Every year on May 18, Turkmenistan celebrates holiday — the Day of the Constitution of Turkmenistan and the Day of the State Flag. The Constitution is the Fundamental Law that guarantees the rights and freedoms of citizens and defines their responsibilities. To mark these national holidays — the Day of the Constitution of Turkmenistan and the Day of the State Flag, an exhibition of paintings and sculptures by Turkmen artists has been organized in the exhibition hall of the State Museum of Fine Arts of Turkmenistan.
For instance, the artist Valentin Kudryashov left several paintings on this theme to his compatriots. It should be noted that no exhibition at the museum dedicated to Constitution Day is complete without his works. One of them is titled “The Constitution of Turkmenistan.” It depicts a young girl sitting beneath an emerald-green flag while torn-off calendar pages float down from above.
A red-letter day on the calendar — the page marked May 18 — has fallen onto the girl’s plate of fruit. The painting is executed in a poster-like style, and some of the calendar pages are not painted in oil at all, but are actual calendar pages attached to the canvas in the style of futurism. In this work, as in many others, Valentin Kudryashov revealed the theme in an original and creative manner.
The painting “Revival” by Rejepgeldi Churiev is also a regular participant in exhibitions devoted to political themes. The canvas depicts an Akhal-Teke horse soaring above the capital together with a rider holding the waving flag of our Motherland. Created in the style of symbolism, the painting is titled “Revival.”
Holidays in Turkmenistan are traditionally celebrated on a grand scale. In the painting “Toy” by Mamed Mamedov, the entire village takes part in the festivities. Lavish feasts are prepared, and exciting horse races are held. Mamed Mamedov presented his work in several tiers. Although the painting “Toy” is more than 50 years old, it has not lost its creativity or artistic appeal.
Bayrammyrat Esengeldiyev created a multi-figure sculpture of workers joyfully tossing their brigade leader into the air. This sculpture exemplifies how labor achievements associated with important political dates take on the character of nationwide success.
In the sculpture “Music,” Yedi Matadov portrayed a dutar player completely immersed in the melody produced by his beloved instrument. Most likely, the dutar player depicted by Yedi Matadov was performing at one of the celebrations that traditionally cannot do without the sound of the dutar.
The peaceful policy of our state is reflected in the etching “Friendship” by Ivan Ilyin, which depicts two foreign women together with a Turkmen woman. Thanks to their mutual respect, they have found common ground and are engaged in a peaceful conversation. Most likely, they are talking about their children, who, incidentally, have already become friends and are playing together.
Concluding the tour of the exhibition, it is worth once again turning to one of the works of Valentin Kudryashov titled “Parthian Expanse.” The artist depicted the Health Trail overlooking the vast Parthian plains — once a highly influential kingdom. Between the distant past and the present, the flag of Turkmenistan flutters, the principal symbol of the country’s statehood. Anyone viewing this painting cannot help but feel a surge of patriotic emotion.
