Oktay
Yusufovich Shikhaliyev

Member of the Union of artists of the USSR. Undoubtedly, people know the name of the one who created the largest mosaic in the former USSR to 700 sq m on the inner arches of the Sports complex named after Lenin (now Heydar Aliyev).
The late 1950s, years marked by a fundamental renewal of various types and genres in the Azerbaijan Soviet art. This update occurred due to the appearance in the team masters of art of Azerbaijan a number of new talented young specialists in the decorative arts. The vast majority of these young artists studied and graduated from the higher art educational institutions of Moscow, Leningrad, Tbilisi, Lviv and other cities of the country. They, these Pets are the outstanding figures of Soviet art has made fresh major impetus to developing the art of Soviet Azerbaijan.
One of these new specialists—artists in those years was the Yusuf oktay oglu Shikhaliyev. He was born in 1931 in Baku in 1952 he graduated from the Baku art school named after Azim Azimzade,and in 1958— the Supreme art-industrial school named after V. I. Mukhina in Leningrad. Upon returning after studying in Baku O. Shikhaliyev has immersed himself entirely to creative work, devoting himself to the monumental-decorative art and for more than a quarter of a century as an independent artist became one of the leading monumental artists of Azerbaijan. Actively participated in various Republican and all-Union exhibitions with painting and is decorative-applied works. His monumental works adorn many cities of Azerbaijan (Ganja,Mingachevir, Shamkir, Lankaran, Baku, etc.).In Soviet times, was adorned with mosaics of the Baku plant of air-conditioners, façade of the Baku Shoe factory, the Tourist hotel and the metro station "Ajami Memar", "26 Baku Commissars" (now "Sahil") and "the XI Red army" (now January 20).Paintings by this artist are in the Museum of arts of Azerbaijan, the Novosibirsk art Museum and museums of Oriental art (Moscow, St.-Petersburg). The original "Blackie",written in 1970,is located in the Algiers Museum. Works O. Shikhaliyev has a special place and in private collections as Aerbaijan and foreign countries,such as France,Germany,where particularly of note is the painting from the private collection of one of the former US presidents bill Clinton,which at the time, Heydar Aliyev had personally chosen during one of the visits of the US President to our country.
In 60-e years O Shikhalieva in collaboration with other artists and architects of Azerbaijan decorated dozens of public values, including cultural centers, schools, metro station, the circus, restaurants, cafes and other facilities. In all these designs the artist sought to create primarily a single, harmonious whole aesthetic idea of the objects. Making the interiors of public buildings are large and important topics, the artist solves various technical means. In addition to the fresco painting he executes his works, also in mosaic, sgraffito, applying a variety of new plastic materials.
O. Shikhaliyev is definitely an artist of monumental-decorative profile. But he achieves this art is not only specific means. The artist with the goal of reaching the top of monumental-decorative art, try themselves in different kinds and genres of fine art. He has painted oil portraits and landscapes, creates decorative posters, painting large vases and plates, making a small case inserts, works in the field of ceramics, and even coinage. But most of all O. Shikhaliyev prefers painting. His painting is purely decorative. He likes to write highly local flowers. Often builds a combination of these colors in contrasts. Color for the artist is the main exponent of the image. You can easily verify this by looking at his portraits: "My Chernushka", "Mansurov Tar", "Nigar", "Girl", "Chemist", or commonly written landscapes "Qobustan", "Storm Chickens", "Consequence of war" and many other works.
However, these individual scenic and decorative work are prerequisites for its large monumental and decorative works. At the same time, these unique and diverse themes of the artist's work, as independent works of art successfully demonstrated at various Republican, all-Union and even several foreign exhibitions.
Thus, setting the stage for large monumental works, O. Shikhaliyev only then a lot of work while the artist manages to perform in collaboration with other artists. So, in collaboration with the artist by A. Agamalov O. Shikhaliyev to one of the first monumental works appears to be as an artist, able to raise large and complex topic. The theme of "Peace, Labor, Freedom, Equality, Fraternity and Happiness", as the first test of strength, were successfully revealed in the monumental work in the boarding school of Kirovabad(now Ganja) in 1961. On the wide front wall of the school authors on large planes promoted important social ideas, aimed at the mass perception.
Themes of friendship and sports was devoted to another monumental work O. Shikhaliyev, created for the Palace of culture. S. Ordzhonikidze in Baku (1962).
A certain creative success, monumen-talist O. Shikhaliyev should be considered the decoration of the Baku Department store "Children's world" (1963). Three large interior walls, a huge store filled with different images of children. All of these narrative images are disclosed here under the title "Let there always be sunshine". Creating separate compositions, the authors reveal the content of the "language of children". Taking the basis of a warm and intimate visual style of the children, the artists create in the "Children's world" kind of atmosphere.
