Background
Mikayil Abdullayev was born on December 19, 1921 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Tovarischesky per., 30, Moscow, Russia, 109004
Mikayil Abdullayev entered the Moscow Art Institute named after V. I. Surikov. He was taught by such well-known artists as I.Y. Grabar, V.V. Favorskaya, S.V. Gerasimov. However, due to beginning of the Great Patriotic War, Mikayil Abdullayev interrupted his education and returned to Baku. In 1944 he returned to the institute in order to continue his education. He graduated from the Moscow Art Institute named after V. I. Surikov in 1949.
1957
Delhi, India
Mikayil Abdullayev in Delhi in 1957.
1957
Mikayil Abdullayev in Delhi in 1957.
1970
Mikayil Abdullayev in his studio in 1970.
1971
Abdullayev among the Students of Art School in 1971.
1974
Prime-Minister of lndia, Indira Gandhi and Abdullayev in 1974.
Tovarischesky per., 30, Moscow, Russia, 109004
Mikayil Abdullayev entered the Moscow Art Institute named after V. I. Surikov. He was taught by such well-known artists as I.Y. Grabar, V.V. Favorskaya, S.V. Gerasimov. However, due to beginning of the Great Patriotic War, Mikayil Abdullayev interrupted his education and returned to Baku. In 1944 he returned to the institute in order to continue his education. He graduated from the Moscow Art Institute named after V. I. Surikov in 1949.
Mikayil Abdullayev in India.
9/11 Niyazi, Baku, Azerbaijan
Abdullayev in Azerbaijan National Museum of Art.
Mikayil Abdullayev during "Nizami" Underground Station's Design Work.
Moscow, Russian Federation
Meeting at the Exhibition in Moscow. Artists: S. Gerasimov, M. Abdullayev, J. Heartfield.
9/11 Niyazi, Baku, Azerbaijan
Abdullayev in Azerbaijan National Museum of Art.
Abdullayev among the School Pupils at the Exhibition.
Mikayil Abdullayev was born on December 19, 1921 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Mikayil Abdullayev received his first painting education in the Azerbaijan College of Arts in 1935-1939. Here he was taught by A. Azimzade. He learned first secrets of painting from him. Yet in the years of studentship, the young artist, who had participated in solo exhibitions, in 1939 for the first time participated in the traditional "Spring" exhibition and exhibited boards gained a great sympathy.
After graduating from the College of Fine Arts he went to Moscow to continue his education and entered the Moscow Art Institute named after V. I. Surikov. He was taught by such well-known artists as I.Y. Grabar, V.V. Favorskaya, S.V. Gerasimov. However, due to beginning of the Great Patriotic War, Mikayil Abdullayev interrupted his education and returned to Baku. During the years of war, Mikayil just like many other young artists participated in the creation of propaganda posters. Also during the years of war he addressed the historical topics in his creativity.
In 1944 he returned to the institute in order to continue his education. He graduated from the Moscow Art Institute named after V. I. Surikov in 1949.
Upon completing his education, Mikayil Abdullayev returned to the motherland in 1949. Over the course of several years, the artist produced some of his richest studies, on which he based his best paintings of the period, combined in a series of works called "Mingechevir Suite". "The Lights of Mingechevir", a work completed in 1948, became an innovative portrayal of the Soviet industrial landscape, showcasing the artist’s skill in revealing the transformation of nature by man. The work was highly regarded, and was featured in the All-Union exhibitions, as well as in exhibitions in Paris.
The "Mingechevir Suite" series included such paintings as "Friends", "On the Banks of the Kura river", "Evening in the Trench", "The Born Sea" and "Builders of Happiness". When creating many of his boards, Abdullayev used experience gained during creativity visits, collected material and sketches. In some cases, he worked from the nature.
Abdullayev traveled widely across many countries of the world: India, Korea, Norway, Germany, Poland, Syria, Egypt, Algeria among others.
Abdullayev’s series of works on India are distinguished by innovative features in his art, freedom of creative thinking, high craftsmanship and clear handwriting. He first visited the country in 1957, after which he made a few more trips, and for the next thirty years,Abdullayev often returned to the Indian theme.
Besides, in the late 1950s, Mikayil Abdullayev finally departed from the style of Russian realism. His palette was incredibly sonorous, the colour was tense and the scenes became monumental generalisations. A series of images created by the artist reflected with his soft lyricism and subtle psychological insight.
In addition, Mikayil Abdullayev also made short visits to Afghanistan and Hungary. "O Id Afghani", "Morning", "Portrait of the Artist Es Denesh", "Laslo Layosh playing a Guitar" are the outcome of those visits.
The most fruitful period of Abdullayev's creativity fell on the 60s. The creating of such boards as "Old Shepherd", "Masalli Girls", "Girls from Lankaran", "Garabakh", "Absheron", "Paddy Growers" coincides with this period.
In addition, the works developed in portrait style hold a special place in the creativity of Mikayil Abdullayev. His "portraits gallery" is decorated with the portraits of such personalities as "Hajibeyli" (1944), "Amina Dilbazi" (1954), "The poet Rasul
Rza" (1960), "100-year-old network master A. Babayev" (1961), "M. F. Akhundov" (1961), "Molla Panah Vagif's Portrait" (1967), "Imadeddin Nasimi" (1972), "Ashuq Elesger Portrait", "Pianist Farhad Badalbeyli" (1975), "Ali lbn Sina" (1978). In each of these art works, boards artist's highly professional representation of the inner world of the people, penetration into the image can be observed.
In 1966-1967 Mikayil held successful solo exhibition in Leipzig and Berlin, and the exhibition created a great interest. It should be noted that Mikayil Abdullayev was the first national artist who held an exhibition abroad, outside Azerbaijan. His works were also successfully demonstrated in Paris, London, Tokyo, Berlin, Leipzig, Potsdam, Montreal, Ottawa, Oslo, Copenhagen, Rotterdam, Prague, Budapest, Sofia, Bucharest, Brussels, Stockholm, Beirut, Pxenyan, Xanoy, Jakarta and many other cities.
The series of works created by Mikayil Abdullayev in the 70s included "In the artist's studio", "Farhad 's training", "A. lbn Sina", as well as monumental mosaics decoration of the Baku underground station "Nizami" (1973-1979). In 1973, Abdullayev held a solo exhibition in Moscow.
Along with being a talented artist, Mikayil Abdullayev was a patient teacher and a wonderful writer. Abdullayev taught a number of students, including many well-known artists.
For many years he headed the Department of Painting of the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Art, and led creative workshops organised by the Academy of Arts in Baku, in his position as deputy of the Supreme Soviet.
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1970Mikayil Abdullayev was a craftsman inwardly free, nation spirited, global-minded, sensitive, very discern, patriotic, optimistic, forward-looking in the conditions of closed borders and limited independence. He was fond of the nature and beauty.
Besides, Abdullayev always loved to be among people. He could find a topic at every meeting and conversation.