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Laman Ismayilova

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A book presentation and an exhibition of illustrative works by the talented Azerbaijani artist and writer Rustam Guliyev, who currently lives and works in the United States, has taken place at Safarli Gallery, AzerNEWS reports.

The event brought together art and literature enthusiasts, as well as admirers of his unique vision of contemporary reality.

Guests were introduced to the author's new book, "The Ark of Oominor: A Traveler's Handbook to Another Earth, a continuation of his creative journey that reveals a unique fantastical universe created by the artist. The exhibition, which included illustrations for the book, served as a visual journey into the realms of imagination, inner freedom, and the search for personal identity.

The book itself is an illustrated guide of over 40 pages to the fictional world created by the author in less than nine months. In this artistic universe, fantastical creatures and ecosystems serve as allegories for complex political, social, and environmental processes, reflecting the author's deep reflections on the modern world.

According to the project organizer, Sevinj Guliyeva, Rustam's work is distinguished by its coherence: he creates worlds in which even the most incredible creatures have convincing anatomy, carefully designed ecosystems, and their own cultural logic. These are not just illustrations—they are meticulously constructed artistic universes.

Rustam's creative path began in early childhood. Born in Baku, he first encountered the world of imagination at the age of two when his father gave him a book about dinosaurs. His love of reading was nurtured by his caring grandmother and loving mother, who read him fascinating stories about prehistoric animals before bedtime. His grandmother, Maisa Ragimova, who headed the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography at the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, actively encouraged her grandson's pursuit of knowledge, greatly shaping his artistic thinking. From that moment, interest in the prehistoric world, supported by family care and a love of reading, became an integral part of his inner world.

From an early age, Rustam demonstrated extraordinary abilities: he drew everywhere, created images from simple materials, molded, cut, and experimented. Later, he added words to his visual language, beginning to write stories in adolescence to bring his characters to life.

His talent gained international recognition early: at age seven, he won a contest organized by British Airways, and at 17, he exhibited his works at Paris's Viyacelli Gallery, where his first book was also presented. He received higher education at Bilkent University and continued his studies at the Fashion Institute of Technology, where his illustrations reached a broad audience.

Teacher Naila Guliyeva notes that from childhood, Rustam was distinguished by a rare combination of talent, curiosity, and a drive for scientific knowledge. Today, he continues his work abroad while maintaining a connection to his cultural roots.

Rustam emphasizes that it is extremely important for him to preserve a deeply personal reflection in his art. Despite the rapid development of technology and the spread of artificial intelligence, genuine art remains the result of inner work, experience, and thoughtful exploration.

"I am an illustrator, writer, and creator of imaginary worlds, currently living in New York. I grew up in a family of scientists, where the combination of science and folklore shaped my creative thinking. I have always been drawn to creating imaginary worlds and creatures, but I strive to base them on biology and anatomy so they feel truly alive. Whether a single illustration or an entire universe, my goal is to make the fantastic real and leave a lasting impression in people's minds. I spend hours and days creating something meaningful. And although progress is inevitable, it is crucial for an artist not to lose their voice, because it is through it that worlds are born which people believe in," the artist says.

Today, Rustam Guliyev continues to expand his universe, dreaming of one day working in cinema and creating screenplays for his own films.

Perhaps it is precisely artists like him, combining science and myth, the rational and the imaginary, who are shaping a new cultural reality, where fantasy is not an escape from the world but a way to understand it more deeply.

You can explore Rustam Guliyev's art on his Instagram page.

Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az,Trend.Az, Day.Az and Milli.Az.