Art

Baku. Ulkar Gasimova –APA. Azerbaijani artist, member of UNESCO Association of Art Sakit Mammadov gives an interview to APA. His works are the most expensive art works in Azerbaijan. They are sold in famous auctions of the world, exhibited in famous museums and decorated collections of leaders of the world countries and other famous private collections. The artists hosted APA correspondent in his four-storey private museum and informed about the works exhibited there. World-renowned Azerbaijani jazzman Vagif Mustafazadeh’s white grand piano is saved in the Sakit Mammadov’s museum. Mammadov bought this piano for 3500 USD.

-How long did you spend to establish private museum?

-I started my creative activity in a small room of 17 square meters. I was waiting for the children to sleep and then starting to work. I reached this position little by little. Fires of all, the artist must have willingness. I had willingness. I collected money I earned from sale of my works and bought this house and realized my dreams. I am 52 and I was always wishing to have a place where I can hang my works. I don’t need to organize individual exhibition in Baku. Everyone who wishes to see my works visits this museum. I hosted many foreign guests, as well as famous people here.

-Your exhibitions are organized in many countries. Do you meet all expenditures of these exhibitions?

-Yes, I am organizing all my exhibitions. Sometimes the organizers are doing that. They receive certain percent of the incomes and it depends on the talks. The Union of Artists can not do this job. It is not possible really. There are few collective exhibitions in Europe. At least three artists can present their works at the same exhibition. The art works created in same genre are exhibited together.

-Mostly portraits attract much attention in your collection. Do you paint these portraits from nature?

-There are portraits painted from nature and compositions as well. I painted portraits of Diana, Suleyman Demirel, president of World Wrestling Federation Rafaello Marinetti and others. I created the portrait of Heydar Aliyev, but after his death, and now this portrait is exhibited at the Heydar Aliyev Museum. In fact, portrait is created from nature better than from photo. I participated in the auctions held everywhere in the world. We have no auctions here in Azerbaijan. If we have it, may ancient and interested art works, antiques can be saved in Azerbaijan and serve its enrichment.

-Does Azerbaijan fail in sale and purchase of art works because not having auctions?

-You are absolutely right. There should be regulations. I was selling my first works for 4000-5000 USD in the auctions, but I didn’t set a price. I couldn’t do that because no one knew me. The auctions determine the price of artist. When I sold my works for 5000 USD in the auctions, I knew that I can sell it for 3000 USD easily. The art works are not for poor people, they are for spiritually and materially rich people. But there are some people who have money, but don’t understand creativeness. I saw such people in Turkey. But there are some spiritually rich people, who have no money. I am presenting my works to such people disinterestedly. But I can’t present all works, because the artist can create 150-200 works throughout his life. There are some museums in the world that they intended to buy my works, but I presented it them. For example, Museum of Shanghai intended to buy 11 works of mine, but I didn’t sell them. I didn’t agree with a price. Chinese bought work of an artist at same age with me for 9 million euro In Singapore. They bought my work for 10 000 USD and soled it for 250 000 USD. One Turkish citizen bought my work and then put it in auction Louvre Antique Palace. I never could go there, but my work was sold there.

-Do you have students and what do you teach them?

-Yes I have 10 students. The painting is not taught, it is learned. I am teaching to my students to learn to paint. I can’t know how they are seeing colors, what they are feeling. This is a game, divine power. I have three children. My sons Nizar and Casar tread in the steps of me. I believe every of my students can reach the world level and be famous artist.

-Do you think about teaching at the Azerbaijan Academy of Art?

-They offered me to teach and event to take posts at the Azerbaijan Academy of Art, but I didn’t agree. I would like to mention one thing. There is a requirement of English skills for enrolling the Academy of Art. Why? I don’t know English. It is not important. The artists should be talented at first. The students having English skills gain high points and enrolled despite that they are primitive artists. The students of Academy of Art should know the world’s art, but not the world’s language.

