Азербайджанская Государственная Академия Художеств - Baku, Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts
By the decree of President Heydar Aliyev of July 13, 2000 the Azerbaijan State Art Academy was founded. By the same decree Omar Eldarov, whose personality and creative activity was highly valued by Honoured Lider Heydar Aliyev, was appointed the rector of this prestigious establishment.
The rector of the Azerbaijan State Academy of Arts, Honoured Art Worker, People`s Artist, full member of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, full member of Russian Academy of Arts Omar Eldarov was born on December 21, 1927 in Derbent (Dagestan) . From 1942 to 1945 O. Eldarov studied at the Azerbaijan State Art School after Azim Azimzadeh. In 1951 he graduated from the Instute of Painting, Sculpture, and Arcitecture after L.Y.Repin, where he got training from  

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such distinguished masters as A.T Matveyev, M.A Kerzin, V.B. Pinchuk. Since he was 19, he has been an active participant of various exhibitions and symposiums. He has created a series of masterpieces of Azerbaijan sculpture. The most well- known works of the master are^ the monuments to Fizuli (1962, in co- authorship with Tokay Mammadov), to Natavan (1960), to Houssein Javid (1993), portraits of the conductor Niyazi (1084), Mahatma Ghandi (1987), Avicenna (1980), Rabindranath Tagore (1987), mortuary monuments to Shikhali Ghurbanov (1992), Zarifa Aliyeva, Niyazi, Fikret Amirov, Heydar Aliyev, Rashid Behbudov, Muslim Magomayev, Tofik Ghuliyev, Ziya Bunyadov, Sattar Bahlulzadeh, Suleyman Rahimov.
Omar Eldarov`s sculptures adorn the squares not only in Baku but also in a lot of other countries. This is the proof of the borders of Azerbaijan. The monument to Uzeyir Hadjibeyov in Vienna, in the Danube- Park, the monument “The Split Country” in South Korea, erected in the open air, the monument in Sapun- Ghora in Ukraine, dedicated to the 77th Azerbaijan division speak of this fame louder than any words. Omar Eldarov`s monuments to Ayni and Avicenna were put up in Dushanbe. The author has been awarded the National Prize of the USSR For the monument to Ayni. His two monuments are in Turkey: to Heydar Aliyev in Kars and to Ihsan Doğramaçı in Bilkend.
Omar Eldarov`s works are notable for particular skill and the perception of the world. One of the major peculiarities of the great master is the ability to spiritualize his sculptures. In spite of his being very busy, Eldarov takes an active part in the social and political life of the republic. From 1969 to 1973 he was elected the deputy to the City Council. From 1995 to 2000 he was the member of the Azerbaijan Parliament – Milli Medjilis.
Over 40 years Omar Eldarov has been involved in training skilled experts in the sphere of visual arts. In 1970 he was appointed the chief of Baku Studio of sculpture of the Art Academy of the USSR, at different periods worked at the State Art University. For more than 10 years, holding the post of the Academy, sharing his knowledge and experience with his students.
As e rector Omar Eldarov does his best to give the students opportunity both to master the professional skills and habits, and get perfect knowledge of humanities (classical education). He believes a talented artist must be highly- educated and well- read.
For his great services to the cause of development of Cultyre and order: the medal of the Art Academy of the USSR (1962), the State Prize od Azerbaijan (1980). The Russian Art Academy awarded Omar Eldarov the medals “Dostoynomu” (“To the Worthy”, 2002), and “For the Merits to theAcademy ” (2007). He was also awarded the order “Note of Honour” (Знак Почета, 1980), the order of “The Red Banner of Labour” (1980). During the years of independence O. Eldarov was one of the first to bw honoured with such high prizes as the order of “Istiglal” (“Independence”, 1997), and “Shohrat” (“Glory”, 2002). In December 2012, President Ilham Aliyev decorated him with the order “Sharaf” (“Honour”) for his contribution to the development of Azerbaijan culture.
THE RENEWAL OF TEACHING ART
During the first half of the 20th century Fine Arts in Azerbaijan were mainly represented by the graduates of Repin State Academic Instute os Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture in St. Petersburg and Surikov State Academic Art Instute in Moscow. There was a great need of highly educayed artists in the country.
In August 1962 according to the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Azerbaijan Republic on “Improvement of the work of the Azerbaijan State Drama Instute after Mirzagha Aliyev”, a new art chair was opened under the Theatre Faculty, and already from 1963/64 academic year they started training specialists in the fields of “Decorative – Applied Arts”.
