Rustam Gasimov
Any creation contains a piece of its creator
Photographic Art is an area that includes a lot of trends and tendencies. Each photographer is trying to make not just a picture, but to capture the incomparable beauty of nature and the stage of life, to convey strong emotions and feelings of people in everyday life.
A new attempt to show the inner world and the mood of the characters imprinted was made by a yet little-known photographer Ugur Gadimbeyli, whose solo exhibition opened at the gallery Baku Creative Centre lately.
We present you an interview with the young photographer, in which he talks about his artistic career as he imagines this for a photographer, and his ideals and plans for the future.
- Ugur, first tell us about the elaborate title of the exhibition «Erleichda». Why did you choose that word and what does it mean?
The name I chose for the show is not accidental. «Erleichda» is quite an old word, which means "simple or a different view of the world, to notice unsightly objects, to comprehend the basic essence of objects surrounding us." «Erleichda» was used by Tom Robinson in his work "Dance of the Spirits." I love this book, so I decided that this word is the most appropriate name for the spirit of my solo show.
- How many works have you presented to the audience and what is the main theme of the exhibition?
In total, the works will be no more than 40. I can not name a specific theme, because they all are different. Among them you can find portraits, both girls and guys, landscapes, abstractions, some of which are made in black and white, and the others are in color. In short, I never limit myself and always take pictures that give me a certain emotion. Framework that integrates all of my work is a human reaction to what is happening around and the people around him, to situations emerging every day, and to the relationship with other people in society. Subjects exhibited in the photographs are taken from the above book, which made a great impression on me - that was the inspiration for many works. The names of some of the photos even coincide with excerpts from this work.
- How long have you been fond of photography?
My interest in photography began very early, we can say, since childhood. As an amateur photographer, my career started in 2002, but I have done photography professionally for six years. At first it was just a hobby, then - a hobby that reached a qualitatively higher level. I cannot say that I inherited this hobby, as among my relatives no one dealt with the case professionally. So I can call myself a kind of pioneer of this art in our family. As this is my first solo exhibition, it is very important for me, because these are the first steps on the long journey to become a professional photographer. Not so long ago, in 2011, I took part in an online exhibition, where visitors could see my work on the Internet, as well as attended a seminar in Turkey. But I was not exhibited in groups or personally.
- Tell us about the features of his artistic career.
Let me start by saying that in my work I use a non-digital camera, and shoot on film. Of course, to take pictures with these cameras is difficult enough, but that is what helps to reveal and nurture the talent of the photographer. After all, today in our city, all and sundry "click", from "soap" to phones and from tablets to digital professional devices. We should really have something different from the fans, as not everyone can do high-quality images on film.
I prefer to do photo shoot in nature in different parts of the country. The exhibited works were filmed in Azerbaijan and only a couple of them were made in Turkey. I varied the themes, as I mentioned. But I always try to convey strong feelings that a person can experience and his inner world, to look into the most remote corners of his soul. This feature combines all of my works. So I want to become not just a photographer, but a photo artist, who looks at things from a different angle, penetrates into the very essence of objects and phenomena, guided by sensory perception, placing him a major role in the perception of the world, where the mind is sometimes powerless. At times, our lives are pretty dull and monotonous. But even from a flea you can choose something funny that can be described, give it a beautiful shape, add some color, and bring a seemingly ordinary scene to life. This just needs to energize. So I try to take subjects for my works mostly from life. After all, the reality is fraught with a lot of interesting, sensual and intimate, this just should be noted.
- Throughout the exhibition played a very interesting music . Why did you choose it for that?
The music in the style of rock and blues was chosen by me and the curator of the exhibition Farah Alekberli purposefully. During the exhibition plays the playlist of the rock band «The Doors», whose philosophy is similar to mine. After all, rock is a musical direction, which is characterized by increased expression of feelings, emotions, experiences, a kind of cry of the soul, where there is complete freedom and emancipation. Therein lies the similarity between my work and creative activities of the group. We want to break away from the existing stereotypes and show people something new and unheard before. The main thing in my work is a demonstration of the surge of emotion that does not allow the viewer to break away from what he saw from the beginning to the end.
- Many visitors are interested in the short video. How did such an unusual idea appear?
A two-minute video was filmed specifically to attract the attention of visitors of the exhibition, and to some extent, to surprise them. Initially I had an original plot, in which the bride in a wedding dress was to go to the cemetery late at night. The meaning of this idea was aimed at demonstrating fear, both at the girl and the audience, who later would watch this short film. Because the girl's visit in such an outfit to the cemetery late at night causes a lot of controversy, disputes and misunderstandings in our society, which immediately attracts attention. But workers of the cemetery did not allow us to carry out this survey, so I had to change the place of the action and, in part, the story. In the end, we shot the video in the Inner City .
- Do you have ideals, which you would like to be like?
I try not to choose idols and do not want to be like them, imitating them in all. Of course, there are well-known photographers, from whom I take over some elements and photography skills, but I always try to develop my own technique and style. The only way a person can become a creative person is not copying, but creating.
- Are you a member of the Union of photographers?
Not yet. I went through a probationary period, which lasted one year, so I think that I will soon be among them.
- Ugur , what do you do besides photography, and what are your future plans?
Currently I am working in an advertising company and devote my free time to photographic art. As for plans for the future, to be honest, I have not decided yet exactly, but I would really like to arrange my personal exhibition in Turkey. After all, this is a country, which I also love.
- I wish you good luck in the creative arts.
ANN.Az
