In 2026, which is being celebrated in our country under the motto “Independent Neutral Turkmenistan – the Homeland of Purposeful Winged Horses,” many significant events are taking place. One of the most important is the 35th anniversary of the independence of the Motherland. Dedicated to this glorious date is an exhibition of student works in various forms of art, which has opened at the gallery of the State Academy of Arts of Turkmenistan. The central theme of the exhibition is the achievements of the Turkmen people during the years of independence and the happiness of living under peaceful skies on the land of our ancestors.
The exhibition features iconic architectural structures depicted by painters and designers. One of the themes frequently explored by students is the “smart” city of Arkadag, which has become a source of pride for the Turkmen people.
Students of the jewelry department distinguished themselves by presenting women’s ornaments of rare beauty and elegance. Two separate exhibition sections were specially allocated for the jewelers’ works. Bright scenes featuring cartoon characters were shown on a television display. As always, the greatest interest among visitors was drawn to the works of the painters.
Hemra Bayramov is the author of the painting “Happy Family.” The eyes of the painting’s characters — a mother and her two sons — shine with happiness. One thought can be read in their expressions: “We are together, therefore we are happy.” The painting touches viewers with its simplicity and sincerity.
Among the paintings depicting Akhal-Teke horses, the works of Ogulbagt Dadebayeva and Kerven Nurlyyev attract particular attention. Both paintings are titled “Dream,” and in both, a young woman appears beside a horse. Each canvas captivates viewers with its beauty. The paintings are executed in different styles: Ogulbagt Dadebayeva used a technique of separate pointillist brushstrokes in a pale color palette, while Kerven Nurlyyev employed cubism in gray tones contrasted with the artist’s vivid red dress. The heroine of Ogulbagt dreams of love, symbolized by a branch of a pomegranate tree laden with fruit, while the heroine of Kerven dreams of creating a masterpiece, which she sees embodied in the image of the horse. The paintings are displayed far apart from one another, yet the viewer’s imagination places the two beautiful young women side by side — for one, the horse is a dream, while for the other, it is the embodiment of a dream.
Many of the paintings are devoted to children. Through these works, the students sought to emphasize that a society that pays great attention to children is a prosperous society with a bright future. Among the paintings on this theme is “Happy Generation” by Aygozel Annamyradova. The artist depicted first-grade pupils on a field trip to the Museum of Fine Arts. Most of these boys and girls encountered real art for the first time, and this day will undoubtedly remain in their memories forever.
Artist Gulmahrem Tagiyeva once visited a lesson for elementary school pupils and shared with viewers the atmosphere of joy and curiosity that prevailed there.
In the painting by Ogulnur Annamyradova, children are shown forbidden from entering an artist’s studio. But forbidden fruit is especially sweet! With what delight the mischievous children play among the paints and easels, surrounded by the mysterious scent of something unknown. Ogulnur captured the children’s mood in a painting appropriately titled “In the Studio.”
The canvases presented at the exhibition cover a wide range of themes. They are painted with such sincerity that emotions literally shine in the eyes of the characters, and this is the clearest evidence that we are witnessing genuine art.
