In the editorial office of AMI Trend, a special guest arrived — the renowned artist Ashraf Geibatov, who has been living in Germany for nearly 30 years but remains spiritually and professionally connected to his homeland. His creativity is not just painting; it is a dialogue of cultures, a bridge between East and West, and primarily a visual hymn to Azerbaijan. We invited the master of the brush for an interview — about life away from his homeland, returning home, the high duty of an artist, and why he still considers himself unfulfilled.
Ashraf Geibatov is a People's Artist of Azerbaijan, a member of the UNESCO Artists Federation, the Academy of Arts of Russia, the Union of Artists of Germany, and the holder of the international diploma "Ambassador of Peace." He is the first Azerbaijani artist whose paintings have been exhibited at the UN Palace in Geneva, the Palace of the President of Romania, NATO headquarters, the Jordanian Royal Palace, the Luxembourg Ducal Residence, the Vatican Secretariat, and in renowned art salons of Malta. His multifaceted works have been met with interest in Azerbaijan, Russia, France, Spain, Italy, Israel, India, Egypt, Turkey, Germany, Sweden, Belgium, Malta, and other countries.
— Mr. Geibatov, you have been living and working in Germany for many years. What does it mean to be Azerbaijani and an artist abroad?
— It is, first of all, a great responsibility to carry the culture of your people. I represent a land praised by poets, music, architecture, and as an artist, I must do this honorably. To tell about the homeland, you need to love it immensely. Only then does painting become a sincere advocacy of our history and spiritual wealth.
— You travel to Azerbaijan annually. What does such a return mean to you?
— It’s like breathing the native air — literally, nutritionally, spiritually, and genetically — when I recharge here with energy to create new works. I am like a composer writing my symphony about the homeland, but instead of notes, I have paints. My palette includes Mugham, Karabakh, Azerbaijani women, and of course, the Caspian Sea — I have about a hundred maritime sketches at my dacha in Shovalan. It’s a world I live in and try to convey on my canvases.
— You have lived in Germany for nearly thirty years. How has your worldview changed over this time?
— First and foremost, my horizons have expanded. I advise everyone who has the opportunity to live abroad at least for a while to do so, to absorb European culture, see ancient architecture with their own eyes, attend concerts by world-class classical musicians. Europe has very beautiful, poetic places. Having experienced all this, you must love and cherish your native land even more. Despite living abroad for a long time, I still feel like a stranger there, but here — I am always at home. In Azerbaijan, I feel like a fish in water. And with each visit, I try to share my creativity and pass on my skills to the youth. This time, I presented an exhibition "Doğma Qala," organized with the support of the State Historical-Architectural Reserve “Icherisheher.” It featured over twenty-five paintings, each dedicated to my native village Gala, the place where I was born and drew my inspiration. Through these works, I tried to convey the vibrant spirit of Absheron, nature, landscapes, and the unique national character. I also held a master class for young artists as part of the event, sharing my experience and professional techniques. Additionally, I gave a master class in Lankaran — the tenth region of the country where I conduct initiatives to pass on my knowledge to the youth.
— There is a common belief that people, due to certain circumstances, who are detached from their homeland, tend to value and love what seems mundane to others — but in reality, it is wonderful.
— I’ll give an example from my life. In 1998, I had a significant meeting with the great leader Heydar Aliyev in Bonn, during a gathering of the head of state with the diaspora. The Azerbaijani ambassador in Germany, Guseynaga Sadygov, was also present. Heydar Aliyev delivered a fiery speech, and his words “Never forget your homeland!” sounded like an oath. At that time, I founded the “Bakıneç” society. To this day, I believe every Azerbaijani, wherever they live, should be an ambassador of their land — through deeds, creativity, and actions…
— Your extensive creative work in the name of Azerbaijan truly deserves high praise. What are you working on now?
— In the modern world, there is an information war on various fronts. Particularly, Armenians actively promote in Europe the false narrative of “genocide” in Turkey, spreading blatant lies. Although archives were offered to be opened, they refuse. Naturally, Armenian propaganda also targets Azerbaijan. Living in Germany, I see how actively Armenian propaganda distorts the historical truth. All this stirs my indignation. It’s necessary to significantly strengthen our propaganda in the informational sphere. I am currently collecting materials about the genocide of the Azerbaijani people by Armenians, perpetrated in March 1918. Based on these materials, I plan to create a series of paintings, which will be first exhibited in Baku, then in Berlin and other European cities. It’s my duty as an Azerbaijani artist — to tell the world the truth!
— You have given many interviews and answered many questions. But perhaps there is a question you still haven’t been asked but would very much like to answer… So, let’s imagine you are a journalist. What question would you ask Ashraf Geibatov? And what would be your answer?
— Once, when asked by the famous Mexican painter, draftsman, and monumental artist José David Alfaro Siqueiros what he dreamed of, he replied: “I dream of painting on other planets.” I don’t have such planetary thinking as he does, and I don’t use the word “dream,” but “plans.” I would very much like to create a large multi-figured historical panel on the theme “Azerbaijan — Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow.” As for your question — am I satisfied with my creativity? The answer is — no! Because I consider myself unfulfilled; despite many exhibitions abroad, my creative potential remains largely untapped. As Archimedes said, “Give me a sufficiently long lever and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I will move the world.” I am ready to create grand works about Azerbaijan in the context of the Turkic world! I have a large series of paintings dedicated to the Turkic world, the Turan theme is very relevant to me. I hold exhibitions abroad, but unfortunately, I am still not satisfied with my art.
— Next year is a jubilee — 75 years! Is that a lot or a little…?
— It’s neither a lot nor a little… I am preparing a big exhibition for this event, and I will have a challenging task selecting works from my hundreds of paintings. People often ask me about such a large number of works, and I reply — it’s because I don’t know how to sell my works; I am not a commercial artist. I have thousands of paintings! And, importantly, I would very much like to create a House-Museum in Baku, where my paintings and a rich collection of antique works I have accumulated over the years would be displayed. I want it to become a Museum of National Cultures…
— A very noble idea! Thank you very much for the pleasant conversation.
P.S. When we said goodbye to Ashraf Geibatov, he added: “I don’t paint pictures. I paint Azerbaijan. Every brushstroke is a memory, every color is a feeling, every scene is the homeland.”
And at that moment, everything became clear: for a true artist, the homeland is not only in the heart but also on the canvas. A visual hymn to Azerbaijan!
