Academy news

Anniversary exhibition of famous ceramist Dursunsolmaz Muhammedova

People's artist of Turkmenistan Dursunsolmaz Muhammedova is an outstanding master of Turkmen ceramics. On November 22, 2022 year, a jubilee exhibition dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the master was opened at the Exhibition Hall of the State Academy of Arts of Turkmenistan.  This exhibition presents ceramics and paintings created during the period of the artist's work.

     He received his first fine art skills at the G. Ussanepesova Children's Art School and graduated with honors. From 1968 to 1972 years, studied at the Turkmen State Art School named after Shota Rustaveli (now the Turkmen State Special Art School at the State Academy of Arts of Turkmenistan), and the mentoring of Oveznyyaz Saparov helped to reveal his many-sided talent and receive a comprehensive education. After finishing school, with great inspiration, she began working as an artist in the Union of Artists of Turkmenistan and then worked as an assistant to the cartoon director at the «Turkmenfilm» film studio.

    Dursunsolmaz Muhammedova is an exceptionally educated and purposeful person. Therefore, he had a desire to improve his education and in 1975year, he entered the Moscow Higher Art-Industrial Special School (formerly Stroganov). Studying at this prestigious university under the guidance of the master of miniature painting Yevgeniya Lukinova influenced her subsequent work. In 1980, he defended his thesis with honors – the «Gurban Bayram» tea set, which consisted of 36 items and was made of porcelain, pigments and salts.

    After graduating from the institute, he began working as thechief artist of the Ashgabat society of folk skilled crasfsmen «Cheper» for the manufacture of art products and souvenirs, and from 1983 to 1989 years she worked as a decorator at the Art Fund of Turkmenistan. In the 1990s years, D. Muhammedova began her creative activity as a member of the Union of Artists of Turkmenistan.

    Since 1998 year, Dursunsolmaz Muhammedova has been teaching at the State Academy of Arts of Turkmenistan. The first eight years of drawing and painting studies in the graphics department yielded excellent results. Because he could spend hours explaining to his students the smallest details of their study drawings, sketches or studies. All this contributed to the formation of such artists as Alymjan Ishankuliyev, Parahat Gapanchayev, Maysa Hojayeva and Pena Nuryagdyyev. Each of them found his creative way in Turkmen art. Since 2006, he has been a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Applied Ceramics, passing on his experience and knowledge of ceramic projects and materials to young artists. At each lesson, the teacher of his craft works in front of the students and creates his new creations. Hezretguly Annageldiyev, Oguldondi Bayramgeldiyeva, Almagul Garliyeva stand out among his students, they actively participate in creative exhibitions and have already become teachers themselves, thereby continuing the path of their mentor.

    D. Muhammedova knows how to create a harmonious combination of the traditions of Central Asian ceramics, European modernity and the artistic language of the Far East, but at the same time, she
tries to show the features of the national concept. The artist works with porcelain, faience, fireclay and terracotta.

   For 50 years, he has participated in exhibitions, international symposiums and competitions held in Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Iran, India, Russia, Latvia, France and Austria. In 1983 and 1984 years, he was the winner of the international competition of artistic ceramics held in Faenza, Italy, where his ceramic compositions «Tenderness» and «Brides» took first place.

    Ahalteke horses occupy a special place in the artist's work. The composition «Dessan» (1991) is made in a high cylindrical shape, in which mysterious images of girls and galloping Ahalteke horses appear in the shape of
an onion. In 2017year, each of the skillfully made Dursunsolmaz Ahalteke horses is distinguished by its color and ornament, depicting the national pattern of Turkmen carving, widely used on women's headdresses - «chyrpy». In subsequent years, the artist continued to create similar sculptures, carvings, equestrian scenes, landscapes, oriental miniatures or drawings. His works were repeatedly demonstrated at competitions dedicated to the national holiday of the Turkmen horse.

    Inspired by the great Turkmen poet and thinker Magtymguly, in 2015year the ceramist created a ceramic composition for the Magtymguly Museum in Gerkez. The image of Magtymguly and Mengli is captured in a vase authentically painted by the artist. The creative world of the artist is rich in poetic combinations and philosophical generalizations, originating in the works of the classical heritage of Turkmen literature and folklore.

    The attractiveness and originality of Turkmen nature are reflected in its numerous vases, sets, decorative temples, sandalwood and ceramic figurines. In particular, the shapes and various patterns of chrysanthemums stand out, which symbolize spring, beauty and happiness.

    D. Muhammedova is the author of not only ceramics, but also paintings painted with bright and saturated colors of acrylic paints. Paintings such as «Roses» (2012), «Portrait of a daughter Maral» (2015), «Lilies» (2017), «Tulips» (2017), «Gerberas» (2017). The abstract compositions «Sea» (2012) and «Amber Dream» (2012) connect the beauty of the Caspian Sea with their color tints and stains and depict the soft play of precious amber.

    D. Muhammedova's ceramics adorn not only museums and private collections, her monumental compositions adorn the interiors of the State Circus of Turkmenistan, a specialized boarding school at the Turkmen National Conservatory named after Maya Kulyyeva and the Turkmen State Institute of Culture.

    The boundless love for the Motherland and national culture will inspire the People's Artist of Turkmenistan Dursunsolmaz Muhammedova to create new wonderful works of art in the future, which will allow her to enter the unique world of beautiful images and lines and the artist's unique imagination.