Annabibi Islamova learned the secrets of carpet making from her mother and her grandmother, who were well respected and skilled craftswomen in their native town of Serdar (formerly Kizilarvat).
At 10 the girl was able to weave small items on her own.She graduated with honors from Shota Rustaveli Art College in Ashgabat in 1976 to become a professionally qualified carpet artist.
It has been more than half a century since Annabibi wove her first handmade piece from her collection… She has made over 300 truly original carpets and carpet items whose ornamental motifs brim with her thoughts and feelings. The poetically wonderful works by the gifted craftswoman capture the beauty of Turkmen nature, and reflect national traditions and history.
Unbroken continuity is a dominant characteristic of Annabibi Islamova’s individual style. This is evidenced by the old gol carpet motifs which the weaver artfully uses in stylized designs of her original carpets and decorative pieces.
Especially impressive are the articles whose patterns echo the motifs of the ancient Pazyryk carpet and mirror the evolution of spiritual values. Of particular note is a collection of chuvals (a large storage bags used as portable containers for clothes, kitchen utensils, grain, etc.) made by the carpet maker.
Annabibi takes great pride in her large 5x5 meter special-occasion tablecloth, supra, which can seat 18 people. It took the maker six months to complete the piece made with the use of a complex weaving technique called gayma.
The craftswoman admitted that the work had been inspired by the timeless lines from the poem The Land of the Turkmen’ by
Magtymguly Pyragy:
When souls, hearts and minds of tribes are united, When Turkmen gather around one table to share a meal…
The supra tablecloth finely crafted by Annabibi has been displayed in specialized exhibitions and has received high praise from fellow craftspeople and experts both nationally and internationally.
Another key theme Annabibi Islamova explores in her works is present-day achievements of Turkmenistan. A notable example is her eclectic collection of handbags and clutch purses. The artist herself singles out the accessories whose designs feature scenic views of the Avaza National Tourist Zone and metaphorical scenes of the ancient Caspian Sea.
The Turkmen craftswoman’s hand-woven carpets and items, whose designs and motifs are a harmonious mix of traditions and innovations: floor and wall carpets, pileless carpets (made using a flat-weave technique), handbags, chuvals (storage bags), lavishly decorated saddle covers, П-shaped curtain-like gapylyks that once served to adorn the doorway, and sachaks (a traditional tablecloth used to serve food) have been successfully exhibited abroad.
Annabibi generously shares the tricks of the trade with her students, who continue the efforts aimed at preserving and popularizing the Turkmen nation’s unique art. Annabibi is one of the long-serving teachers at the State Academy of Arts of Turkmenistan, where she has been working almost since the institution’s inception.
Carpet weaver and teacher Annabibi Islamova has been decorated with state awards for her talent and career spanning many years. She is the recipient of the Love of the Fatherland Medal, of the honorary title of Honored Art Worker of Turkmenistan, and of the Türkmeniň Altyn Asyry Prize of the President of Turkmenistan.
Annabibi is very proud of her talented students, who are acknowledged master carpet weavers.Several of her students have been awarded the Türkmeniň Altyn Asyry Prize of the President of Turkmenistan.
Some work at carpet enterprises, making new carpets or preserving old hand-knotted rarities for posterity, and others teach at vocational schools.But what unites them all is that they are driven by a desire to introduce new bright ideas into the ancient traditions of carpet making, to add new original chapters to the history of this unique art and to impart their knowledge to a new generation of artists and weavers.
Annabibi Islamova has written a book on carpet making.At the end of our conversation, carefully turning the pages of her book as though she was recalling her treasured memories, the craftswoman said: “This book is intended for all those who share my love of the national culture and traditions.
And it is our primary mission to preserve and enrich them.”