Azerbaijani artist presents genuinely unique collection of carpets in Moscow

/By Azernews/

By Laman Ismayilova

Genuinely unique and inspirational paintings by Azerbaijani artist Tahir Salahov can often be seen in the most visited and famous museums and art galleries around the world.

He is the vice-president and honorary president of the International Association of Plastic Arts of UNESCO, the vice-president of the Russian Academy of Arts, People's Artist of the USSR, Azerbaijan and Russia, and is the winner of a number of high awards, including the State Prize of the USSR and Azerbaijan.

This time, guests of the International Fine Art Festival "Traditions & Contemporaneity” in Moscow had a chance to appraise the works of the master and admire his extensive and aesthetically pleasing collection of carpets, Day.az reports.

"In 1959 the great French artist Jean Lurcat and his wife visited Baku. He was very interested in Azerbaijani carpets. And I thought that it would be interesting to transfer my paintings on carpets. So, Lurcat encouraged me to do so. I am very grateful to him for this, said Salahov.

Many fictional characters of the artist, displayed at the Central Exhibition Hall Manege are strong-willed people of different professions. For instance, images of oil workers and fishermen are displayed together with portraits of famous writers, composers, artists and politicians.

The Red Wheel is a portrait of Russian novelist, historian, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, written for the anniversary of the famous writer and transferred on the carpet.

"I decided to create this picture on the tapestry and use the ornament, because it's the best way to tell about the Soviet emblems. Here you see a notebook of Solzhenitsyn and a rosary made of bread from the camp. Grid in the ornament say "dead stars". A lot of people have left out...," he added.

Another work by artist depicts a fisherman resting after a hard day on the shores of the Caspian sea surrounded by the native landscape and gulls.

Each carpet has its own unique style. For example, the Corrida has not round as usual, but rectangular arena.

Another work by artist "Chicago", done in 1965, was pained a realistic manner and in pure watercolor.

"Modern ornament is very suitable for Chicago. I wrote this at six o'clock in the morning. I left the hotel and saw alone figure skater on the ice. The picture fascinated me and I drew it up," said the artist about the painting.

Salahov expressed his respect for the work done by masters weaving carpets in his sketches. At the bottom of the carpet, you can see the names of the weavers.

Such work is unique. The artists said that during the year, three women painstakingly create unique work. Each knot is made entirely by hand.

National artist added that the rugs waving techniques are of great interest in professional circles and among visitors of exhibitions.

"Recently, I have bought the album with pictures of Pablo Picasso in Germany. The picture "Women of Avignon" was transferred to the carpet. This huge tapestry for hung in Picasso's studio for a long time. I was pleased to learn about it," he said.

Bright, colored and unique Azerbaijani carpets are well-known all over the world for their quality and high artistic value.

The country has seven carpet producing regions including Baku, Shirvan, Guba, Tabriz, Karabakh, Ganja and Gazakh and each of them had its own technology, typical patterns and colors.

Antique Azerbaijani rugs are the honorary "residents" at the White House, State Department, and every important museums in the world including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Louvre, Victoria and Albert Museum, Vatican, and the Hermitage.

Amazing and fantastic carpets of Azerbaijan represent a real mystery, leading one inside the fairy tales full of majestic feelings. In this context, Salahov's works are true reflection of this wonderful fairy world...