In 1982 on the basis of the newly- founded Art department the first entrance examinations were held. For many years masters of painting and sculpture who had devoted themselves to Art and had been rep[resenting our country abroad on a high level, had been looking forward to the opening of a University in Azerbaijan which would train young highly educated artists. Their dream was realized by our National Leader Heydar Aliyev who valued Art and Artists, and showed great concern for them. This event came to be a new page in cultural life of the country. By the Special Decree of the President Heydar Aliyev (June, 2000) the Azerbaijan State Art Academy was established on the basis of the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Art. It laid the foundation for the modern development of our traditionally rich national Art. Founded by the initiative of the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev, this unique temple of Art was headed by the People`s Artist, academician of the Russian Academy of Arts and Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, well- known sculptor Omar Eldarov. At present at the Academy with great creative and intellectual potential, there are 12 People`s Artists, 3 Honoured Architects, 2 Honoured Culture Workers, …academicians, 22 Candidates of Sciences, 5 Doctors of Sciences and 55 associate professors. The training process at the Academy is carried out by three faculties- Faculties of Fine Arts, Architecture and Design and Art Criticism and Departements of Drawing, Graphic Art, Pictorial Arts, Sculpture, Design, Costume Designing, Decorative- Applied Arts, Architecture, Art History, Humanities and Social Sciences.
Museum- Exhibition Complex under the Azerbaijan State Art Academy meets all modern requirements and occupies a peculiar place in the training process. At the same time the Complex carries out wide activity as a cultural centre. Along with exhibitions of the teachers and students of the Academy, numerous exhibitions of Azerbaijan and foreign artists and some interesting contests are held here. Today preparatory courses “Talent” also function in the Complex. Summer schools for local and foreign citizens have been organized in different fields of Fine Arts: painting, sculpture, graphic art, decorative- applied arts and design.
THE RENEWAL OF TEACHING ART
During the first half of the 20th century Fine Arts in Azerbaijan were mainly represented by the graduates of Repin State Academic Instute os Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture in St. Petersburg and Surikov State Academic Art Instute in Moscow. There was a great need of highly educayed artists in the country.
In August 1962 according to the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Azerbaijan Republic on “Improvement of the work of the Azerbaijan State Drama Instute after Mirzagha Aliyev”, a new art chair was opened under the Theatre Faculty, and already from 1963/64 academic year they started training specialists in the fields of “Decorative – Applied Arts”.
In 1982 on the basis of the newly- founded Art department the first entrance examinations were held. For many years masters of painting and sculpture who had devoted themselves to Art and had been rep[resenting our country abroad on a high level, had been looking forward to the opening of a University in Azerbaijan which would train young highly educated artists. Their dream was realized by our National Leader Heydar Aliyev who valued Art and Artists, and showed great concern for them. This event came to be a new page in cultural life of the country. By the Special Decree of the President Heydar Aliyev (June, 2000) the Azerbaijan State Art Academy was established on the basis of the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Art. It laid the foundation for the modern development of our traditionally rich national Art. Founded by the initiative of the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev, this unique temple of Art was headed by the People`s Artist, academician of the Russian Academy of Arts and Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, well- known sculptor Omar Eldarov. At present at the Academy with great creative and intellectual potential, there are 12 People`s Artists, 3 Honoured Architects, 2 Honoured Culture Workers, …academicians, 22 Candidates of Sciences, 5 Doctors of Sciences and 55 associate professors. The training process at the Academy is carried out by three faculties- Faculties of Fine Arts, Architecture and Design and Art Criticism and Departements of Drawing, Graphic Art, Pictorial Arts, Sculpture, Design, Costume Designing, Decorative- Applied Arts, Architecture, Art History, Humanities and Social Sciences.
Museum- Exhibition Complex under the Azerbaijan State Art Academy meets all modern requirements and occupies a peculiar place in the training process. At the same time the Complex carries out wide activity as a cultural centre. Along with exhibitions of the teachers and students of the Academy, numerous exhibitions of Azerbaijan and foreign artists and some interesting contests are held here. Today preparatory courses “Talent” also function in the Complex. Summer schools for local and foreign citizens have been organized in different fields of Fine Arts: painting, sculpture, graphic art, decorative- applied arts and design.