O. Shikhaliyev in collaboration with other artists almost annually performed design works, creating complex and simple compositions in a variety of interiors and exteriors of public buildings. These are lyrical paintings in a Baku restaurant "Spring" (1964), mosaic compositions in the cafe "Mother and child" (1965), thematic Siena in the Baku circus (1966), the metro station "26 Baku Commissars" (1967) and many others. In all of these monumental-decorative works of the artist observed a deep knowledge of the foundations of monumental-decorative art, mastering the laws of composition, sense of color, shape and, most importantly the perfection of techniques.
The most intensive creative work O. Shikhaliyev was conducted in the second half of the 1960s. In connection with the 50th anniversary of the October revolution, the 100th anniversary of Lenin's birth and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Soviet power in Azerbaijan, the Republic launched extensive work on new launching of various objects that require decoration. In the technique of mosaic, majolica, painting and sgraffito O. Shikhaliyev, in collaboration with the artist, Radjabov has created a number of large monumental works, evidence of his further creative growth. March 31, 1970 on behalf of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the artist was awarded the jubilee medal for valiant labor in commemoration of 100-ia of the birth of V. I. Lenin
On the facade of the new building of school No. 18 in Baku flaunts mosaics "To the stars", dedicated to the exploration of space (1968). A boy and a girl, holding in his outstretched hands the spacecraft, as if spread-eagled in flight reaching up to the sun, to the discovery of new celestial bodies in the vast airspace. Conciseness and simplicity of composition, color the simple solution to the plot reveal to the audience the significance of the whole topic. A major success of the artist is a huge mural that fitted in the interior of the locomotive depot station BILAJARI Azerbaijan Railways (1969). Complex multi-figure composition of the panels tells of the freedom and joy of labor of the Soviet people. Under the shadow of the great Lenin banner happy Azerbaijan people, proud of their work achievements, heroic pathos demonstrates its economic and political conquest. This is the main ideological content of this huge monumental works of art.Creating artistic images through the monumental art, the authors skillfully connect its composition with the internal architecture of the room. The clarity and expressiveness of the plot, shaped perfect — the artistic quality of this work.
A few lyrical plan you'll be one of the next monumental works of O. Shihaleva at the Baku sea passenger terminal (1970). Topic "Baku" and "Absheron", starting from the ancient Gobustan, through the medieval architectural monuments to the modern Baku, successfully cover the facade, foyer and restaurant of the station. The artist, widely using different artistic techniques, achieves an expressive design. Here are well in tune with the coining of the General architecture of the restaurant. Large foyer enliven huge Checa-painted watch. Mosaic landscapes of Absheron fill the wall of the small foyer, and a cascade of water poured colored tiles. All. these works are closely linked and, in General, to organize a large ensemble with the architecture of the building. Thus, in 60-e years are years of development of creativity O. Shikhaliyev and as a muralist. In this period, the artist is constantly in search of. He is looking for, studying, experimenting,
thinks, synthesizes, imagines, but not always achieves the desired. In such cases for the artist.starts from the beginning. From 1961 to 1965, the artist taught at the art school, later received an invitation to the University of culture and arts
O. Shikhaliyev is very hard work. He is in the full sense of the word — worker. All time is in motion. Have time on the opening day of the Republican and all-Union exhibitions, meeting numerous art tips, travels through the Republic, and, of course, involved in the visits to foreign countries.
All these factors help the artist to find its place in art, to enrich it and make a great visual tool in the education of the masses. This ultimate goal of O. Shikhaliyev, to which it comes due to its dynamic and artistic thoughtfulness.
However, the challenges of modernity represent architects and artists of the Republic of higher requirements for the concept design quality of large public architectural facilities. This requirement primarily concerns the selection of the ideological-thematic content of the created design. In the modern understanding of the synthesis of monumental-decorative art and architecture encompasses the creation of a specific environment, where flow all the essential life processes of the Soviet people. It is well known that the concept of "artistic medium" represents not only material and spatial condition of public and private life of Soviet man, but at the same time, it is a valuable ideological influence on people with its particular functional design and aesthetic aspects, for-Marousi it helps in high measure to the creation and completion of the Communist of public relations.
And in this regard the architecture as the Holy suudame factor, to solve actual problems, starting with the principles of urban planning through the urban ensembles and to individual public buildings.
