PARIS – An exhibition celebrating the 100 anniversary of the birth of People’s Artist of Kazakhstan Aubakir Ismailov took place Oct. 7-12 at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris.
“A witness of dramatic transformations in the landscapes, lives and culture of his country, Aubakir Ismailov painted the world and humanity, always inspired by deep understanding and respect. His art reminds us that, while every culture and every experience of the world is different, we are members of the same family, brought together by shared values and dreams,” said UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova in her remarks unveiling the exhibition.
The exhibition includes 29 watercolours, which are being displayed in headquarters’ renowned Miro Hall. The hall is named after famed artist Joan Miro who was commissioned in 1955 to paint the hall’s walls with murals.
Some of the exhibition’s more notable works include steppe and mountain landscapes, portrait works of al-Farabi and Nazim Hikmet, as well as those of participants of the Conference of Asian and African countries in Tashkent (1958). A special place in the exposition is held by watercolour sketches that were drawn in 1940s and are presented at the exhibition in the surviving original mats. The works also include sketches depicting Crimean Tatars in traditional clothing.
The exhibition’s opening was attended by the artist’s daughter, Gulzamira Ismailova and Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to UNESCO Olzhas Suleimenov. Also attending were delegations of the participating countries of the 192nd session of the Executive Board of UNESCO, the Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, the UNESCO Secretariat staff, students and representatives of the Kazakh Diaspora.
In her opening remarks to the gathering, Bokova noted the importance of the exhibition in the UN Decade of the Rapprochement of Cultures and also expressed gratitude to the representative of Kazakhstan to UNESCO, as well as to the artist’s family.
Gulzamira Ismailova also gave each of those gathered for the opening a book about Aubakir Ismailov called “Mythological Space of Dasht-i-Kipchak in the Works of Aubakir Ismailov,” the artist’s catalogue and the anniversary issue of the Kazakhstan Ballet World magazine dedicated to the centennial of Aubakir Ismailov.
The artist’s family also presented UNESCO Director General Bokova a watercolour work by Ismailov, which had been drawn in 1970s, “Bartogay,” while the paintings “Autumn in the Mountains” and “Valley of Kokbek” were given to the Mission of Kazakhstan to UNESCO and the Embassy of Kazakhstan in France.
