The exhibition opens with People’s Artist of Turkmenistan Aman Kuliev’s ‘Still-life of Parthian Artifacts’. The painting is reminiscent of the poster style. This technique allowed the artist to depict the renowned archeologist, historian and orientalist Mikhail Masson, the leader of the South-Turkmenistan Complex Archaeological Expedition (STCAE) and invaluable rarities, unearthed during excavations at the ancient sites of Old and New Nisa.
‘The Window to the Past’ by Saparmamed Meredov continues the theme. The painting portrays Academician Victor Ivanovich Sarianidi with the priceless artifacts discovered in Gonurdepe. The wise-looking, charismatic face of the world-renowned scientist, who made great discoveries in the history of mankind thanks to his remarkable talent for archeology and exploration, looks out at us from the canvas.
Particularly noteworthy for their artistic interpretation are two paintings by Vladimir Artykov, ‘The prospectors’ and ‘The Archeologists in the Karakum Desert’, featuring desert landscapes with sand dunes. The archeologists set up a camp in the desert to dig for archeological treasures hidden beneath layers of centuries-old dust and to write new chapters in history. Although executed in monochromatic sandy colors, the paintings are charged with intense emotions by the characters’ romanticism, enthusiasm and real passion for their profession.
‘The Children from the Village of Bagir’ by Nikolay Chervyakov immediately evokes a positive mood. Notably, today’s children are quiet unlike those depicted by the artist; it is certainly understandable since the painting was created in 1981. Our young contemporaries look different and behave in a different manner, but their spontaneity, charm and great curiosity make them surprisingly similar to the children, who inspired the painter.
Chary Ovaev’s ‘Gulbaba’ portrays a young musician, who plays the dutar with passionate enthusiasm. This gifted child lived a short, but incredibly bright life, having left his mark on the Turkmen nation’s culture. It is no coincidence that an annual music competition held in our country among talented children is named after him. Rustam Abdullaev’s ‘The Daughter-in-law’ irresistibly draws lively interest from visitors. What does the painting capture their hearts with? The eyes full of love and tenderness, feminine charm and beauty...
‘The Flower Piece’ by People’s Artist of Turkmenistan Yakub Annanurov truly fascinates with its exquisite decorative motif. The painting shows two vases with flowers on a bright-colored felt mat. Thanks to the painter’s sophisticated taste, the intense shades of red, green, yellow, and black create visual harmony.
Ovez Mamednurov’s ‘The Breath of Spring’ oozes the pleasant freshness of a spring morning, and creates a desire to live a full, active life and to find joy in every day. The painting depicts pink-flowered fruit trees, the scent of blossoms and fresh grass, blue skies and fluffy white clouds. Everything signals the arrival of spring, the time of renewal and positive expectations.
In the exhibition’s arts and crafts section, a tapestry called ‘The Composition’, finely crafted by Kakamurad and Altyn Bailiev, is particularly eye-catching. A perfect blend of colors and exquisite craftsmanship makes this relatively small tapestry totally unforgettable.
‘Tumar’ by Juma Jumadurdy stands out among the exhibited small sculptural pieces. Used as an amulet, the antique national jewelry features a feminine figurine as its centerpiece. This is how the artist emphasizes the role of women as keepers of hearth and home.
The current exhibition provides an insightful artistic glance at the great past and present of the prosperous home country, where conserving the historical and cultural heritage and traditions has sparked the ongoing transformations.