On the other hand, the artists of monumental and decorative art needs to use a large variety of means of expression, to use coloured majolica tiles, stained glass, wall paintings, shebeke, metal decorative items, various sculptural reliefs, decorative dimensional ceramic objects, round sculptures and many other decorative and fine art, which is so rich Azerbaijan national art, and multinational Soviet art.
In the universal aspect of the art of socialist realism is characterized by an appeal to the public-due to the traits of man's spiritual world. In this noble cause important role to play and the fusion of architecture and art. In this case, the synthesis is understood as new content and design unity of both entities, unity, generating new quality impact, which is unattainable for the individual components, and each of them has its own specific quality effects.
'Thus, the synthesis of art in Grado-construction of urban ensemble or in a separate architectural objects, organizes the living space, sets and reveals the rhythm of its construction, emphasizes internal communication, organized in the direction of motion carries essential information, at last, addressing directly to the person, creates a corresponding school of scales, forms his spiritual world.
Along with other cities in the Republic Baku became one of the most beautiful cities of our country. The change in appearance had a role to play and the monumental-decorative art. Artists and architects of Azerbaijan created dozens of interesting monumental works, testifying to the further development of this art.
If O. Shikhaliyev in the monumental work of 60 years-came from the practice of the Soviet and world of monumental art, sometimes quoted by such artists as Deineka, C. Queiroz, and other eminent masters, in the paintings of the 70s years he began to introduce in their design purely national elements — Azerbaijan motives.
This creative restructuring forced the artist to reconsider their attitude to traditional folk art and to pass through its creative prism of the all progressive art form that is so rich past of the monumental art of Azerbaijan.
In the works of the 70-ies of O. Shikhaliyev has been to turn to the great traditions of the stained glass shebeke, fresco jippii, coinage on copper, to the medieval miniature, ornamentation carpet art, architectural details, and many other areas of medieval culture, including the pure color the colors of Azerbaijani folk art.
In each new product O. Shikhaliyev more visible and wider use of the progressive side of national art of ancient Azerbaijan.
Finally, in the decoration of the national House of hunters, created in the new building in 1971 there O. Shikhalieva together with Mr. Radjabov decorated Assembly hall dedicated to the wildlife of Azerbaijan. Chased frieze the hundred-meter width of about one meter on two sides surrounds the walls of the hall. Traditional embossments in the composite plan displayed a hunting scene from ancient times to the present day. In their composition introduced some representatives of the animal world of Azerbaijan, indicating the diversity of fauna of the Republic.
Of greatest interest Vitra-icebike introduced into the front door of the building. Traditional stained glass, covering almost all the colors of the solar spectrum, give the building a mood of solemnity.
One of the large-scale monumental design is the work of the artist O. Shikhaliyev in the architectural complex of hotel "Tourist" (1973), and now "Karabakh".
Here O. Shikhaliyev particularly distinguished in the design of the pool in front of the hotel. Entering the design elements of national life and national art, he enriched and strengthened the expressiveness of the object. Multi-color volumes with the mosaic elements of the traditional folk ornament repeated shapes earth oven-tandoor and serve as the Foundation of fountains. A wide ramp crosses the pool and goes to the hotel lobby.
Decorative solution introduced to the design artists, not only embellishes the access road to the hotel but involves a sphere of his emotional state, forms the environment of a large urban area surrounding the hotel.
Another interesting work of artists G. O. Shikhaliyev and Radjabov is the design of the façade of the Baku plant of household air conditioners (1975). The products of this industrial complex aggregates of microclimate meets the highest requirements of scientific and technological progress, technological engineering. Baku air conditioners create a microclimate in the tens of thousands of office space and apartments both in our country and abroad.
And that is why the theme of the working class and of scientific and technological progress was the basis for the external design of the plant of household air conditioners, and through the enormous size of the mosaic, reflected.Here the authors seek to uncover in unobtrusive artistic and meaningful way to the specific purpose and content of the enterprise.
Looking muralist O. Shikhaliyev and his fellow artist G. Radjabov was successful in the design of the entrance of the building of the United publishing house "Communist" (1977). A book containing the relief and the mosaic is symbolic exit portal of the building.
High relief, first introduced by the author as a kind of background for mosaic, as an experiment, in this case is justified. On the surface the author places the human image and the various symbolic forms, telling the story of writing, from hieroglyphics to modern printed editions. The embossed background in the gray - gold color coloring mosaic techniques successfully provides images of ancient manuscripts, parchment, printed materials, letters, zodiac signs, drawing letters, and other items as information that helps to determine the theme of the design.
Both color and plastic of all work, successful authors, help them reveal all the contents of the building of the publishing house.
