Art in former Soviet Union: Absheron style

(oil on canvas, by Gena Brijatuk)

Absheron Painting Style (§)

At the end of the seventies of the last century in each republic of the former USSR were gathered elements of protest both in literature and fine arts. Artists felt a lowering of pressure from the "ideology services" and they tried to release from the "socialist realism frame".

Azerbaijani artists such as Ogtay Efendiyev, Mirr Javad, Tofig Javad, Ashraf Murad learnt the modern tendency of the world art and expressed their intention to incorporate this tendency into their creation.

Using the socialist slogan "national art by shape and socialist by substance" those artists synthesized western tendency with traditions of national and even decorative fine arts. They showed semi-abstractive paintings where the pure west style is combined with elements of carpet, gravestone ornaments and folklore.

Artists from different parts of Azerbaijan worked mainly in country houses in the Absheron peninsula. "Absheronians" used in their compositions signs, symbols (from eastern philosophy, sophism) and mystic elements. Often even the colour was one of the ways of carrying ideas.

(oil on canvas, by Mammadkerim Quluzade)

No one of "Absheronians" was similar to each other, in terms of creativity spirit. In Mir Javad art was predominant bright eastern, national elements together with Absheron lifestyle. His paintings shied as if they were eastern carpets. His brother Togig Javad and Ogtay Efendiyev gave more attention to Absheron landscapes. Thanks to them appeared the so-called concept "philosophic landscape of Absheron", which is reflected on several creations from many other artists, including those who usually are not identified as members of the Absheron Painting school.

Ashraf Murad used the western tendency not only in national art but also in "socialist by substance". KGB staff (Committee for State Security) in charge of the ideology branch was horrified while examining Ashraf Murad's paintings. The reason was that these paintings showed much more than images of Lenin, Stalin, workers and farmers. They showed images from all kind of life difficulties, tragedies and in general the boredom of Soviet lifestyle. This explains why the main strike from KGB focused on Ashraf Murad's work. He was brought to mental disorder and troubles and later after his death (he died young) all his paintings kept in his studio were brought and burnt in the yard of the Artists House. In spite of that no one of the "Absheronians" did step way from their style. Apart from this, many artists - Kamal Ahmad, Rasim Babayev, Gennadiy Brizjatuk, Farhad Khalilov, Rashid Ismayilov, Nazim Rakhmanov, Muslim Abbasov - joined this group. "Absheronians" adjusted themselves to the mental pressure and learnt to hide their thoughts. The rich historical practice of Azerbaijani poetry, philosophy (for instance, batinizm derives from the word "batinilik", which means the essence inside the human soul), decorative art, miniature art, etc., contributed to this reaction.

Today the Absheron Painting School is represented mainly by Farkhad Khalilov, Gennadiy Brizjatuk, Rashid Ismaylov, Rasim Babayev, Nazim Rahmanov, Firdovsy Atayev, Khamza Abdullayev, Mohammed-Kerim Guluzzadeh and also by younger artists like Yaver Soultanov and Zakir Housseynov. Obviously, motives of today's "Absheronians" differ from the former one. Now in their works artists from the Absheron peninsula show more optimism, bright colours and above all the sun.

(oil on canvas, by Yaver Sultanov)

(§) This article was written in 2005 by Joaquim Silva Rodrigues with the contribution and support of Mr. Eldaniz Ibrahimov, Director of the Absheron Art Gallery Old City Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan.

Absheron is the peninsula where is located Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.