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TIMUR AKHMEDOV
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Timur Akhmedov is an artist from Uzbekistan. He was born 5 November 1968 in Tashkent. Graduated from Art College. Since 1990, he is a participant of more than 40 exhibitions in Uzbekistan, England, Scotland, Germany, Russia and a winner of Grand Prix Asia-Art. His works are characterised by high tension in the harmony of colour, clear and simple only at first sight, this art often contains element of implicit symbolism.

Akhmedov's art is an attempt to return to harmony, both inside oneself, and between oneself and the world, attempt to find a link with the world, and at the same time to fly away from it to the better world. His state of mind, generally characteristic for artists is similar to mediation in prayer.

The special world is enclosed in his works. His pictures are the result of a creative alloy of the European art school and Central Asian cultural traditions, where the clear combination of Asian turquoise, warm ochre and cold red creates the space of the special musicality.

Timur Akhmedov's works are in many international private and corporate collections. Collectors include musician Seal, Dr. M.W.J. Smurfit, HSH Prince Albert of Monaco and The Kildare Hotel & Country Club, Ireland. Timur is one of the most exciting and brilliant of the new wave of artists and his vibrant paintings depict the modern world in all it's extravagant glory.

Timur Akhmedov Ernst
1968 – Born in Tashkent

Education
1983-87 College of Art of Uzbekistan
1987-90
Academia of Art of Uzbekistan
1998-99
Studio Royal Academy London
Member of the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan
Exhibitions
2013 - Gallery Alif, Dubai
2012 - Theatre Ilhom, Uzbekistan
2011 - Gallery Alif, Dubai
2010 - Theatre Ilhom, Uzbekistan
2009 - Theatre Ilhom, Uzbekistan
2008 - "St. Moritz Art Fest", Swizerland
2008 - Gallery "The Biscuit Factory", New Castle, UK
2007 - London Art Fair, London, UK
2007 - London Art Fair, London, UK
2006 - Gallery "The Biscuit Factory", New Castle, UK
2005 - Contemporary Art Fair, Glasgow, UK
2005 - Cherry Crick Gallery, Oxted , Surrey, UK
2005 - Affordable Art Fair, London, UK
2005 - Artfair, Scotland
2004 - Chelsea Art Fair, London, UK
2004 - CAFE (1ST Contemporary Art Fair), Edinburgh, Scotland
2004 - Marbella Club, Spain
2004 - Maison Du Monde, London, UK
2004 - Gallery "The Biscuit Factory", New Castle, UK
2003 - Gallery "Hay Hill", London, UK
2002 - Gallery "Galina Maxwell", France
2001 - Gallery "Galina Maxwell", Richmond, UK
2000 - Gallery "Peace & Colour", London, UK
1999 - Gallery "Galina Maxwell", Richmond, UK
1998 - Gallery "Galina Maxwell", Richmond, UK
1997 - Asia-Art, Gran-Prix of Bienale, Uzbekistan
1996 - Gallery "Master", Moskow, Russia
1995 - Theatre Ilhom, Uzbekistan
1994 - "Gallery 28", Cork Street, London, UK
1992-94 - Theatre Ilhom, Uzbekistan

Timur Akhmedov’s Myth Zone

timsigns.jpg (10523 bytes)In the stream of contemporary national art exhibitions held in Tashkent in the recent decade, the exhibition with Timur Akhmedov’s participation left a remarkable trace in the souls of both the audience and professionals. First of all, because Akhmedov’s painting is very singular in itself, it has a specific artistic language and certain magnetism pulling you into "communication". Secondly, the exhibitions in question have been a kind of reflection of the creative creed of the artists and have become colourful and noticeable events.

