By Laman Ismayilova
Miniature is applied to any work of art produced in a size much
smaller than the normal size for that type of work.
The unique art form has not lost its importance and maintained
its literary and aesthetic merit through the centuries.
Miniatures, inspired by the poem 'Varga and Gulsha' are
considered some of the ancient patterns of this art in Azerbaijan
as well as the Near and Far East.
The poem written by the 17th-century Azerbaijani poet Mesihi is
based on the ancient legend, known in the Middle East as 'Varga and
Gulsha'.
In 2021, a book album with illustrations from 'Varga and Gulsha'
was presented at the National Art Museum.
The publication is a view of the 21st-century artist to the
13th-century miniatures.
The unique book album has recently been named best at the 19th
Book Art Competition, Azernews reports, citing the Culture
Ministry.
The competition has been held since 2004 with the support of the
Interstate Humanitarian Cooperation Fund of CIS member states.
This year, the competition, which included 67 publications from
7 countries, was held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
By the jury's decision, the book album 'Varga and Gulsha'
published under the leadership of the National Art Museum director,
professor Chingiz Farzaliyev, was selected as the best in the 'Art
of Illustration' category.
The book album 'Varga and Gulsha', prepared by the Azerbaijan
National Art Museum, was presented at the beginning of October 2021
within the Baku International Book Fair framework.
The publication is a fundamental book in which 71 medieval
miniatures painted by Abdulmomin Muhammad al-Khoyi based on the
ancient oriental legend about the endless love of the young Varga
and the beautiful Gulsha are fully collected and published as a
complex for the first time.
'Varga and Gulsha' illustrations are among the oldest examples
of the eastern miniatures that have survived to this day.
The 'Varga and Gulsha' book album, which gives a new
'polygraphic reading' to the thirteenth-century manuscript,
presents a complete and comprehensive picture of the painting
tradition of that period, its characteristics, specifics, and
artistic advantages.
Thanks to digital capabilities, for the first time the
masterpieces of Azerbaijani miniatures have been presented as
authentically as possible to the original manuscripts, creating a
complete picture of the high aesthetic qualities of these
images.
The book album 'Varga and Gulsha' was donated to the funds of
the world's leading museums and libraries. This list includes the
US Library of Congress.
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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews' staff journalist, follow her on
Twitter: @Lamiva993
- Tags:
- Azerbaijan
- book
- Culture
- Art
- art news
- cultural news
- art of miniature
- Chingiz Farzaliyev
- Varga and Gulsha
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