This week’s Life Devoted to Art hero is Eldar Mikayilzada, carpet artist, a member of the Union of Artists of Azerbaijan, a member of the Union of Artists of Russia, a member of the Scientific Board and Fund Procurement Commission of the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, People’s Artist of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The artist was born in 1956 in Amirjan, Baku. After graduating from the Baku Art School named after A.Azimzade, he continued his education at Azerbaijan National Academy of Arts named after M. A. Aliyev and at the Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg from 1978 to 1983. The artist worked in the Department of Carpet Art at the ANAS Institute of Architecture and Art. Following, he operated at the Azerkhalcha Scientific Creativity Production Association as a senior artist.Eldar Mikayilzada is currently engaged in pedagogical activities and he is an associate professor at the Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts. His carpet Creation was awarded a Gold Medal at the international exhibition in Frankfurt. Eldar Mikailzade pays particular attention to the philosophical subjects within the Azerbaijani carpet art. Various galleries and private collections in Russia, Great Britain, France, Turkey, and Kuwait preserve his artworks. He is the author of the sketches of such carpets as New Khila, Shabi Hijran–1, Shabi Hijran–2, World of Fairy Tales, Poetry and Music Coryphaeus of Azerbaijan, Khatai, Khamsa, Islam, Tabriz, Horoscope, Saviour, Three Religions, Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim, Three Prophets, Sattar’s Dream, and Milky Way.

 

Leyli and Majnun carpet by Eldar Mikayilzada

Inspired by Fuzuli’s poem, the artist combined scenes from it in his Leyli and Majnun carpet. Here, one can observe Leyli and Majnun’s school years, scene of refusal to Majnun’s matchmakers, Leyli’s wedding, Majnun’s meeting with his father in desert. There is a symbolic image of lovers at the top in an arch: they are separated in earthly life but reunited in the afterlife. A heart-shaped image formed by the smoke of two extinguished candles represents the lovers. A Tuba tree of paradise with its crown down in the arch narrates about their fate. Above the candles, there are angels and lines from the poem in Nastaliq handwriting. A mountain, tree, birds, clouds, and the sky form a portrait of Fuzuli.

 

Carpet Leyli and Majnun. Author: Eldar Mikayilzada. Azerbaijan. 2014. Warp, weft – cotton; pile – wool. Inv. No 9539