Azernews.Az

A personal exhibition of art works by prominent Azerbaijani artist Mir Javad (Javad Mirjavadov) has opened in Baku.

The exhibition being held at the National Art Museum, which will last until the end of June, features 42 composite photograph works and about 50 paintings reflecting the life of the late artist.

Mirjavadov`s style is characterized by such art works as ``A woman with a pumpkin`` (1984), ``Shoeing a bull`` (1970-71), ``Noah`s ship`` (1986), and ``Maternity`` (1988).

The exhibition also includes photos reflecting scenes from Mirjavadov`s life, his diary comments, family pictures, ceramics, etc.

Mirjavadov, who laid the foundation of Azerbaijani avante-guard art and was one of the brightest innovators of the Absheron school of art, is considered one of the first Azerbaijani dissident artists.

During the Soviet period, Mirjavadov created without yielding to ``socialist realism``. As a result, the painter`s first exhibition took place as late as in 1987, when he was 64. The exhibition was held on the initiative of well-known Kyrgyz writer Chingiz Aitmatov.

Many contemporaries could not comprehend his experimental art. One critic even claimed after looking at his paintings, ``What a six or seven-year old draws is much better than Mirjavadov`s paintings.``

Mirjavadov was born in the Azerbaijani capital Baku on January 19, 1923. After struggling with a long-lasting illness, he died in 1992 on a train en route from Copenhagen to Moscow.

Mirjavadov`s paintings are part of numerous museums and private art collections around the world.