log in
Enter site
Login to use Arthive functionality to the maximum
Biography and information
ISMAYLOV Rafis Rza oglu
National artist of Azerbaijan
Laureate of the State Prize of the Azerbaijan SSR
Member of the Union of Cinematographers of Azerbaijan
Member of the Union of Artists of Azerbaijan
Sultan Mohammed Prize Laureate
Fellow of the President of Azerbaijan
Rafis Ismayilov is one of the leading and world famous film and theater artists. People’s artist of Azerbaijan, today he is rightfully considered one of the patriarchs of the national film school and stage design.
He was born on March 30, 1939 in the family of a native of Baku, Rz Mammadovich Ismayilov, who at that time headed the RANO of the Azizbekov district, and later became the Minister of Forestry of the Azerbaijan SSR.
Since 1958 he studied at the Azerbaijan State Art College named after Azima Azim Zadeh. After graduating from college in 1962, he joined the Azerbaijanfilm film studio, where as an assistant to the production designer he worked on the films “The Unconquered Battalion” (dir. Huseyn Seyid-zade), “Through the Mountain Forest” (film alman, dir. Zeynab Kyazimova ), “Life is a good thing, brother” (dir. Ramiz Askerov, Anton Vayazes). In 1966 he entered the All-Union State Institute of Cinematography in Moscow. The fourth-year student was invited by the production designer to a full-length film concert “Muslim Magomaev Sings” (directed by Tofig Ismayilov). This picture, which appeared on the screen in 1971, became the debut in the artist’s creative biography.
In 1972, Rafis Ismayilov graduated from the Art Faculty of VGIK (workshop of M.A. Bogdanov, B.M. Nemensky, G.A. Myasnikov).
After graduation, he began working as an art director of the Azerbaijanfilm film studio. His track record has many famous and significant paintings created over many years of work in the film industry. These are more than 40 films with film directors Rasim Ojagov, Eldar Kuliev, Azhdar Ibragimov, Oktay Mirkasimov, Anar, Rasim Ismayilov, Enver Abluch and others.
Rafis Ismayilov has done a lot in animated cinema. He is the creator of several dozen cartoons, as well as the director and co-author of the works “Oda”, “Podkop”, “Torpag”, etc.
R. Ismayilov - set designer of numerous productions at the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater named after M.F. Akhundova: “Natavan”, “Troubadour”, “Rast”, “Leili and Majnun”, “Love and Death”, “Polovtsian Dances”, etc. The artist of dozens of performances staged on the stage of the Azerbaijan State Academic National Drama Theater (Fedra, Egyptian Nights, Yusif and Zuleika, Anthony and Cleopatra, Knocked Doors, Lonely Willow Tree, etc. .).
The scenography of Rafis Ismayilov was highly appreciated by critics, and many performances to this day remain in the active repertoire of theaters.
Many of the films and performances, designed by Rafis Ismayilov, were included in the golden fund of Azerbaijani art. In 2015, he won the Qızıl Pəri National Azerbaijan Film Award in the nomination for “Best Cinema Artist”.
The unique uniqueness of Rafis Ismayilov is felt in every work, whether it be films or theatrical productions. The artist with his sharp eyes and encyclopedic knowledge penetrates into the historical era, recreated in the work, and convincingly organizes the environment, focusing on textures, color, lighting and atmospheric conditions in the frame and on the stage.
Rafis Ismayilov is a well-known architect and interior designer. He is a regular participant in exhibitions of paintings, graphics and miniatures.
The individuality of the artist’s style was manifested with particular force in the revival of the traditions of oriental miniature. He was able to give a new sound to classical Azerbaijani art, using its canons in a series of paintings, as well as cinematographic and scenographic works, and to discover the beauty of the miniature to contemporaries.
Known as an illustrator of works of Azerbaijani and foreign literature.
