FAIRY TALES OF BAKHADIR YULDASHEV

Today I had an opportunity to be at Bakhadir Yuldashev’s personal exhibition of paintings. The name of the exhibition is ‘Tale of Wandering’ which straight let me think about another world where wonders can easily happen and there are no limits or borders which exist in our minds in real life.

Bakhadir Yuldashev is a famous artist in our country; he is one of the talented and significant representatives of modern art in Uzbekistan. By the way this sphere is developing and progressing, I didn’t know that we have so many talented and devoted artists. When I was standing outside and waiting for exhibition I was surprised by number of people coming to the exhibition and I noticed that these people really loved art, they didn’t come just for leisure.

In three halls there were 70 paintings which had been painted in the period of 2015-2016. This means the painter has a very good productivity and passion for art. The painter is not only saying and describing traditional fairy tales of Uzbek nation but it looks like he lives inside his pictures and believes in beauty of magical world.

As a beautiful leitmotif some of traditional images of wandering dervishes, gorgeous maiden - Peri, puppeteers and actors are smoothly repeated in the paintings. They are not irritating but they call us to come in and show us the wonderful things which cannot be seen by ordinary eye. You have to take time and peer into the picture and only then you will see how picture becomes alive and there are different actions and story in every fairy tale.

I moved from one picture to another realizing more and more amazing vivid imagination of the painter and just enjoyed by vanishing in fairy tales’ world. If you need some magic in your life look at the paintings of Bakhadir Yuldashev, I suppose you will get some inspiration to overcome difficulty and vanity of our world.

FALCONRY IN UZBEKISTAN

Falconry is the tradition activity of keeping and training falcons to take quarry in its natural state. Since ancient time Falconry was very popular in our region, Central Asia. I was surprised to find out that it is still popular in modern Uzbekistan and there is society of falconers in Tashkent. 

I went to their club and spent an amazing day with falcon-lovers. What is Tugan Falconry Club and what they do, what is fides and where you can see falconry and other interesting things which I am going to reveal in this post.

Traditionally Falconry was transmitted from generation to generation as a cultural traditions by different ways, including learning within families, mentoring and formalized training in clubs. 

Falconry Competitions of Khiva's King, 1890. 

In Uzbekistan there is only one official Falconry Club which was opened in 2014. It is non-governmental commercial organization was found by falcons true lovers with non-commercial purposes. Tugan Falconry Club has support of Uzbekistan State Committee for Nature Protection. The Club was found for purpose to develop in 2 following dimensions: revival of traditional falconry as it is cultural heritage, making contribution in falcons’ population. That’s why nursery for growing up falcons or treating injured birds was built, located in Sergeli region which is 30 minutes away from the centre of Tashkent city (taxi fee 1-2$, you can ring up to the Club and they will help you to find the place). By the way they are very hospitable so it is free to visit their club. If you want to go to see falcons' fly you can ask price when you come to the Club.
Today there are 10 falcons in the nursery, in autumn 2 of them will be released to face the wild nature.

While talking to club members I noticed theirs real love for birds, they touched them with care and there was love in their eyes. Falconers develop a strong relationship and spiritual bonds with their birds, and commitment is required to breed, train, handle and fly the falcons. It is fides (you can notice this word on the logo of the club), which means trust and belief, it is foundation of relationship between falconers and falcons.

The world of Falconry is much larger and wider than I imagined. UNESCO recognized Falconry as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Since before the time of the pyramids, over 4000 years, Falconry as a hunting method has become a deep tradition. Today’s modern lifestyle and rapid urbanization have restricted opportunities to practice falconry. 

Thanks to Falconry club now we have opportunity to preserve traditions and transmit them to growing generation. Recently Uzbekistan became the member of IAF (International Association for Falconry) along with such countries as UAE, Spain, Ireland, South Korea, Mongolia and others. It can open new ways for cooperation and development this sphere in our country. 

I wish the best luck to Tugan Falconry Club in Tashkent! You can find more information about Tugan Falconry Club here - https://www.facebook.com/denis.choi.5686/?fref=ts

Photos with love from Ernest Kurtveliev.