The stillife with wine (2019) Painting by Rauf Janibekov

I was born in Baku, but my parents used to live in Icheri Sheher (OldCity), which in part may explain my profound love for it. As a boy, I used to spend hours walking around the city,mesmerized by the incredible architecture of the old buildings,almost “touching” time while totally submerged in theworld of Icheri Sheher. 

Art in some form or other has existed in my life for as long as I can remember. My favourite childhood pastimewas closely examining reproductions of the works of greatmasters. Mostly those were postcards that we had a lot of in our home. My parents noticed my interest and boughtme my very first art supplies: pencils, charcoal, inks andpaints. Later, trying his hand in every medium available,from carving on wood to clay modelling, I ultimately found myself drawn to paints most of all. The smell of oil paint was the most desirable for me.I embracedart as part of my life and in our old home, going throughthe extra back door to the backyard, I found long curvy corridors which I turned into my canvases, covering almost all of them with my landscapes.

My pursuit of artistic aspirations continued until my admission to Azerbaijan State Medical Institute. As I admitted myself after 30 years of medical practice,this sphere, and surgical practice in particular, does not tolerate any other interests. Once in a while, I’d haveepisodic creative bursts, but they would happen rarelyand be impulsive in character.

• Nationality: AZERBAIJAN
• Date of birth : 1956
• Artistic domains:
• Groups: Contemporary Azerbaijani Artists