FILMOGRAPHY
Movies
1971 Muslim Magomaev sings (dir. Tofig Ismayilov)
1974 Avenger from Ganjibasar / Gatyr Mammad (dir. Huseyn Seyid-zade, Rasim Ojagov)
1974 1001st tour (dir. Oktay Mirkasimov)
1976 Mesozoic history (dir. Rashid Atamalibekov)
1977-78 Bay of Joy (2 episodes, dir. Eldar Kuliev)
1977 Anniversary of Dante (dir. Anar, Gulbaniz Azim-zade)
1978 Pomegranate grove (at the box office called "Man in the House", dir. Tofig Tagi-zade)
1978 Defense of the diploma (dir. Jahangir Mehdiyev)
1978 Maestro Niyazi (artistic director, director Rauf Nagiyev)
1979 The Freak (2 episodes, dir. Azhdar Ibragimov)
1980 The structure of the moment (2 episodes, dir. Rasim Ismayilov)
1981 Long Life Chords (directed by Anar)
1982 Business trip (2 episodes, dir. Rasim Ismayilov)
1983 Knights of the Black Lake (dir. Enver Abluch, artistic director Yu. Chulyukin)
1984 August is coming (dir. Gulbaniz Azim-zade)
1985 Rain on holiday (film, director. Jamil Kuliev)
1986 At the age of seventeen boys (dir. Rufat Shabanov)
1986 Signal from the Sea (dir. Jeykhun Mirzoev)
1987 Another Life (dir. Rasim Ojagov)
1989 Temple of the Air (dir. Rasim Ojagov)
1990 Lucky (directed by Omir Nagiyev)
1990 “Japanese” and Japanese (dir. Sergei Ratnikov)
1991 Revenge (dir. Yusif Alizadeh)
1991 Seven days after the murder (dir. Rasim Ojagov)
1993 Call (Scream / Fariad) (dir. Jeykhun Mirzoev)
1993 Tahmina (directed by Rasim Ojagov)
1997 The Last Battle (dir. Khayyam Aslan)
1998 Room at the hotel (dir. Rasim Ojagov)
1999 Random meeting (short film, directed by Shamil Aliyev)
2001 Sorcerer (dir. Oktay Mirkasimov)
2002 Drongo (TV series, directed by Zinovy Roizman)
2004 Where rivers merge (dir. Nijat Fayzullaev)
2005 We Will Return | Biz qayıdacağıq (dir. Elkhan Kasimov)
2007 Doomed (Paradise of the Doomed) | Mahkumlar (dir. Mehriban Alekperzade)
2007 Three Girls (directed by Murad Ibragimbekov)
2009 Javad Khan | Javad khan (dir. Rovshan Almuradov)
2009 Istanbul Flight (directed by Eldar Kuliev)
2010 House (short film, dir. Asif Rustamov)
2011 Inverted World | Tərsinə çevrilən dünya (Azerbaijan / Iran; dir. Enver Abluch)
2013 Downstream | Axınla aşağı (dir. Asif Rustamov)
2014 Ambassador of the Dawn | Sübhün səfir (dir. Ramiz Hasanoglu)
Filmstrips of Azerbaijanfilm studio
1974 "Aknazar" (Azerbaijani folk tale)
1980 “Human Cruelty Turns to Stone” (2 episodes)
1981 Nushaba (from the Treasury of Secrets Nizami Ganjavi)
1989 "Beautiful Fatma" (Azerbaijani folk tale)
Cartoons
1965 Talking Lights (dir. Rafis Ismayilov)
1980 Good and evil (dir. Nazim Mammadov)
1987 Cockerel Pirverdi (dir. Ramiz Azizbeyli)
1988 Beauty Fatma (dir. Nazim Mammadov)
1990 Ode (based on Beethoven's Ode of Joy; scriptwriter Rafis Imaylov, dir. Rafis Ismayilov, Wahid Talibov)
1993 Podkop / Lagym (dir. Vahid Talibov)
Earth / Torpag (dir. Rafis Ismayilov; unfinished film)
WORK OF THE ARTIST IN THE EASTERN MINIATURE GENRE
Series of miniatures for “1001 Nights” (Arabic tales “Alibaba and the Forty Thieves”, “Three Apples”) - 12 sheets
Series “Fitna” (based on the poem “Seven Beauties” by Nizami Ganjavi) - 12 sheets
Series of sheets “White Thumbnails” - 12 sheets
Series "Azerbaijan national proverbs and sayings" Words of the Fathers "- (15 sheets)
A series of miniatures in the carpet style “Leili and Majnun” (2014) - 20 sheets
BOOK ILLUSTRATION
• “Afghan Tales” (published in Turkey in 1982)
• “Afghan Tales”: “Chegan and the Devil” and “Keep Safe” (Ganjlik Publishing House, 1989)