I’m against admission by test method to University of Culture and Arts, Baku Music Academy and Azerbaijan National Conservatory.

-In which museums are your art works being kept?

-There are my art works in different museums, even in Vatican Museum. I have exhibitions in Miami, Tokyo and etc.

-You have most expensive art works in Azerbaijan…

-First of all, person must respect himself. Sometimes people say, he is a good painter, but his art works aren’t bought. Why isn’t a good art work bought? There was a saying in Soviet Union that an artist must live just for “bravo” word. They were given honorary titles and medals. That is an artist must see his achievement while alive. There are a lot of good artists in Azerbaijan, but they sell theirselves very cheap. Is it right that an artist sell his art works at furniture store? Go to frame shop and look how many art works are sold there. Why they do that?

-Mister Sakit, don’t forget that, you have your own museum, but those artists haven’t such opportunities…

-I am also a member of Union of Artists and one of those artists. I have lived in poverty. I was unemployed, but I never sold my art works in such places as frame shop. There are street artists in Paris and you can’t see a professional among them. Most of our artists live in good condition. They play a role, they play a game. Do you know any artist who lives in poverty?

-For example, Anvar Garayev…

-Does Anvar Garayev live in poverty? If he lives in poverty, then why his art work costs 20 000? Anvar Garayev is a talented artist. He is one of the branches of Union of Artists, secretary of the Union. But he himself is guilty. Has the Russian Union of Artists kept alive Russian artist?

-But every person needs jolt at first…

- 60-70-year-old man doesn’t need support. What can one do for 70-year old painter if he couldn’t achieve anything till this age? I have done a lot for them. I have sent the art works of our artists abroad. But nobody buys their art works. Who needs their simple art works? There are untalented artists who walk about all the time. I never go to Russian Union of Artist. But you go, and you will see the same people there.
An artist may earn money by painting a simple child or rose. It is impossible for artist to die of hunger. I have students whose art works cost 3- 5 000 and they provide their families with money. That is I teach them this pride. I have learnt them not to sell art works anywhere and cheaply. I think that person must achieve everything himself. I have 10 students and I help each of them. I never take money from them. Even I buy all linen and dye myself. I think 10 good artists are enough for one nation.
The most talented students at Academy of Art are my students. I help them to participate at international exhibitions. I have sent their art works to many countries, as well as to US and Korea and they were sold. Everyone in my generation wants to be an artist, because there is an example. There isn’t an age limit in art. I can’t understand how an artist may die of hunger. It depends on an artist. Recently people from Brussels came to buy art works of Azerbaijani artists. They buy one my art work, but another artist sold 5 art works to them. Then I asked him about it, he said that he sold them 5 art works. He couldn’t say a cost for 5 art works. That is he sold them cheaply. I couldn’t understand such a case. But our enemy may buy such art works in 500- 1000 AZN and annihilate them purposely. There are so many such cases in Turkey.

-What is your most expensive art work?

-“Aida” is my most expensive art work. Showing some of my art works a very famous critic in Moscow Bojeno said there would be a time, when these art works would become invaluable. Then I asked him “what do you think what is the cost of this art work?” He said “500 000”. There were a time when I sold my art work in 250 000 euro. The portrait of Rome Pope is in the Vatican Museum. And everyone knows that this art works belongs to Azerbaijani artist. I had done 2 elements in that portrait- first, I put 4 holy books on the table and Qurani-Karim on the top, the second I painted Karabakh carpet under his legs. Karabakh carpet in Vatican Museum…

-It is very interesting, do you have any art work of another artist and if yes, then how much did spend for it? Can you buy any art work in 50-60 000?

-Of course, I have Repin’s art work and I gave for it 500 dollars. If I have more money, then I can bring the best art works of the world to Azerbaijan. I can give for them 50 000, even 100 000.

-We heard that Monica Bellucci wanted you to paint her portrait from nature…

-Actually, it has not been realized yet. Monica Bellucci offered this. After drawing the portrait I will show it to you.

