for the works by great Magtumguly, Nurmuhammed Andalib, Berdinazar Khudaynazarov, Sergi Yesenin, Omar Hayyam and Turkmen epos Gyorogly (in interpretation for children) and many other books.

Oraz Agabaev’s graphic works are distinguished for the rich imaginary and unique individual style. The series of the paintings created in various techniques: etching, pastel, lithography, ink are presented at the jubilee exposition. Each of Oraz Agabaev’s painting is penetrated with the sincere love to the native land and Turkmen people, the profound respect to its great history and priceless cultural heritage.

Oraz Agabaev always says that graphic art enables to convey the whole palette of human feelings and emotions. By using various techniques and combining various means of painting the artist creates the works penetrated with the high emotional mood. “As an artist I am interested in an individual, his inner world, the imperishable universal values,” Oraz Agabaev says. “By my works I try to convey the best human feelings and qualities – optimism, high spirit, inspiration, the ability to see beauty and poetry in the everyday life.”

The representatives of the Ministry of Culture and TV and Radio Broadcasting, the public organisations, cultural workers, students and foreign guests took part in the opening ceremony.