An exhibition at the State Academy of Arts gallery showcases works by Azat Annaev, a teacher in the Academy’s Department of Art History.Landscapes and still lifes in watercolor draw and captivate visitors with wonderfully soft transitions of color and a light airy feel. - Azat’s watercolor exhibition is a complete surprise for everyone, and first of all for me, vice-rector of the Academy of Arts of Turkmenistan Nuryagdy Yagshimuradov admitted.
Until today, we have known him as a qualified art expert, and now he presents himself as a talented aspiring artist.Azat Annaev’s solo exhibition brought together all those, who hold a special place in his life and career: his mentors, friends and students.
One of them is Lyudmila Pavlovna Ulakina, Azat’s first teacher, who works at Byashim Nurali Children’s Art School. - A student’s achievement is a new height of a teacher’s professionalism.
What makes me happy and brings me joy is seeing my students achieving success.Azat was one of those students.I remember him as a sensible boy with a quick, inquiring and reflective mind. “You will be a researcher and teacher”, I said to him once and I was not mistaken.
His friends call him a walking encyclopedia for a good reason.After graduating from the Ashgabat Art College, Azat worked as a teacher there for 23 years.Over these years he also earned a degree in art history from Kiev State Art Institute and a degree in history from Magtymguly State University.
Azat Annaev is also working at the Rodoguna Art Center and the Turkmen State Institute of Culture (the Department of History).The exhibited works clearly convey views and ideas of Azat Khudaiberdyevich in his capacity of a mentor.
He painted his landscapes and still lifes so neatly and exquisitely as though he had meant to give a watercolor master class.The art of watercolor combines elements of painting (compositions and color schemes) and graphics (a role of paper and no patterned brush strokes).
Working with transparent watercolor paints, a watercolorist pays close attention to tints and textures of paper or other materials used as a base, and their capacity to reflect light.
A harmonious blend of transparent tones gives the impression of visual depth and versatile narrative elements.A notable example is a watercolor painting that features a marine landscape with a limitless expanse of the sky.
A popular subject matter of Azat Annaev’s original still life paintings is ordinary fruits and vegetables and the artist uses a traditional glazing technique to depict them.His works do not show these bounties of nature in abundance: two or three fruits or vegetables are more than enough for him.
This is also set to communicate a message from the mentor: a painting should reflect aesthetic values of the artist’s distinctive style, his artistic excellence, technical mastery, and signature colors.
Paintings are believed to give clues about an artist’s personality and habits.After seeing Azat Khudaiberdyevich’s works, I will assume that he loves to travel, soaking up the beauty of the Caspian landscapes and picturesque views of the western Kopetdag… The Karakum Desert occupies a special place in Azat Annaev’s career.
And while his paintings of the sea and mountains are typically laconic, his desert landscape unfailingly serves as a background for a historical monument.One of such works depicts a sword in a sheath, reminiscent of the Latin letter F’, in the center of a tombstone on the grave of a noble warrior.
Another painting portrays an ancient saber in an elongated quadrangular arch.This is also a gravestone marking a grave of the warrior famed for his feats in arms.
When asked if he sees himself as an art historian or as a painter, Azat answered: - Art and history are closely interrelated.Time goes by and one historical epoch gives way to another; and aesthetic values and traditions take on new dimensions.
Innovations contribute to adopting new models of cultural development, which in turn encourages active creative pursuits and a fusion of styles and genres.These are very interesting processes full of the spirit of experimentation and quests that both a historian and an artist alike should understand.