Timur Akhmedov belongs to the generation of Uzbek artists who on the verge of 80s and 90s, from the very start of their creative activity have become active exhibition participants. This period is distinguished by the appearance of associations, communities, and groups of soul mates who have been taking their own "art niche". Creative dialogues of T.Akhmedov and his co-workers resulted in the exhibitions such as "Myth Zone" held in 1991 at Ilkhom theatre, "Standard Design" in 1994 at the House of Cinematographers, and "Kashmir" in 1998 at the Museum of Applied Art. These exhibitions did not dwell on any deep-thought theoretical concepts; they had rather been devised as events with a generalised idea, as "actions" with often uncontrollable outcome, as a theatre for oneself and for the others.

The creative manner of the young artist was already fully established in his early works, and whatever changes happened in Akhmedov’s creative work, his style retained the originality of his own visual language.

The artist is thinking in purely painting categories: colour and its development play the principal role in his pictures. He creates rich in hues colour combinations with often transparent borderlines so that only colouristic effects can be perceived. The relationship between colour reflexes and fractional texture creates the illusion of motion, because images and objects "placed" in this environment are overtly static. Usually there is one or two figures in a composition, "suspended" in the space the reality of which is unidentified – there is no concrete action, the action is only suggested by an expressive posture or gesture. The artist makes his heroes live in a set he has invented himself and brought in accord with the condition and nature of the character. His paintings show a particular combination of abstractions and objects, nervous pulse and tranquillity, romanticism and grotesque.

Timur Akhmedov’s creative work could be assimilated to philosophic and meditative trend of artistic thought, which has become specific to the art of Uzbekistan. Artists following this trend not only reflect upon the aspects of existence, but also express emotions and spiritual processes such as meditation, prayer, spiritual enlightenment, and so on; they turn to Oriental philosophies and religions. What is important for Akhmedov in his works is not the action, but the emotional inner state of the character in the first place. The artist employs the traditions of Oriental philosophies not only in the external drawing and plastic forms, but also in conveying the state of mind of a character profoundly absorbed in himself. In this regard, a specific genre of a picture-image can be distinguished. These are the works "Krishna Tendering the Sacraments", "Saint German, Who Gained Wisdom in Kashmir", "The Birds", "The Game".

T.Akhmedov has created a series of unusual portraits ("While They Are Bringing Sake" series, etc.), which speaks of a certain paradox of the genre. The artist denies his characters’ individual and personal qualities: he is keen to create a generalised image.

The artist’s view upon the objects of a still life is quite interesting. He employs primitivistic techniques and creates exaggeratedly plane images. The objects are deprived of tangibility, they are given features of something light-weight and even weightless, and the decorative gracefulness is emphasised.

Akhmedov’s paintings show tendency towards playing with the form and the models. With the feeling of both irony and sincere admiration he paints female heads, apparition-like figures, brightly coloured checkered horse called "St. German’s Horse Carrying the Instrument to the Shores of Holy India". In almost all of his works the use of geometric pattern of colour cubes which produces monothematic effect, has become an interesting device employed by the artist, having acquired the significance of a universal ornament.

Timur Akhmedov’s paintings are typified by exquisite form-shaping, subtle decorativeness of colouristic implementations, emotional sincerity, and irony and a faint smile. These features put together have contributed to the special style of his painting.

Akhmedov is credited for a number of international exhibitions: "The Uzbek Master of Image" in 1994 in London; in 1999, also in London, held in the Fillip Gallery; on the 2nd of March, 2000, in the Peace & Colour Gallery of London an exhibition was opened where his works were also presented. In addition, he is a regular participant of annual exhibitions of Uzbekistan artists at the Central House of Artists, representing the "Master" gallery.

Undoubtedly, the Grand Prix awarded to the artist at the international exhibition "Asian Art" held in Tashkent in 1997 was a success. Along with high painting mystery, the jury mentioned "…a rare lyricism and sincerity" of his works. There are a big number of creative plans, which lay down the path for his future work. Ten years can definitely be called a milestone in the life of Timur Akhmedov and the artist is free to ponder over the results of this period, however, it would have been more like Timur Akhmedov to remain true to oneself and treat the date ironically.

Elena Shipovskaya

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