• “Mete Khan” (Ganjlik Publishing House, series “Great commanders and rulers of Azerbaijan”, 1993)
• "Shah Ismail" (Ganjlik Publishing House, series "The Great Leaders and Rulers of Azerbaijan", 1994) - in the style of an oriental miniature
• Charles Dickens “Oliver Twist” (Ganjlik Publishing House, World Literature for Children Series)
• Rafaello Giovanyoli "Spartak" (Ganjlik Publishing House, a series of "World History of Literature for Children")
• William Shakespeare “Romeo and Juliet” (Ganjlik Publishing House, World Literature for Children Series)
• Alexander Pushkin “Stone Guest” (Ganjlik Publishing House, series “World History of Literature for Children”)
• Friedrich Schiller "Robbers" (Ganjlik Publishing House, a series of "World History of Literature for Children")
• Walter Scott “Quentin Dorward” (Ganjlik Publishing House, World Literature for Children Series, 1988) - a series of works in the style of miniatures of Western Europe of the 13th-15th centuries, in particular, an illustrated manuscript of the Duke of Berry
GRAPHIC WORKS
Lithographs and monotypes:
• The cycle "Dreams"
The cycle of work with colored crayons:
• Series “Azerbaijan proverbs and sayings”
• Series in the genre of popular art “Azerbaijan folk songs”
A cycle of works in the genre of oriental miniature (mixed media - ink, lead pencil, crayons, watercolor, gouache, varnish, gesso):
• Collection of fairy tales and short stories “1001 Nights”:
o “Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves”
o “Sinbad the Sailor”
o “Aladdin and the magic lamp”
o “Three apples”
• Leili and Majnun
• Nizami Ganjavi "Iskander Namya"
• Three apples
• Nizami "Farhad and Shirin"
Set designer and costume designer
Azerbaijan State Academic National Drama Theater
• Nabi Khazri “Doors that knock at night”, directed by Marahim Farzalibekov
• Ilyas Efendiev “Lonely Willow Tree”, directed by Marahim Farzalibekov
• Jean Racine "Fedra", directed by Marahim Farzalibekov
• Eugene O'Neill “Love under the Elms”, directed by Bahram Usmanov
• Ismail Shikhli “Bury the dead in a cemetery” (director Rovshan Almuradov (2005)
• "Egyptian Nights":
o 1 act “Yusif and Zuleyka” according to Ordubad and Nazim Hikmet,
o 2 act “Anthony and Cleopatra” William Shakespeare
Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater named after M.F. Akhundova
2003 Opera "Natavan" by Vasif Adygezalov
2005 Ballet “Love and Death” Polada Bul-Bul oglu
2012 Opera “Leyli and Majnun” by Uzeyir Hajibeyov
2013 Opera Troubadour by Giuseppe Verdi
2014 Rast Ballet Niyazi
2017 One-act ballet Polovtsian Dances from the opera Prince Igor by Alexander Borodin
2018 Ballet “Javad Khan” by Sardar Farajev
Costume Designer
2003 Opera "Natavan" by Vasif Adygezalov
2005 Ballet “Love and Death” Polada Bul-Bul oglu
2012 Opera “Leyli and Majnun” by Uzeyir Hajibeyov
2013 Opera Troubadour by Giuseppe Verdi
2014 Rast Ballet Niyazi
2017 One-act ballet Polovtsian Dances from the opera Prince Igor by Alexander Borodin
2018 Ballet “Javad Khan” by Sardar Farajev
2019 Ballet "Nasimi" by Fikret Amirov
National artist of Azerbaijan
Laureate of the State Prize of the Azerbaijan SSR
Member of the Union of Cinematographers of Azerbaijan
Member of the Union of Artists of Azerbaijan
Sultan Mohammed Prize Laureate
Fellow of the President of Azerbaijan
Rafis Ismayilov is one of the leading and world famous film and theater artists. People’s artist of Azerbaijan, today he is rightfully considered one of the patriarchs of the national film school and stage design.
