Arif Aziz (or: Ариф Азиз; born 3 January 1943 in Baku; with full name: Aziz Arif Mokhubali / Азиз Ариф Мохубали) is an artist from Azerbaijan, living and teaching in its capital, Baku. He is one of Azerbaijan's internationally known contemporary artists and serves as his country's Ambassador for Peace, People's Artist of Azerbaijan Republic and Professor at Azerbaijani State University of Art and Culture.
Life
Arif Aziz was born in Baku in 1943, where he lives and works. He studied at first, between 1957 and 1962, at the
Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Art. He then studied
graphic design
Graphic design is a profession, academic discipline and applied art that involves creating visual communications intended to transmit specific messages to social groups, with specific objectives. Graphic design is an interdisciplinary branch of ...
in Moscow for five years. Since the early 1970s, he teaches
fine arts
In European academic traditions, fine art (or, fine arts) is made primarily for aesthetics or creativity, creative expression, distinguishing it from popular art, decorative art or applied art, which also either serve some practical function ...
at the country's art schools. In 2005, he took the chair of painting at
Beykent University
Istanbul Beykent University () is a foundation university in Istanbul, Turkey, teaching in English, Russian combined and Turkish with 30.000 students.
Beykent University has agreements with European universities under the SOCRATES programme, Soc ...
in Istanbul, Turkey, which he held until 2007. After that, he became Dean of the
Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Art.
Arif Aziz is married to Farida Azizova. They have three daughters. Aysel Aziz, Ayan Aziz Mammadova and Aylal Heydarova.
Works
When Aziz initially began painting he had to follow the teachings of
socialist realism, which required that he paint glorified depictions of communist values.
Despite this restriction he found a way to go around the restrictions of
Soviet times
The history of the Soviet Union (USSR) (1922–91) began with the ideals of the Russian Bolshevik Revolution and ended in dissolution amidst economic collapse and political disintegration. Established in 1922 following the Russian Civil War, ...
and painted attractions, cities, and landscapes of his homeland in a
figurative art style.
In his art Aziz also combines the human face with
traditional ornaments from his homeland, as well as influences gathered during travels to Africa, Moscow, Paris, Turkey and India.
Aziz is credited as helping to shape a school of
abstractionism
Abstractionism is the theory that the mind obtains some or all of its concepts by abstracting them from concepts it already has, or from experience.Geach, Peter (1957) Mental Acts - Their Contents and Their Objects. Routledge Kegan Paul. One may, ...
that has impacted many young Azerbaijanian artists.
Collections and public exhibitions
Public collections
Works by Arif Aziz can be found in the following
collections
Collection or Collections may refer to:
Computing
* Collection (abstract data type), the abstract concept of collections in computer science
* Collection (linking), the act of linkage editing in computing
* Garbage collection (computing), autom ...
:
* ''
Azerbaijan Carpet Museum
Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum (, formerly called the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum) is a museum located in Baku that displays Azerbaijani carpets and rugs with historical and modern weaving techniques and materials. It has the largest collection o ...
'' in Baku
* ''
Baku Museum of Modern Art
Baku Museum of Modern Art () is a museum of modern art located in Baku, Azerbaijan.
History
The museum was built at the initiative of the First Lady of Azerbaijan, Mehriban Aliyeva and opened on 20 March 2009. It was funded by the Heydar Aliy ...
''
* ''
Moscow Museum of Modern Art
The Moscow Museum of Modern Art () is a museum of modern and contemporary art located in Moscow, Russia. It was opened to public in December 1999. The project of the museum was initiated and executed by Zurab Tsereteli, president of the Russia ...
''
* ''Senegal State Art Museum'' in Dakar
Exhibitions (selected)
The following are selected exhibits where Aziz' work has been displayed as either a solo work or as part of a main group exhibition.
* solo show: ''Dance of Spirit'',
Galerie Michael Schultz, Berlin 2015
* solo show: RTR Gallery, Paris 2013
* group show: Central House of Artists, Moscow 2011
Bibliography
* Arif Aziz: ''Dance of Spirit'', (exhibition catalogue, edd. by Kunsthalle Messmer,
Galerie Michael Schultz,
Kunsthalle Dresden), Berlin 2015
* Arsalan Mohammed und Hans Bussert, ''From Baku to Berlin'', in: SLEEK – THE VISUAL CONTEMPORARY, Spring 2015, Berlin 2015, pp. 84–91
References
External links
*
Arif Aziz at the ''World Academy of the Arts'', Baku
Gallery representationat Michael Schultz Gallery, Berlin, Seoul, Beijing
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aziz, Arif
Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts alumni
1943 births
Contemporary painters
Living people
Artists from Baku
Azerbaijani expatriates in Turkey
Academic staff of Beykent University
Recipients of the Azerbaijan SSR Lenin Komsomol Prize