The Museum of Fine Arts is currently running an exhibition of works by People’s Artist of Turkmenistan Aman Amangeldyev.The artist, who passed away a short time ago, would have turned 90.
A 1979 self-portrait opens the exhibition.Although Aman Amangeldyev may look like a stranger to those who did not know him so well, works by the artist, gifted to accurately capture on canvas the true spirit, actual events and the defining characteristics of the times, strongly reflect his distinctive personality and his individual self.
For Turkmen art enthusiasts, Aman Amangeldyev and Chary Amangeldyev, two brothers and two artists were always associated with two halves of the same whole.They had been together and in the same profession for many years.
Despite being siblings, they had more differences in their personalities, professional aspirations and interests than similarities.Chary Amangeldyev made frequent public appearances and always attended events held by the Union of Artists, while Aman Amangeldyev often went into retreat at his studio: working on his paintings was a source of great enjoyment to him.
Chary produced paintings depicting historical events, whereas his older brother celebrated working people and labor.In the 1960s, artists were commissioned to portray working people in their works.
This left most of them rather bewildered and confused.But later Stanislav Babikov’s painting showing Caspian fishermen and renowned industrial landscape paintings by Vladimir Pavlotsky radically changed the established views, having proved that a talented artist was able to breathe life into any work and to fill it with intense emotions.
It turned out that portrayals of working people and labor could be vivid, passionate and captivating.Aman Amangeldyev remained true to this subject.He greatly admired builders of the Karakum Canal, who had to work under extremely harsh conditions, building the man-made river in the desert.
The artist’s Builders of the Karakum Canal’ features these strong-willed and determined people.Some might think that shepherds are far from civilization owning to their occupation.
Aman Amangeldyev did not share this opinion.He regarded shepherds both as local ethnographers and stockbreeders, who should be in excellent physical shape, have an understanding of behavioral patterns of sheep, Alabay dogs (their trustworthy companions) and wolves (their implacable enemies), be well aware of climatic and weather conditions, and possess the ability to observe.
Four men of different ages, who have chosen to live a nomadic lifestyle, are portrayed as true professionals in Aman Amangeldyev’s Shepherds’.Portrait of a Doctor Sachly Dursonova’ is imbued with the true poetic spirit.
The painting is notable for the artist’s original approach with a horizontally elongated canvas, the laconic interior of a room, prevailing brown and black hues, and a woman wearing bright red beret on her head.
The artist applied the same technique in Portrait of Juma Odeberdyev’.The laconic color palette allows focusing the viewer’s attention on an old man’s expressive face with deep wrinkles and his wisdom-filled eyes.
The exhibition commemorating Aman Amangeldyev, the philosopher and master portrait artist, whose life and professional career were not confined by any boundaries, standards or assessment criteria, offered a retrospective look at the worldview, versatile talent and personal values of the Artist and Individual.