At the conceptual core of the exhibition is a portrait gallery of prominent figures in the national culture. Honored Cultural Worker of Turkmenistan Saparmammed Meredov’s painting of the great Turkmen poet Magtymguly is a big draw for visitors who unwittingly make a parallel with the canonical portrait of Pyragy by Aykhan Khajiev.
‘Portrait of Composer Nury Khalmamedov’ is the key work in the career of brilliant artist Mamed Mamedov. Turkmen artists have dedicated many works to Nury Khalmamedov, but this painting has truly extraordinary magnetism. So does the music by Khalmamedov… The artist and the composer were closely united by the bonds of friendship and they both lived in children’s homes in the stern post-war period. They both died young in their prime and at the peak of their talent. And they left their indelible imprint on the national culture.
Mamed portrayed the composer with his head leaning against a mulberry tree, full of life-enhancing energy resonating with the maestro’s charisma. The expressive color palette and narrative nuances reveal Khalmamedov’s extraordinary creative talent and outstanding personality.
Next in line is Ivan Cherinko’s ‘Alty Karliev’. The portrait is executed in a clearly academic style. The gray and brown hues in contrast with the bright light falling upon the face of the most famous Turkmen movie director add a cinematic look and scope to the painting.
The exhibition features several works by renowned artist Dyrdy Bayramov. Portraits of wonderful film actor and director Baba Annanov, and poet Kurbannazar Ezizov, whose career was on the rise when he perished and who earned the highest honors possible - the love of many people, really impress with focal accents and bold brush strokes.
Dyrdy Bayramov’s portrait of composer, People’s Artist of Turkmenistan Aman Agajikov is imbued with musical poetics. The tender color palette and exquisite play of tints accentuate the magical moment when a new melody is being created.
It is a pleasant surprise to see Sergey Beglyarov’s ‘Muzafar Daneshvar’ on display. Paintings by the distinguished Turkmen artist Daneshvar, who was one of the first to take charge of the State Art School, are entirely familiar to art enthusiasts, but his portrait is rarely exhibited at the Museum. That is why the exhibition offers a unique opportunity to see what the artist looked like and what his personality traits Beglyarov wanted to reveal in the painting.
On show is a painting by distinguished artist Yarly Bayramov that depicts the first Turkmen artist and promoter of national cultural traditions Byashim Nurali playing the instrument (he invented himself) with a pensive, faraway look on his face. Next to him is an easel with a painting and a young man kneeling in front of it. The painting is a tribute of respect to the accomplished artist for his teaching talent and innovative work in art…
The exhibition also includes another work by Yarly Bayramov – a portrait of People’s Writer of Turkmenistan Kerim Kurbannepesov. …Sitting comfortably in an armchair, the writer, who has a book in his hands, contrives a plot of his new work and runs inner dialogues with his characters.
Visitors spend a long time taking a close look at Kakajan Oraznepesov’s ‘Seven Artists’. Kakajan devoted his painting to his fellow artists who represent a new, important period in Turkmen painting. They are Stanislav Babikov, Durdy Bayramov, Mamed Mamedov, Shajan Akmukhammedov, Chary Amangeldyev, Gulnazar Bekmuradov, and Juma Jumadurdyev.
The themed exhibition takes visitors on a journey to the past and provides fascinating insights into the history of painting, the art form that is so multifaceted and brimming with life, not illusory, but giving a sense of magic. Who can tell about artists better than artists themselves… No matter what they use to tell stories: a brush, a pen or music. What really matters is how a talent is perceived through the prism of creative expression of another talent…