"Technical progress and modernity" is the theme of the Computing center of "Azneft" created by the artist in 1978, a Wide frieze fringed top part five storey building at full length. Here I put a separate emblem on processing technology of oil scenes of the production process, individual figures and of the human head, made in relief technique and multi-colored mosaics.. green, blue and red background is easy to read all the images and emblems.
Despite the highly stylized technical elements, they can easily convey the thematic content of the object and organically fit into the architecture of the building.
On the Absheron Peninsula, Caspian sea coast, flaunts a magnificent building of the pioneer camp "Young geologist". Rectangular plane, designed by the architect in the middle and at the full height of the building, was the place to create, reliefo-mosaic artist Shikhalieva O. (1979.).
On a warm gray background convey the image of a pioneer in the uniform apparel. It is made in the mosaic technique. Above her head the sun is shining, and under the feet are pieces of different crystals. Sides pioneer located spring flowers. All these images are in low relief, covered with mosaic.
Striking color combination of all panels. Here is the local color, ranging from red through orange and cinnabar, from the crown of yellow and green to blue and blue. And they all passed so skillfully that create the impression of spring, freshness, youth, beauty and cheerful mood, which live and rest Soviet pioneers and schoolchildren.
From job to job O. Shikhaliyev is gaining strength, Matures, progressing in the professional art muralist. Drawing on traditions of folk art, the artist in each new facility used and any national elements. The artist's use of folk motifs is not an end in itself. It belongs to folk art carefully, use it as needed wherever it is required.
One of the objects of registration and G. O. Shikhaliyev Radjabov in the late 70-ies is to enter Azerbaijan from the Armenian borders in the Kazakh district (1979). Here, the artist in a magnificent composition created scenes depicting the traditional friendship of the two brotherly peoples, made in the mosaic technique.
By 1980 — the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Soviet power in Azerbaijan, much work was carried out on completion of construction of large objects of social and national importance. Artists, architects and sculptors had a lot of work on the artistic design of the launch sites. Among them were factories, cultural centers and hotels, schools, libraries and other architectural structures.
One of these objects was a Shoe factory (1980). On the facade of the factory is a huge mosaic panel tells of the production process. In the foreground of the mural shows a woman-Azerbaijani, symbolizing the joyful pathos of free labor, and next to it the figure of the foremost factories.
The fragmentation of the decision of the panel not only does not prevent clear perception of subjects, on the contrary, thanks to the organic connection of the individual stories in color, creates a solid composite impression. O. Shikhalieva co-authored with G. Rajabov and Y. Huseynov managed to create an organic relationship of monumental and decorative art with the architecture of the factory building.
Being one of the pioneers of monumental and decorative art of Azerbaijan after-war period, O. Shikhaliyev has a specific contribution to its formation and development. It is no coincidence, therefore, assigned him as an experienced muralist, the decoration of the most important and significant objects.
Among these designs of recent years can be called a power plant in the city of Mingachevir (1981) and the athletics at the national stadium. V. I. Lenin (1983).
On the facade of the building of the Mingachevir power plant, on a huge four-meter plane O Shi-haliyev together with Mr. Radjabov has created a mosaic with image of Lenin to his full height. The main background image is of the industrial landscape of the city and its surroundings passed to the view, i.e. from the bird's flight. The composition of the panels so skillfully slimline carpet ornaments that gave the impression that all images placed on a carpeted surface.
For O. Shikhaliyev each new job is a new creative problem. In each work, the artist strives to make the composition something new, unique.
In dvuhsotmetrovy painting on South wall of athletics national stadium, designed by O. Shikhalieva and F. Aliev, decorative treatment narrative images seamlessly interwoven with motifs from the plant world. The full dynamics of the composition of a painting, thanks to the harmony of colors, creates solemnity.
Narrative images, covering the scenes of a national sport amid mid-century architectural monuments, full of joyful movements, give the painting a subtle festive elegance. The overall harmony of decorative forms complements the harmony of contrasting shades of colors achieved by the authors due to the inextricable connection colour of all parts of the composition (1982).
In painting, the artist usually comes from the rich traditions of Azerbaijani medieval miniature painting that is a definite achievement for the whole monumental-decorative art of the Republic in recent years. And correctly States in the book "Soviet Azerbaijan", Azerbaijani art and architecture, originating in the richest Treasury of folk art, national architecture, colorful wall paintings, ornaments made of wood and stone, carpets, Handicrafts, has now reached a high artistic borders professional maturity, a powerful spiritual impact.