He was born on March 30, 1939 in the family of a native of Baku, Rz Mammadovich Ismayilov, who at that time headed the RANO of the Azizbekov district, and later became the Minister of Forestry of the Azerbaijan SSR.
Since 1958 he studied at the Azerbaijan State Art College named after Azima Azim Zadeh. After graduating from college in 1962, he joined the Azerbaijanfilm film studio, where as an assistant to the production designer he worked on the films “The Unconquered Battalion” (dir. Huseyn Seyid-zade), “Through the Mountain Forest” (film alman, dir. Zeynab Kyazimova ), “Life is a good thing, brother” (dir. Ramiz Askerov, Anton Vayazes). In 1966 he entered the All-Union State Institute of Cinematography in Moscow. The fourth-year student was invited by the production designer to a full-length film concert “Muslim Magomaev Sings” (directed by Tofig Ismayilov). This picture, which appeared on the screen in 1971, became the debut in the artist’s creative biography.
In 1972, Rafis Ismayilov graduated from the Art Faculty of VGIK (workshop of M.A. Bogdanov, B.M. Nemensky, G.A. Myasnikov).
After graduation, he began working as an art director of the Azerbaijanfilm film studio. His track record has many famous and significant paintings created over many years of work in the film industry. These are more than 40 films with film directors Rasim Ojagov, Eldar Kuliev, Azhdar Ibragimov, Oktay Mirkasimov, Anar, Rasim Ismayilov, Enver Abluch and others.
Rafis Ismayilov has done a lot in animated cinema. He is the creator of several dozen cartoons, as well as the director and co-author of the works “Oda”, “Podkop”, “Torpag”, etc.
R. Ismayilov - set designer of numerous productions at the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater named after M.F. Akhundova: “Natavan”, “Troubadour”, “Rast”, “Leili and Majnun”, “Love and Death”, “Polovtsian Dances”, etc. The artist of dozens of performances staged on the stage of the Azerbaijan State Academic National Drama Theater (Fedra, Egyptian Nights, Yusif and Zuleika, Anthony and Cleopatra, Knocked Doors, Lonely Willow Tree, etc. .).
The scenography of Rafis Ismayilov was highly appreciated by critics, and many performances to this day remain in the active repertoire of theaters.
Many of the films and performances, designed by Rafis Ismayilov, were included in the golden fund of Azerbaijani art. In 2015, he won the Qızıl Pəri National Azerbaijan Film Award in the nomination for “Best Cinema Artist”.
The unique uniqueness of Rafis Ismayilov is felt in every work, whether it be films or theatrical productions. The artist with his sharp eyes and encyclopedic knowledge penetrates into the historical era, recreated in the work, and convincingly organizes the environment, focusing on textures, color, lighting and atmospheric conditions in the frame and on the stage.
Rafis Ismayilov is a well-known architect and interior designer. He is a regular participant in exhibitions of paintings, graphics and miniatures.
The individuality of the artist’s style was manifested with particular force in the revival of the traditions of oriental miniature. He was able to give a new sound to classical Azerbaijani art, using its canons in a series of paintings, as well as cinematographic and scenographic works, and to discover the beauty of the miniature to contemporaries.
Known as an illustrator of works of Azerbaijani and foreign literature.
