Daughter of Izzat Klychev: business is business, and culture is the face of the country!
The Turkmen-Singaporean business forum, which takes place as part of President Berdimuhamedov’s visit to Singapore, has exceeded its objective. Not only business meetings and negotiations on the upcoming cooperation took place on its fields. Here ORIENT unexpectedly met Maral Klycheva, the daughter of the leading figure of modern Turkmen painter, Izzat Klychev among the guests.
- Maral Izzatovna, it is very nice to see you here. Please tell us how you ended up in Singapore?
- Thanks. My husband is working here at an oil company. Being a spouse of an oilman is not easy; you have to follow him around the world. We came here 12 years ago. Not immediately accustomed to the local specific climate. But now it is a fairy tale.
- You came to the forum with your husband. How do you like meeting with Turkmenistan?
- It's hard to put it in a nutshell. Just trembling over the body, really. So I bit a piece of Turkmen melon, and I immediately remembered Motherland, childhood, mom, dad - that's all! This is just unbelievable. I have been waiting for this day for a very long time. And now the moment has come ...
It's nice that compatriots recognized me. Art, culture - this is what unites people. Because it is interesting to everyone. Interest lies in music, and national dances, and painting, and crafts. Interest in art, history, traditions of the people is an interest in the country. And then negotiations and the signing of contracts are underway. Therefore, I am here today on the forum. Many familiar Singaporeans are surprised because this is a business event. But I have to be here. Because business is business, as they say, and culture is the face of the country.
- And when was the last time you were at home? Do you feel the changes taking place in Turkmenistan?
- I travel very often. This year turned out to be a bit complicated, because my son and I graduated from university. Last time I was in October, a year ago. But again, I’m going to get back soon. Literally just I spoke with my spouse, he is impressed by the submitted projects. He told me: “How much Turkmenistan has changed! I just look and rejoice." I try to come somewhere 4 times a year, so I am aware of all the events. And for me it is normal that we grow up and only up. We must strive up.
- Talking with the daughter of a famous painter, we cannot but remember him. And how do you remember him: strict, kind, demanding?
- Only one word is suitable for him - kind. My mother was strict and demanding in the family, she always taught us something. To be honest, we almost did not see dad - he was always on trips. And when he arrived, it was a holiday for us. He constantly hugged us, kissed us. And he never tired of repeating: “Love your homeland, girls. There is nothing better than it. The smell of Turkmen dust is as sweet as sugar." That's what he said.
Once my friends gathered. I graduated from the institute and invited many friends from Moscow to visit us in Turkmenistan. For them, the parents laid a simply amazing table. And it delighted my friends. They still remember and still say: “Can you really do the same thing your parents did to us once?” Of course, I try, because this is our national Turkmen feature - hospitality. It is felt even here at the exhibition of Turkmen goods. I also invited my local friends here. They are delighted and say what delicious treats, how beautiful everything is, and how everything breathes cordiality..
- “What work do you do here?”
- Naturally, as the daughter of Izzat Klychev, I do art. What else? In Singapore, my task is to present the art of the Turkmen people. I organize exhibitions of works by Turkmen artists, bring them here, they travel around Singapore, paint its landscapes. At their exhibitions, many Singaporeans are surprised at the beauty of our country, “exotic” fruits, which are depicted in still lifes. And I try to expand this knowledge - to show our culture here. This is my task, I believe.
Here I teach at the center of the Russian language in Singapore and teach painting, drawing and composition. Even when I put some still lifes, I definitely make some small emphasis on the oriental style. My students even laugh already: “Here, Maral, you’ll definitely put the east to our still life.” well, what can I do? This blood flows in me.
- What artists will come to you in the near future?
- Right now, in the same Shangri-La hotel, an exhibition will be held from September 5 to 8, at which the works of three artists will be exhibited. This is Rahman Umarov, one of my students. I taught him when he was still in art school. And the father and son are Nikolai and Vitaly Didenko. Nikolai Didenko, unfortunately, passed away from our lives, but his son Vitaliy continues his family business and creates wonderful works. This time he will bring compositions on the theme of Ahal-Teke horses.
- And finally, a wish for our readers? After all, ORIENT brings people closer. And thanks to you, we are now a little intermarried with Singapore.
- I wish that we all only moved up, flew only up. That everything was perfect, that there was no war, that the sun shone, that there was a blue sky. That there were flowers everywhere, green grass. Peace is the most important thing!
