A landmark event in the country’s cultural life took place in Ashgabat - a personal exhibition by Berdiguly Amansakhedov opened at the exhibition hall of the Union of Artists of Turkmenistan, timed to coincide with his 75th anniversary. The opening ceremony was marked not only by the presentation of new works, but also by the formal recognition of the master’s international contribution to the development of art.
The central moment of the celebration was the presentation of the “Honorary Compatriot’s Badge” to the artist. The award, on behalf of the Government Commission of the Russian Federation, was presented by Ivan Volynkin, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Turkmenistan.
The diplomat especially emphasized Amansakhedov’s inseparable connection with the Russian school of art.
“Berdiguly Amansakhedov is a person well known not only in Turkmenistan, but also in many other countries. He is closely connected with Russia. As a talented young man, he graduated from the Surikov Institute, an academy that has produced a great many outstanding artists. Berdiguly-aga is one of them, and I believe he is a worthy representative of this institution’s graduates, who has glorified Turkmenistan through his unique creativity. But this is not the only thing that connects our dear friend with Russia. He has repeatedly taken part in various exhibitions in Russia. In 2024, he held a large personal exhibition in the city of Kazan, timed to coincide with the BRICS meeting, and this exhibition was a great success,” said I. Volynkin.
The head of the diplomatic mission stressed that the “Honorary Compatriot’s Badge” is awarded to the Turkmen artist for his great services in strengthening friendship between the peoples of Russia and Turkmenistan.
The exhibition, titled “Songs of the Sands,” features more than 110 works of painting and graphic art. Amansakhedov’s oeuvre covers a wide range of genres, from monumental painting and graphics to theatrical set design.
The Chairman of the Union of Artists of Turkmenistan, Charymyrat Yazmyradov, described the jubilarian’s creative path—imbued with deep love for his homeland and a philosophical comprehension of images of ordinary people—as exemplary for younger colleagues.
“The talent and creativity of Berdiguly Amansakhedov represent an enormous educational resource for young painters. Every stage of his distinguished professional biography has its own significance. The subjects of his paintings dedicated to the Motherland captivate the imagination, the theatrical scenery amazes audiences, and the images of ordinary people, conveyed through a philosophical lens, keep visitors from taking their eyes off the canvases for a long time. The artist has titled this exhibition ‘Songs of the Sands,’ and these native melodies, performed by a brilliant tenor, I am sure, will leave no one indifferent,” said the head of the Union of Artists of Turkmenistan.
Berdiguly Amansakhedov is a member of the Union of Artists of Turkmenistan and the Moscow Union of Artists, and the chief artist of a number of theaters in Turkmenistan. He has designed the visual concept for more than 60 theatrical productions, about 20 of them abroad. His paintings are exhibited in museums in Turkmenistan and Russia, and his works are also held in art collections in Uzbekistan, Lithuania, Turkiye, India, Israel, France, Germany, Sweden, and the United States.
The exhibition in Ashgabat will continue in the coming days, offering all admirers of art a unique opportunity to come into contact with the world of the “brilliant tenor” of Turkmen painting.