O. Shikhaliyev is an artist of great range, is in the Prime of his powers. Having a strong creative imagination, which determines its artistic thinking, the artist strives to reach the heights of monumental-decorative art.
Internal energy, natural talent. the deep sense of decoration, the need for search of new artistic forms O. Shikhaliyev lead to the creation of original monumental works of great public significance. Many monumental works are notable for their scenic quality, especially of the last years are remarkable progressive traditions of national decorative art of Azerbaijan.
His individual works as independent works of art, such as "My bouquet","drill", "Chapel", "Sails", "Tanks", "the builders of the five-year plan" and others were repeatedly shown on national, Union and international exhibitions and received high marks from critics.
In addition to studying and creative development of the traditions of the Soviet and national art. O. Shikhaliyev devotes much time to the introduction and study of visual culture and art of foreign countries. His trip to the USA, Canada, Mexico,Italy, Sweden, Romania, Czechoslovakia,and other countries has become a special milestone in the artist's work. While in Mexico ,the artist certainly enriched her creative range.Znakomstvo with the life of modern Mexico,visiting the historical landmarks,the study of classical and modern and monumental works of the masters of Mexico,no doubt,has enriched the creative range oktay shikhalieva , and held an exhibition called "Mexico" a striking application of this.
Muralist O. Shikhaliyev is the Prime creative force and energy. It's full of artistic ideas and does everything to enrich the modern monumental art of the native Azerbaijan.
Successful can be considered work at such facilities as the restaurant of the hotel "Karabakh" in the trust of the Ministry of industrial construction, etc., Together with artists Yuri Huseynov and G. O. Rajabov, Sahalie participated in the design of one of the subway stations— "11th Red Army".
Along with the creative work of O. Shikhaliyev actively and social work. As a member of the Union of artists of the USSR, it is part of several art councils of the ministries and departments of the Republic, a long time elected member of the Board and of the Presidium of the Union of artists, head of Bureau of section of monumental art.
An associate Professor at the art faculty of the Azerbaijan state Institute of arts. M. A. Aliyev, the artist conducts extensive educational work on the preparation of young professionals-artists. For creative achievements in the development of fine arts of the Soviet Azerbaijan in 1982 O. Shikhaliyev by the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Republic awarded the honorary title "Honored artist of Azerbaijan SSR".
With the founding of the Academy of arts of Azerbaijan were transferred there,where 25 December 1985 he was awarded the academic title of "associate Professor in the Department of drawing",then 08 January 1993 he was appointed the academic title of "Professor of drawing" and until recently was a Professor at this Academy. In 1992 the oktay Shikhaliev was awarded the title "people's Artist of Azerbaijan"
Shikhaliyev Ogtay--muralist.But he constantly worked on the creation of easel compositions.Many works created earlier and shown in various respublikanskikh,all-Union and foreign exhibitions,always indicative of permanent creative search of the author.Such work not only distract the artist from large monumental works,on the contrary,they helped him in the creation of these full images in monumental art.
The artist was the author of numerous works of monumental art,brought into the modern architecture of Azerbaijan the samples of the present synthesis art.
For many years master of monumental art adequately performed their training duty,strongly passing on her skills to the younger generation.
In 2004 by order of the President Azerbaidjanskoi Ilham Aliyev O. Shihaliev was allotted the honorary title of winner of the presidential pension.
The process of creative realization of our multifaceted life lasted an artist. He was all work and his Mature talent no doubt contributed to creation of new contemporary works and glorifying the greatness of our era.
After a long journey ,full of an incredible amount of as the creative and pedagogical works,31 January 2012, people's Artist of Azerbaijan oktay, Yusuf oglu Shikhaliyev died as a result of the sudden discovery of a serious illness.
In February 2013, during the exhibition held in the exhibition hall. V. Samedova of the Union of Artists of Azerbaijan day of national tragedy our country from the family O. Shikhaliyev Ministry of Culture and tourism of Azerbaijan Republic was presented to two of the "Khojaly" and "20 January"where the Minister Abulfaz Garayev expressed his sincere thanks and has paid special attention to the popular creativity of the artist.
In may of the same year, the family of the artist was marked by two events,by giving to the Fund named after Heydar Aliyev's portrait in connection with the 90th anniversary of national leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev and a portrait of the famous writer Nariman Narimanov not so long ago opened a Museum.N. Narimanov,where the Minister of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan A. Garayev and the Director of the Museum K. Huseynov expressed his gratitude and recognition,both sides have been very honoured to work on such a scale
After his death the memory of O. Shikhalieva immortalized,his works are in demand and are shown in many exhibitions and still enjoy and will enjoy great interest,because art must live!