Oriented on making people closer

A little more than a month remains until the start of the VIII Moscow International Art Festival “Sounds of Dutar” named after Nury Halmamedov, which this year will be held from 28 October to 3 November. Greetings to the participants and organizers of the festival are already starting to arrive. The outstanding Georgian and Russian painter, famous sculptor and pedagogue Zurab Tsereteli has also sent a warm message. Below we present his greeting in full.

It is with great joy that I welcome the VIII season of the Moscow International Art Festival “Sounds of Dutar” named after Nury Halmamedov. The festival, which is rightfully considered one of the landmark events of Moscow's cultural life, gathers gifted creative youth and outstanding cultural figures from all corners of the world. Its activities are aimed at solving the most important tasks of cultural policy. The events held by the festival's organizing committee are aimed at uniting people and serve as an example of people's diplomacy, which contributes to the strengthening of good-neighborliness and cooperation between peoples. One of the most important aspects of the festival's activities is the preservation and popularization of cultural folk and ethnic traditions of Russia and CIS countries.

This year, the festival is dedicated to honoring the 300th anniversary of the outstanding poet and thinker of the East, Magtymguly Fragi. A significant contribution to musical culture has been made by a series of concert programs that have been taking place during 2024 in the Museum and Exhibition Complex of the Russian Academy of Arts. The traditional thematic exhibitions of contemporary artists are a special joy. This year, among many creative competitions, there was an illustration contest for Oriental poetry entitled “Reflection” dedicated to the 300th anniversary of Magtymguly Fragi.

The image of Magtymguly has been recreated for humanity by skilful hands of artists. In the Islamic world there was a prohibition against depicting human faces, so we look at the great poet through the eyes of artist Ayhan Hajiyev. In 1947, as a third-year student at the Surikov Institute, he participated in a creative competition to create a portrait of the great poet. His work won first place. Since then, this image, which inspires artists to this day, has become the basis for many monuments and paintings.

The Russian school of painting has created a unique bridge between cultures and peoples, thanks to which valuable links have been established. We believe that our festival will continue to contribute to their development and strengthening. Art, possessing an amazing power, enriches our lives, endows us with the wealth of feelings, new perspectives, and opens up new worlds.

Dear friends, I wish you unforgettable impressions, new creative achievements and inexhaustible love for art, which fills our lives with light and meaning. May inspiration always accompany you on this beautiful and wonderful path.

Zurab Tsereteli,

President of the Russian Academy of Arts,

People's Artist of the USSR and the Russian Federation,

UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.

Photo: provided by the organizing committee of the festival "Sounds of Dutar"