Ornithology on canvas
The history of studying the fauna of birds in Turkmenistan has more than two hundred years. According to ornithological studies for 2018, 436 species living in the country were recorded. These, of course, are not final figures at all, since many factors influence the bird population, the main of which are climatic conditions and ecology.
In the list of birds inhabiting the territory of Turkmenistan, 16% are sedentary, 41.5% are migratory-nesting (17.4% of which remain for the winter), 16% are migratory, 17.2% are migratory-wintering, and 8.9 % are vagrants. This is the Asian black-headed mint, and the Turkmen warbler, the gray crane, the gray pigeons, rooks and crows. Rare and endangered species of birds - desert sparrow, gyrfalcon, hawk eagle, etc. - are already listed in the Red Book.
The biologist, candidate of biological sciences and a very creative person with an extraordinary imagination - Gulia Mayliyevna Kurbanova - was always worried about the number of inhabitants of the bird world of Turkmenistan and she began to create art paintings, the main characters of which are rare species of local birds.
“The animal world is very beautiful and harmonious, and man, in turn, must live in harmony with nature,” says Gulya Mayliyevna. - Our task is to preserve the bird population, care for the environment and protect the environment. Therefore, embodying the images of rare birds in my artwork, I want to draw public attention to endangered species.
Following her statements, Gulya Kurbanova creates paintings with the thrill of a scientist, showing society an example of love and respect for nature. "Little handsome creatures" - the inhabitants of the Karakum desert - look from the artist’s canvases at the audience with special hope. The hope that humanity will not allow this beauty to disappear.
“Gulya was one of the first to reveal the topic of ecology, which is more relevant than ever for us,” says art critic Jeren Klycheva. - Many species of birds are gradually disappearing, and Gulya Mayliyevna, as a biologist, cannot be indifferent to this fact. Her creative message addressed to people is understandable: the biodiversity of Turkmenistan must be preserved, and this is a serious reason to think for everyone.
"Birds" paintings by Gulya Kurbanova are presented at an art exhibition dedicated to the celebration of International Women's Day on March 8th. A biologist and an artist in one person, she was awarded with an encouraging letter for her creative contribution to art in the style of realism.
“I think that not a single woman in the world can be indifferent to birds, to the beauty and ease of their flight,” continues Gulya Mayliyevna. - And I am very pleased that my work did not go unnoticed, this is my first award, and I want to note that my main motivation for creativity is nature itself, its beauty and problems associated with preserving the animal and plant world of our country.
Not going to rest on her laurels, Gulya Kurbanova continues to study the avifauna of Turkmenistan, she even more deeply learns the art world and praises such a diverse grace of birds in her paintings - the proud profile of a hawk eagle, the cautious glances of the sociable lapwings and much more that nature has presented with such wisdom as an invaluable gift to humanity. A gift that we must not lose, but preserve and multiply.