-How do you assess the interest in art works in Azerbaijan? They say the interest in art works is not so high as in other countries.

-It is not so. There is much interest in art works in Azerbaijan. Though art works can not be evaluated in Azerbaijan, there is great respect for them. I have witnessed this respect. This is not so in Europe. Our nation is indeed very talented. We resemble rich persons, we have a lot of talented persons, but we do not their value. The main thing is to regulate this work. Auctions, access to the international arena etc. Azerbaijani art needs the care shown to mugham.

-You are one of few artists who have personal museum. What do you plan to create in future?

-I want to establish Talented Orphan Society. I want to bring together all talented young people. I will realize this idea, as my works are sold.

-Do you have a work that you will never sell even for millions of dollars?

-Yes, I have. Though I was offered a lot of money for them, I did not sell them. If one day I phone and say I want to sell those works, all of them will be sold. As regards the clients I choose them carefully. When I draw I think who will buy it, where it will be hung, how the weather condition will be. When a person begins to speak I know who he is.

-Are you satisfied with the activity of Azerbaijani Artists Union?

-No, I am not. What is the use of an Artists Union having 1500 members? An abstract artist and primitive artist can not be in one union. I do not understand it. There are no such unions in most countries. There is a union in each city, some artists gather and establish a union. One and the same person has been chairing this union for about 20 years. In Japan a person does not hold the same post for more than five years, after the tenure expires he is sent to other place. There can be no improvement if one and the same person has been chairing for 20 years. I would appoint a 30-year-old person as chairman of the Artists’ Union. One does not need to be a great artist in order to chair this union. An active artist is needed, he should travel all over the world and establish contacts.

-Who is guilty in the activity of the union?

-I think artists themselves are guilty. How many personal exhibitions can an artist organize? Is it so difficult to understand that they are not sold? Can an art work remain on the wall for a month waiting for the buyer? I want to say that the Artists Union can not function any more. It only gives certificates. Some funds are allocated for the Artists Union from the state budget every year. Will it solve the problems of 1500 artists? I would reduce these artists. If a person is inactive, there is no use for him to stay in this union. Being member of the Artists Union is not important for me. I am the member of UNESCO Association of Art. I am able to establish a union myself. My students are a union. Every artist should also create his school. I have never participated in the elections of the union. I do not care who is elected.

-Anyway, the leadership itself admits these members to the union.

-The union has a chairman, secretary. There are artists who become member of the union with the art works by another artist. Isn’t it abnormal? I know artists who can create, but they are waiting what the union can do for them. My parents sent me to the circles of arts and music. I used to earn money by playing the guitar in weddings. The artists are waiting for the end of month to get grant. I do not need it.

-Don’t you get membership grant?

-I do not need it. I have never received grant for my honorary title. When my children were little, I did not get allowance for them. The Artists Union can not keep up with the artists. The world has changed, but this union has not.

-Don’t you intend to put forward your candidacy for chairmanship of the Artists’ Union?

-I assure you that I would not face any obstacles, if I wanted to be chairman. I can be chairman anytime I want. Many artists wanted me to become chairman of the union. But I told them I could struggle for the election of anyone you want, but I would never be chairman myself. How can I be chairman of the union that I dislike? It is impossible. I will simply feel regret to spend my time to put signature and stamp for somebody.

-You have said you do not want the title of honored artist to be written in front of your name. Are you against honorary titles?

-Yes, I am. The title of honored artist has been given even to those who do not paint for years. It is ridiculous that the person, whose art works are in all state museums, in the houses of leaders, including Vladimir Putin, is honored artist in Azerbaijan. I never mention it in my exhibitions abroad, or on TV channels. I have rejected it. This title should be either conferred on all, or through competition. This is determined by the Artists Union. The main honorary title for me is to be the citizen of Azerbaijan. Even sometimes during the exhibitions abroad I make them pronounce Azerbaijan.

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