FILMOGRAPHY
Movies
1971 Muslim Magomaev sings (dir. Tofig Ismayilov)
1974 Avenger from Ganjibasar / Gatyr Mammad (dir. Huseyn Seyid-zade, Rasim Ojagov)
1974 1001st tour (dir. Oktay Mirkasimov)
1976 Mesozoic history (dir. Rashid Atamalibekov)
1977-78 Bay of Joy (2 episodes, dir. Eldar Kuliev)
1977 Anniversary of Dante (dir. Anar, Gulbaniz Azim-zade)
1978 Pomegranate grove (at the box office called "Man in the House", dir. Tofig Tagi-zade)
1978 Defense of the diploma (dir. Jahangir Mehdiyev)
1978 Maestro Niyazi (artistic director, director Rauf Nagiyev)
1979 The Freak (2 episodes, dir. Azhdar Ibragimov)
1980 The structure of the moment (2 episodes, dir. Rasim Ismayilov)
1981 Long Life Chords (directed by Anar)
1982 Business trip (2 episodes, dir. Rasim Ismayilov)
1983 Knights of the Black Lake (dir. Enver Abluch, artistic director Yu. Chulyukin)
1984 August is coming (dir. Gulbaniz Azim-zade)
1985 Rain on holiday (film, director. Jamil Kuliev)
1986 At the age of seventeen boys (dir. Rufat Shabanov)
1986 Signal from the Sea (dir. Jeykhun Mirzoev)
1987 Another Life (dir. Rasim Ojagov)
1989 Temple of the Air (dir. Rasim Ojagov)
1990 Lucky (directed by Omir Nagiyev)
1990 “Japanese” and Japanese (dir. Sergei Ratnikov)
1991 Revenge (dir. Yusif Alizadeh)
1991 Seven days after the murder (dir. Rasim Ojagov)
1993 Call (Scream / Fariad) (dir. Jeykhun Mirzoev)
1993 Tahmina (directed by Rasim Ojagov)
1997 The Last Battle (dir. Khayyam Aslan)
1998 Room at the hotel (dir. Rasim Ojagov)
1999 Random meeting (short film, directed by Shamil Aliyev)
2001 Sorcerer (dir. Oktay Mirkasimov)
2002 Drongo (TV series, directed by Zinovy Roizman)
2004 Where rivers merge (dir. Nijat Fayzullaev)
2005 We Will Return | Biz qayıdacağıq (dir. Elkhan Kasimov)
2007 Doomed (Paradise of the Doomed) | Mahkumlar (dir. Mehriban Alekperzade)
2007 Three Girls (directed by Murad Ibragimbekov)
2009 Javad Khan | Javad khan (dir. Rovshan Almuradov)
2009 Istanbul Flight (directed by Eldar Kuliev)
2010 House (short film, dir. Asif Rustamov)
2011 Inverted World | Tərsinə çevrilən dünya (Azerbaijan / Iran; dir. Enver Abluch)
2013 Downstream | Axınla aşağı (dir. Asif Rustamov)
2014 Ambassador of the Dawn | Sübhün səfir (dir. Ramiz Hasanoglu)
Filmstrips of Azerbaijanfilm studio
1974 "Aknazar" (Azerbaijani folk tale)
1980 “Human Cruelty Turns to Stone” (2 episodes)
1981 Nushaba (from the Treasury of Secrets Nizami Ganjavi)
1989 "Beautiful Fatma" (Azerbaijani folk tale)
Cartoons
1965 Talking Lights (dir. Rafis Ismayilov)
1980 Good and evil (dir. Nazim Mammadov)
1987 Cockerel Pirverdi (dir. Ramiz Azizbeyli)
1988 Beauty Fatma (dir. Nazim Mammadov)
1990 Ode (based on Beethoven's Ode of Joy; scriptwriter Rafis Imaylov, dir. Rafis Ismayilov, Wahid Talibov)
1993 Podkop / Lagym (dir. Vahid Talibov)
Earth / Torpag (dir. Rafis Ismayilov; unfinished film)
WORK OF THE ARTIST IN THE EASTERN MINIATURE GENRE
Series of miniatures for “1001 Nights” (Arabic tales “Alibaba and the Forty Thieves”, “Three Apples”) - 12 sheets
Series “Fitna” (based on the poem “Seven Beauties” by Nizami Ganjavi) - 12 sheets
Series of sheets “White Thumbnails” - 12 sheets
Series "Azerbaijan national proverbs and sayings" Words of the Fathers "- (15 sheets)
