Free Art of Farhad Khalilov

An exhibition project titled ‘Meeting’, dedicated to the anniversary of People's Artist of Azerbaijan Farhad Khalilov, was opened in September within the framework of the State Museum of Oriental Art at VDNKh. The Minister of Culture and Tourism Abulfas Garayev awarded the artist with Sharaf Order in accordance with the decree of President Ilham Aliyev for his merits in development of the Azerbaijani school of painting. And today the second part of the exhibition project 'Meeting' was opened in the State Museum of Oriental Art on the Nikitsky Boulevard.

Farhad Khalilov

As the artist explained, there were works of large size at the exhibition at VDNKh in September, they could not fit in the gallery on the Nikitsky Boulevard. "My early works from the age of 18 are exhibited here, when I had mastered the skill at the school, but, of course, there are new ones. As an artist, I have several spaces, and Moscow for me is an absolutely native, close to my perception of art space. All the best things about me were written in Moscow. Muscovites witnesses already the tenth personal exhibition. Now I'm waiting for the statements about my art from my friends, whom I respect and love greatly. When they say kind words about my art, this is the incentive for me to forge ahead. That is why I hold exhibitions, to convince myself that I am on the right track. Words come from the heart here," Khalilov said.

Boris Messerer

They did not have to convince Khalilov's friends. Soviet and Russian theater artist, set designer, teacher, the President of the association of artists of theater, cinema and television in Moscow, Boris Messerer, said: "I'm really glad to be on this exhibition. Farik is my truly friend. I visit all his exhibitions, follow his developing. There are paintings, which he made at the age of 17, hanging here, very early works. But he matured immediately and announced himself as a greatest master. His art is very liberal. It exists in the best ideas of our time. There is also joy from the fact that he is from Azerbaijan, Baku, because it is a sign that contemporary art covers all corners of the former Soviet Union, despite that these are independent states now. It is great, because there are no longer boundaries, when everything was forbidden. Freedom! Draw what you want, do what you like. And Farik follows this covenant. He is a great talent, and we can see it in his every picture, in the freedom of his expression".

Abbas Kazimov

Recently, there was an exhibition of the Azerbaijani artist Abbas Kazimov in the State Museum of Oriental Art, dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the master. Today Kazimov visited his friend's exhibition. "Azerbaijani art is presented very well in Moscow this year. There have been a few exhibitions in different galleries. And Farhad Khalilov's exhibition is one of the most important. We are friends with Farhad for more than 35 years. He is a national heritage of Azerbaijan, he is an ambassador of Azerbaijani culture worldwide. But most importantly, Farhad has not lost his qualities, which I have seen throughout the 35-year period. He is still young and freedom-loving, designed for innovations, for the most active creativity," the artist said.

Kazimov emphasized Khalilov's merits in the development of the Absheron school of art: "It has become fashionable to talk about the Absheron school. But few people know that the Absheron school began with the Absheron group. It was a group of artists who concentrated in the Absheron cottages during the early 1960s 'thaw'. A group was formed around Mirdzhavad Mirdzhavadov. Farik was also in this group, along with such artists as Mirdzhavad, Kamal Ahmedov, Tofik Javadov, Nadir Zeynalov, Fazil Najafov and Gorhmas Efendiyev. Somewhere in 1967, the group became the Absheron school, because each one of these artists reached a certain level, and they attracted own followers, disciples, and each of these artists attracted his entourage. This entourage has developed for its other laws. But the starter, which was obtained from the artists of the Absheron group, has created this school of freedom".

Abbas Kazimov stressed that it was not a dissident movement: "It is impossible in Azerbaijan, because we have a completely different mentality, a father is a head in our families, and children listen to what he says. The people who were followers of the Absheron group wanted to be themselves in art. They wanted to be able to express themselves. Then, if you remember, the gray art, the austere style was in fashion. A bright art can also be austere, but this school of freedom, which Farik cultivates in his art, was developed. This is one of the strongest merits of Farhad Khalilov in Azerbaijan's art."

The artist's creativity is known not only in Azerbaijan, but also all over the world, his works are marked by leading experts in the field of art, many of them are well-known in the exhibition halls of the world.