… Annabagt was born and raised in the town of Serdar (formerly Kizil-Arvat), Balkan velayat, amidst the natural beauty and dramatic landscapes. “We used to live in a little house just like all other houses around. We were on friendly terms with our neighbors, always helped one another, came together to prepare for celebrations and family festivities, and gathered at the same dastarkhan (a tablecloth or a table set for a festive meal)”, Annabagt told.
The girl’s family often called her Bakhar and the name stuck. She had a very inquisitive mind and was hard-working, and would spend hours watching her grandmother, mother and aunts creating pieces of handmade national embroidery and weaving carpets. She diligently learned the secrets of the crafts from them, doing her best to become as skillful as they were.
Through the centuries, the tricks of the trade have been handed down from mothers to daughters with every new generation introducing truly novel ideas and original techniques to the traditional practices, giving rise to new trends and encouraging the development of handicraft.
After she completed school, Bakhar was faced with the choice of profession and decided to enter Construction College. After graduating from college, she found a job in her field. Shortly after that she married and had three children. Things took their natural course; she had a successful career and a happy marriage. Her children were her pride and joy. And Bakhar had a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. “She has achieved much in her life!” many would have assumed. But every now and then, perfectionist Bakhar wondered: “What would my life be like if I had not abandoned my dream of becoming a craftswoman?”
“And then I realized that I had missed those intense emotions that the craftwork brought in me, and a rich palette of colors and images reflected in designs and shapes of my works”, Bakhar told. By some quirk of fate, her thoughts really materialized. The company she worked for closed down and the woman had to make a choice: either she would look for a new job or she would make a career switch to fulfill her long-held dream of starting her own business.
Craftswoman Akmaral Karaeva and artist Tatiana Dvoryaninova, who shared Bakhar’s passion and had had some previous experience in doll making, offered their help. Bakhar’s first handmade dolls brought a splash of color to her life. Inspiration struck and her vivid artistic imagination transformed into creative ideas.
Creating a designer doll, a charming toy, fairytale characters or a lady with royal traits is always a fascinating, painstaking and multistage process, which requires good drawing, sewing and design skills, a basic knowledge of composition, exquisite taste, a creative vision and … a childlike openness towards perception of the world.
Bakhar’s collection of dolls with its colorful array of characters offers interesting insights into the Turkmen nation’s traditions, customs, ancient epics and favorite fairytale characters.
Bakhar makes souvenir ball-jointed and wire-framed dolls in national-style clothes. The bodies, heads, arms and legs of dolls are hand sewn of coarse calico and are padded with polyester batting. The doll maker uses acrylics to paint lovely, funny faces and to bring out the personality of each doll. Her dolls are dressed in distinctively national garments and headwear of keteni (a traditional handmade silk fabric), velvet, wool and other patterned fabrics, and are embellished with tiny jewelry: brooches, necklaces, rings and earrings. Doll shoes and jorabs (national-style knitted socks) are handcrafted too.
On average, it takes Bakhar about a month to make one doll. Each is totally unique. It is a true work of art brimming with emotions, energy and talent of the maker that brings delight and allows people to immerse themselves in a wonderfully diverse world of traditions and to be transported back to their childhood.
Bakhar’s artfully crafted dolls have been exhibited at exhibitions and craft fair events. Display stands with her charming toys leave no one indifferent. “The most fascinating thing, Bakhar tells, is watching how people react when they see my dolls. Some ask questions and share their feelings. Others stand silently looking clearly surprised or gazing admirably. Their interest and attention deeply touch me. I often give my dolls to visitors as gifts and it gives me great pleasure because I sincerely believe that art should bring joy. Talks with people who love my toys help to generate new exciting ideas. By the way, married couples often request me that I make talisman dolls for them.”
Collectors from Turkey, Ukraine and Russia have also evinced much interest in works by Bakhar. Along with dolls, she also creates souvenir camels and traditional amulets. Recently, the artist has been invited to take part in an arts and crafts exhibition in Moscow planned for late 2020. If possible, Bakhar will exhibit her five new dolls at the fair. These metaphor-rich handcrafts will provide a unique window into national traditions of our country’s five velayats.
Bakhar’s studio is open to like-minded individuals. She graciously shares her knowledge and expertise, enthusiastically explores new techniques and design methods, and gives master classes. Bakhar mostly teaches neighbor boys and girls, who visit her warm and welcoming home to explore the colorful world of doll making and learn the secrets from the talented craftswoman, who is endowed with the power to create fairytale-like handmade crafts…
