Exhibitions

On the 6^th of April, the opening ceremony of the exhibition named “Azerbaijan Cartoon Yesterday and Today” was held in memory of the 101^st anniversary of “Molla Nasraddin” magazine in the Central Exhibition Hall named after Sattar Bahlulzadeh. Excellent works of many classic and modern artists were displayed in this exhibition which was organized by joint efforts of Azerbaijan Republic Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Azerbaijan Artists’ Union and Azerbaijan Cartoonists’ Union. The Chairman of Azerbaijan Artists’ Union Farhad Khalilov in his opening speech stated that a number of achievements got in the field of Azerbaijan cartoon recently made a basis for independent monographic application of this genre of drawing. F.Khalilov thanked Bayram Hajizadeh, the President of Azerbaijan Cartoonists’ Union, for his good turn in organizing of this exhibition and publishing of books on the development history of cartoon art and wished him success in his creative work. The Rector of Azerbaijan State Academy of Arts, Academician Omar Eldarov also talked about the significance of this exhibition and told that cartoon actually is not a cause to laugh, but a cause to think. The next speaker Bayram Hajizadeh, the President of Azerbaijan Cartoonists’ Union, talked about the importance of organization of such exhibitions in the development of cartoon art. Bayram Hajizadeh expressed his gratitude to the Head of the Country Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Azerbaijan Artists’ Union for their care and support to culture and art. The participator of the exhibition, professor and the Head of the Department in the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Leyla Akhundzadeh wished success to our cartoonists and told that the Ministry would support them in their future creative work. Professor Leyla Akhundzadeh introduced newly published book of Bayram Hajizadeh “Azerbaijan Cartoon Yesterday and Today” and valued the book as a significant one in cartoon art. She talked about the importance of the book that covered Azerbaijan cartoon history during last 100 years and threw light upon the life and work of the artists working in this field. At the end of her speech she thanked the author.Then honorary diplomas were presented to Yavar Asadov, Bulud Gasimov, Bayram Gasimkhanli, Elman Mirzoyev, Vafa Allahyarova, Seyran Jafarli for their achievements in the cartoon art of Azerbaijan and for their highly representation our country in abroad. At the same time President FECO of Egypt Mohamed Effat Ismail was awarded to Special Honorary Diploma for his good turn in strengthening the friendship and co-operation between Azerbaijani and Egyptian cartoonists and in propaganda of Azerbaijan cartoon and its history in Egypt and other countries. All of these prove that Azerbaijan people not only love and respect their art and artists, but also can appreciate their work. It is clear that under such conditions art and artists can live, create and develop.

Newspaper " Iki sahil" 07 april 2007