Mahmud
Akhmedov

Tashkent painter Mahmud Akhmedov (b. 1938) joined the collective of artists of Uzbekistan in the early 1970s as a mature, mature man who had a wealth of experience: military service, work at construction sites, community and party work.
In 1969, he graduated from the painting department of the RCA named after P.P. Benkovo, and in 1980 he graduated from the Tashkent Theatrical Art Institute named after A.N. Ostrov. A. N. Ostrovskiy. Since 1969 he has been teaching at the Republican Special Music and Art Boarding School.
In 1974 - 1979, he participated in the monumental decoration of a number of large objects of the Republic - the restaurant "Zeravshan" (together with V. Burmakin, K. Taldykin), swimming pool stadium "Labor reserves", the entrance hall of the metro station "Pakhtakor", cafe "Chinar" in Tashkent, research institute on cotton growing in Bektimir, Tashkent Hippodrome.
Since 1972 he takes part in exhibitions. His life-affirming, emotional painting found a warm response in the hearts of viewers in many cities of our Republic, the RSFSR, the Baltic States and Kazakhstan. The works of M. Akhmedov were successfully exhibited in the GDR, Poland, Mongolia.
Bright, distinctive talent of the artist found its fullest expression in the genres of landscape and still life. Sincerity, inexhaustible optimism, love for nature and deep comprehension of people's life are distinctive features of his creativity. His works are a hymn to his native land, its beauty and generosity, a hymn to the man who created this beauty.
His love of saturated, pure colors, to which he has remained faithful throughout his work, gives his canvases a festive and poetic quality, despite the increasing drama over the years. The painting of the early period is notable for its particular transparency thanks to the glaze technique of painting. The objects that make up still-lifes are usually placed directly on the ground, so they are perceived as part of the landscape (Still-Life with Apples, 1971, Still-Life with Jug, 1973, A Generous Land, 1978-79, and others)
However, already at an early stage of his creativity the artist introduces the search in another direction. Gradually he moves further and further away from plein air painting, giving preference to emphasized decorativeness. Increasingly replacing the brush with a brushstroke, he develops a peculiar small, mobile stroke, associated with a stitch of national embroidery. The choice of his own painting solution is completely subordinated to the general idea; sometimes it is at the junction of different techniques that the most interesting works appear ("The Road to God-Saur" in 1984, "Sunflowers" in 1986).
The rich color scheme and rhythmic organization of Akhmedov's canvases are deeply national in nature and have their roots in the folk ornamental art. Assembled from a multitude of details, they are designed for long viewing; at the same time, they strike with their integrity. Over time, the emotional structure of his paintings becomes increasingly complex. Joy of life, trusting artlessness are often intertwined with notes of tragedy and unaccountable sadness ("Iris" in 1976, "Two Sunflowers" in 1976)
In recent years there has been a qualitative shift in the artist's work: from his first chamber-like still lifes and landscapes to increasingly complex compositions that often have allegorical meaning ("Symphony of Syr-Darya" in 1981, "Yunus-Abad Ak-Tepe" in 1983, "The Living Stream" in 1984). The artist not only praises the beauty of the surrounding world, but also emphasizes human involvement in this beauty. Despite the geographical specificity of the landscape, ethnic details of everyday life, the concept of "earth" in his paintings acquires a cosmic character. Before us unfolds a happy picture of everlasting life.
In 1998, Mahmud Akhmedov was awarded the "Shukhrat" medal by the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan awarded Mahmud Akhmedov the Gold Medal "For the Best Work of 2008". In 2014, the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan awarded Mahmud Akhmedov "Gold Medal" for the 75th anniversary of the artist and 45 years of creative activity.
Today's exhibition is a kind of report of the artist, painter, teacher, and muralist on the work done over the years.