The Exhibition Center of Fine Arts of the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan hosts a personal exhibition of works by sculptor Orazmyrat Gurbanov, Honored Art Worker of Turkmenistan, member of the Union of Artists of Turkmenistan, who turned 70 this year.
The first thing that catches visitors' eyes is a portrait of Orazmyrat and Jumagul Gurbanov, created by their daughter Lachin Rejepgulyeva. There are also two busts of among the busts of prominent figures of culture and art. Orazmyrat and Jumagul receive congratulations from guests on the anniversary. This creates an impression of a collective exhibition, but it is not the case. In fact, Jumagul is Orazmyrat's wife, and by extension, his kind Muse and strict consultant. It is unlikely that Orazmyrat Gurbanov would have been able to create so many beautiful works if Jumagul had not been by his side.
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Orazmyrat Gurbanov is an exploratory sculptor. He primarily works in the realistic genre but occasionally transitions to abstraction, creating streamlined sculptures that vaguely resemble female figures. Another direction in his work is double-sided sculptural images, depicting a woman on one side and a man on the other. Orazmyrat Gurbanov begun creating tripartite sculptures. One such piece, "My Teachers," is on display, featuring three People's Artists of Turkmenistan: Babasary Annamyradov, Saragt Babaev and Yedi Magadov.
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The large number of sculptures depicting local fauna vividly demonstrates that Orazmyrat Gurbanov's childhood was spent in a rural area - at Zahmet station in Turkmengala etrap of Mary velayat. There, enchanted by the beauty and grace of animals, he molded their charming figurines from clay. Gurbanov has sculpted virtually every animal found in the region. The exhibition's fauna display resembles a clay zoo, teeming with gazelles, deer, horses, camels and wolves. One sculpture - "Young Shepherd" - is the artist's signature piece. In this multi-figure composition, Orazmyrat Gurbanov shows experienced shepherds sharing the intricacies of their craft with a young boy who will soon take their place in the pastures. The most intriguing aspect of this composition is the depiction of a flock of sheep. There are so many sheep that even the artist doesn't know their exact number. In terms of sheep count, Gurbanov's sculpture could potentially qualify for the Guinness Book of Records.
People's Artist of Turkmenistan Gylychmyrat Yarmamedov comments, "I'm impressed by Orazmurat Gurbanov's productivity. I especially like his small-scale works, which demonstrate refined taste, natural humor, and observation."
