Azerbaijani artist awarded French Legion d'Honneur

/By AzerNews/

By Amina Nazarli

World famous master of brush, Azerbaijani people’s artist Tahir Salahov was awarded with the order of the "Legion d'Honneur” upon the decree of France's president.

The awarding ceremony was held in the house-museum of Tahir Salahov in Icherishehr (Old City) in Baku on March 18, AzerTac state news agency reported.

French and Azerbaijan officials, as well as art and culture figures attended the event.

Addressing the ceremony, Pascal Meunier, French ambassador to Azerbaijan noted Salahov is an artist who created a bridge between East and West. With his unique style and colors he won the hearts of the French people, he added.

The ambassador praised the artist, saying that in the exhibitions held in Paris Salahov showed Westerners the high cultural values of the Azerbaijani people.

His heart was full of positive emotions towards the artist. The ambassador emphasized that well-known French designer, Pierre Cardin had himself nothing but high praised for the artist in his article.

The famous designer said the artist’s creativity is distinguished with genuine realism. “He is a master who left an imprint on history,” Cardin wrote.

Pascal also talked about the artist’s affection for his motherland. “We were going to present the award in France. But, the artist insisted that it be awarded in Baku. It proves the affection he has for his beloved Azerbaijan,” he noted.

The ambassador awarded Salahov with the highest military and civilian award that France can ever bestow on someone.

The talented artist, for his turn thanked the ambassador and the head of France for this honor.

“I participated in an exhibition in France for the first time in 1963. Although I was a very young artist, my work was well-received. I painted the portrait of a world-renowned national composer, Gara Garayev, which aroused the public's interest,” the artist said.

He also stressed that the reason why he had chosen to gather guests in Icherisheher is that many famous personalities such as Lermontov, Dumas, Rostropovich, Karden and others hailed from the area.

”That’s why it is very important for me to be awarded this honor in this place,” said the unique artist.

He also thanked all visitors, noting that he considers this award as an approving nod given not only to his work, but also to all of Azerbaijan’s fine arts.

Tahir Salahov, one of the most prominent representatives of Azerbaijan art scene, is the vice-president and honorary president of the International Association of Plastic Arts of UNESCO, the vice-president of the Russian Academy of Arts, People's Artist of the USSR, Azerbaijan and Russia, and the winner of a number of high awards, including the State Prize of the USSR and Azerbaijan.

The artist became one of the leading representatives of the so-called "severe style", a trend in Soviet art of the 1960s that aimed to set off a hard, publicist, and realist view against the ceremonial "polished reality" of the Joseph Stalin era.

Salahov's early works showed the life and work of Baku oil workers and the portraits of famous composers, using contrasting red, black, light and dark-grey shades.

Later, his paintings became more peaceful and lyrically contemplative; lines became smoother and more melodious, and the palette more sophisticated.

Currently, Salahov lives in Moscow where he hold classes. He also has a studio at the Moscow Art Institute.