A series of miniatures in the carpet style “Leili and Majnun” (2014) - 20 sheets
BOOK ILLUSTRATION
• “Afghan Tales” (published in Turkey in 1982)
• “Afghan Tales”: “Chegan and the Devil” and “Keep Safe” (Ganjlik Publishing House, 1989)
• “Mete Khan” (Ganjlik Publishing House, series “Great commanders and rulers of Azerbaijan”, 1993)
• "Shah Ismail" (Ganjlik Publishing House, series "The Great Leaders and Rulers of Azerbaijan", 1994) - in the style of an oriental miniature
• Charles Dickens “Oliver Twist” (Ganjlik Publishing House, World Literature for Children Series)
• Rafaello Giovanyoli "Spartak" (Ganjlik Publishing House, a series of "World History of Literature for Children")
• William Shakespeare “Romeo and Juliet” (Ganjlik Publishing House, World Literature for Children Series)
• Alexander Pushkin “Stone Guest” (Ganjlik Publishing House, series “World History of Literature for Children”)
• Friedrich Schiller "Robbers" (Ganjlik Publishing House, a series of "World History of Literature for Children")
• Walter Scott “Quentin Dorward” (Ganjlik Publishing House, World Literature for Children Series, 1988) - a series of works in the style of miniatures of Western Europe of the 13th-15th centuries, in particular, an illustrated manuscript of the Duke of Berry
GRAPHIC WORKS
Lithographs and monotypes:
• The cycle "Dreams"
The cycle of work with colored crayons:
• Series “Azerbaijan proverbs and sayings”
• Series in the genre of popular art “Azerbaijan folk songs”
A cycle of works in the genre of oriental miniature (mixed media - ink, lead pencil, crayons, watercolor, gouache, varnish, gesso):
• Collection of fairy tales and short stories “1001 Nights”:
o “Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves”
o “Sinbad the Sailor”
o “Aladdin and the magic lamp”
o “Three apples”
• Leili and Majnun
• Nizami Ganjavi "Iskander Namya"
• Three apples
• Nizami "Farhad and Shirin"
Set designer and costume designer
Azerbaijan State Academic National Drama Theater
• Nabi Khazri “Doors that knock at night”, directed by Marahim Farzalibekov
• Ilyas Efendiev “Lonely Willow Tree”, directed by Marahim Farzalibekov
• Jean Racine "Fedra", directed by Marahim Farzalibekov
• Eugene O'Neill “Love under the Elms”, directed by Bahram Usmanov
• Ismail Shikhli “Bury the dead in a cemetery” (director Rovshan Almuradov (2005)
• "Egyptian Nights":
o 1 act “Yusif and Zuleyka” according to Ordubad and Nazim Hikmet,
o 2 act “Anthony and Cleopatra” William Shakespeare
Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater named after M.F. Akhundova
2003 Opera "Natavan" by Vasif Adygezalov
2005 Ballet “Love and Death” Polada Bul-Bul oglu
2012 Opera “Leyli and Majnun” by Uzeyir Hajibeyov
2013 Opera Troubadour by Giuseppe Verdi
2014 Rast Ballet Niyazi
2017 One-act ballet Polovtsian Dances from the opera Prince Igor by Alexander Borodin
2018 Ballet “Javad Khan” by Sardar Farajev
Costume Designer
2003 Opera "Natavan" by Vasif Adygezalov
2005 Ballet “Love and Death” Polada Bul-Bul oglu
2012 Opera “Leyli and Majnun” by Uzeyir Hajibeyov
2013 Opera Troubadour by Giuseppe Verdi
2014 Rast Ballet Niyazi
2017 One-act ballet Polovtsian Dances from the opera Prince Igor by Alexander Borodin
2018 Ballet “Javad Khan” by Sardar Farajev
2019 Ballet "Nasimi" by Fikret Amirov
