The well-known Azerbaijani artist, Rafail Aliyev and his wife Diana Aliyeva, artist too; they talked to Diafanís magazine about the world of their paintings. 

They express their own way of seeing the world, the customs, feelings, people,  through a palette of colors and varied techniques, since their paintings on a canvas.

In a friendly conversation, we felt in a special atmosphere where the art was the lei-motiv, through so much geographical distance, the interview went as follow:

 

• When did you start to paint, to discover the world of plastic arts?

Rafail  As a child, I loved to draw pictures of children’s books. Everyone liked the pictures, and when they were lost, I was very upset. The beautiful world of painting could be said to open up constantly, with each new work, with each new idea. The process of search and discovery is endless, as is the process of learning.

 

 

 

Diana  I started drawing since childhood. I was immersed in the world of my fantasies. I painted beautiful landscapes and palaces, beautiful fantastic flowers and trees, princesses and princes. As I grew older, I began to study the works of famous masters. I began to study the history of art from primitive times to the present day. When I married with the famous artist Rafail Aliyev, a completely new world of painting opened up for me, completely new approaches that were previously unknown to me. This helped me to develop my own point of view of the art, my own concept.

 

 

• What are your favorite topics and techniques when doing your work?

Rafail If any topic is not interesting to me today, then tomorrow it may become attractive. It all depends on the circumstances. As for the technique, I could say the following: I am an experimenter. I use various techniques and materials, I could mix sea sand with paints, metal pigments. Once I even glued dry pasta to the canvas.

 

Sunflowers

 

Diana I don’t choose topics. They are born in the course of work. The color designs that appear on the canvas themselves suggest a theme. Equipment and materials: only palette knife and oil paints.

 

 

Pomegranate

 

• What is the reason that inspires you to paint your pictures and make sculptures?

Rafail I have been in the creative process all my life, and I like it. It’s like the oxygen needed for life. I’m sure it’s the same with other artists. And life inspires me in all its manifestations.

 

Diana Once immersed in a fascinating creative process, you can’t get out of it. You have a powerful attraction to it. This becomes one of the important meanings of your life. I draw my creative inspiration from the process itself, from the audience’s reaction, and from the understanding that people like your work.

Rafail Aliyev

 

Rafail Aliyev

 

• Do you prefer to paint in oil, watercolors? What other elements do you use in your paintings?

Rafail My preferences for choosing materials could change quickly. Sometimes you have to ignore traditional technologies. But I try to do it delicately, so as not to disturb the overall harmony. I use oil paint, acrylic, wood dust, resin, metal pigments, crumpled paper, and more.

 

Pineapple lover – 70×45 cm

 

Diana After trying different materials and tools, I chose only oil paint and a palette knife. Very rarely do I use a brush.

 

Buterflies

 

• What has been the path to achieve the exhibitions of your artistic work?

Rafail Sometimes the curators and organizers of the exhibition invite me to participate. Sometimes I offer my work, after learning about the exhibition.

Diana I exhibit my works on Facebook and sometimes, the owners of the art galleries invite me to participate in exhibitions.

 

• When did you start participating in art exhibitions? Have you exhibited your work in your country and abroad? Individually or collectively?

Rafail In recent years, I have only participated in collective exhibitions in our country and abroad. Since the works are quickly sold out, I can not recruit them for my individual exhibition.

Diana I only participate in collective exhibitions in my country.

 

The President of Azerbaijan and his wife in the art gallery

 

Ambassador of México in Azerbaijan with Rafail Aliyev

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Would you like to tell us about the characteristics of the art of painting in your country today?

Rafail I think our artists occupy a worthy place among the world’s painters. Our art is based both on our national traditions and on the most modern innovative trends.

Diana The paintings of our artists are very similar in strength and brightness of color to the works of Latin American artists. We have very deep national traditions, but at the same time we fit seamlessly into the modern trends of the 21st century.

 

• Do you have a new project in mind?

Rafail Yes, there are several projects that I would like to participate in.

Diana Of course, even a few.

Interviewed by Mag. Marisa Avogadro Thomé, writer and journalist from Mendoza, Argentina

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

 

DIANA ALIYEVA

Autumn

 

Diana Aliyeva was born in Baku, Azerbaijan.  She graduated to the Institute of Building Architecture. Since her childhood, she dedicated to paint.

She is married with the well-known Azerbaijani artist Rafail Aliyev. She has been influenced by her husband’s art work, enriching her concept of painting, which has led her to break new roads in her art.

She participated in numerous art exhibitions and her works have been exhibited in: the Modern Art Center of the Gallery «Leila Hazari», Baku; Crystal Hall Baku; Emin Gahramanov Gallery, Baku; Leile Hazari Gallery – 2021, Baku.

 

 

RAFAIL ALIYEV

 

Girl in blue

Rafail Aliyev was born in 1953 in Goychay, Azerbaijan. He attended high school in Baku since 1961 to 1971. In 1971, he entered at the art school to obtain a bachelor’s degree in metal art processing. Between 1974 to 1976, he has served in the Armed Forces of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Since 1977 he has worked in the Azerbaijan Art Fund. During the years 1982 to 1987, Rafail studied at the State Pedagogical Institute at the Faculty of Graphic Art.

In 1988, in Moscow, he joined to the Union of Soviet Artists. At the same time, he became a member of the Azerbaijan Union of Artists in the Decorative and Applied Arts section. Until 1995, Rafail worked in various techniques such as forging, embossing, engraving, chemical etching, enamels.

Rafail has participated in numerous art exhibitions in Baku, Moscow and abroad. His works are in museums and private collections. He has been exhibiting his paintings since 2016. One of his work belongs to the private collection of George Soros. There are many of his works in Baku and throughout the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Since 1995 to 2015, Rafail worked on the design and re-equipment of floating ships and drilling rigs in the Caspian Sea, where he participated in more than 40 projects, at the same time that he expanded his education and training in the art. Rafail really likes the paintings of Latin American artists, especially the Mexican Rufino Tamayo.

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