IN COMMEMORATION OF BYASHIM NURALI: AN ARTIST, MUSICIANS, INNOVATOR

The State Museum of the State Cultural Center is currently running in one of its halls an exhibition devoted to People’s Artist of Turkmenistan Byashim Nurali (1900-1965) – an extraordinary and versatile man, painter, musician and poet, who left his indelible mark on national culture.

Born at the dawn of the 20th century, he was a true reflection of his times, the epoch of innovation and of abandoning traditional practices, he sincerely believed in his pioneering mission and enthusiastically embarked on a new venture, be it painting, designing and making musical instruments, direction and his acting career, or writing and teaching.

There are still disputes over the significance of his oeuvre. And this stands as remarkable and powerful testimony to Byashim Nurali’s individual talent. Throughout his entire life he followed his chosen path against all odds: contrary to the principles of classicism, contrary to the views of his professional peers and mentors, and despite misunderstanding. But it was the path of overcoming obstacles and achieving goals in the name of art.

Nurali constantly strove to evolve new styles and forms of artistic expression, avoided comparisons, experimented, boldly endured his failures, and discovered his new abilities, wholeheartedly believing that people are able to learn anything what they take interest in and set their heart on.

The exhibition provides a revealing insight into Byashim Nurali’s oeuvre and highlights his role in national painting, music and the art of making picture carpets.

The artist and his wife, who was a carpet weaver, are known to have made several themed carpets, having given a considerable impetus to the popularization of this type of carpets.

The largest section of the exhibition offers visitors the opportunity to see the folk musical instruments made by Byashim Nurali. In an effort to improve the sound quality, to produce a wider variety of sound colors and to boost a level of performance, he made about 40 types of the gijak (a stringed bowed instrument) and the dutar (a long-necked two-stringed lute). The State Museum of Turkmenistan houses all the instruments.

Byashim Nurali lost his life suddenly and tragically in a car crash... This charismatic painter, actor, musician, teacher and poet, who may have had a foreboding of the tragedy, made haste to live and created his works devotedly and enthusiastically, having left a lasting mark and... a broad smile captured on the faces of his touching and sincere characters looking directly at us from his paintings.