The poet Gurbannazar Ezizov, who would have turned 85 this year, remains forever in the memory of the Turkmen people. The phrase "A song based on the poems of Gurbannazar Ezizov" has become familiar because musicians often compose music to his poetry. Artists immortalize the poet’s image in their works.
The Art Gallery of the Union of Artists of Turkmenistan successfully hosted an exhibition of paintings titled "Trust." Five artists, passionate about contemporary art, participated in the event.
Rakhman Rakhmanov shared his unique perspective on the world with visitors and surprised them with his work "Seven Chairs." This painting reflects on lovers of theatrical art, for whom the seating arrangement in a theater hall is either significant or irrelevant. The artist’s style is characterized by elements of surrealism, which are evident in his other works as well. For example, in "Two Brothers," he saw two intertwined trees as brothers who had reached an advanced age without parting from one another. In another work, "Two Dervishes," blind dervishes cling to each other, protecting themselves from the cold and the incomprehensible world around them. Undoubtedly, the painting that attracted the attention of all visitors was "The Last Move," depicting chess pieces on a checkered tablecloth with fallen pieces hanging over its edges.
Perkhat Ishangulyyev presented 12 paintings at the exhibition, all featuring bulls. The bull, according to the artist, symbolizes strength and power, and only a woman can control these forces with her wisdom. Perkhat’s works are imbued with symbolism.
Begench Berkeliev exhibited landscapes that exude a fleeting sense of impressionism. His painting "From the Window" conveys the author’s delight upon looking out an open window and seeing a landscape immersed in greenery. Recognizable is his series of landscapes titled "Ailanthus Garden," which he has showcased at other exhibitions, as well as mulberry trees painted in an expressionist style.
Growing watermelons, dried melons, sun-dried tomatoes, and peppers—these agricultural products have found their place in the contemporary paintings of artist Amanmyrat Modyev. Amanmyrat has an extraordinary ability to discover intriguing combinations of simple geometric shapes in seemingly ordinary objects like a pile of pumpkins. The decorative repetition of objects gives his works a strong visual appeal.
Gakhraman Gochmyradov is perhaps the most literary-minded artist among them, and many of his works are responses to various literary pieces. For Gurbannazar Ezizov’s anniversary, he specifically created a painting titled "Two Trees," inspired by the poet’s poem of the same name. In it, two trees grow on opposite banks of a river, each believing that the other receives more water. Their envy lasts until they fall in love with each other. Gakhraman enjoys experimenting with planes, so he depicted the two trees and the river as three vertical columns filled with fish, apples, branches, and outlines of male and female figures.
The phrase "More than a camel is an elephant" from the epic Gyorogly inspired Gakhraman Gochmyradov’s painting of the same name. The artist depicted Gyorogly tied up on a camel after being captured by Bezergen, who sits atop an elephant. The painting is done in burgundy tones and resembles a national koshma.
At the grand opening of the "Trust" exhibition, speakers—including Yazgul, the poet’s daughter—recited Gurbannazar Ezizov’s poetry. The organizers also invited visitors to explore a book exhibit featuring poetry collections not only by Gurbannazar Ezizov but also by poets of his generation—Gara Seytliyev, Aman Kekilov, Berdi Kerbabayev, and Berdinazar Hudaynazarov. A recreated corner with objects that Gurbannazar Ezizov might have used brought to life the era in which this beloved poet lived and worked.
The exhibition "Trust" turned into a literary-artistic event that left an enormous impression on all its participants.
