A personal exhibition titled 'Children of War' by People's Artist of Uzbekistan and academician of the Academy of Arts Anvar Mamadjanov has opened at the Tashkent House of Photography. The exposition is dedicated to the 85th anniversary of the start of World War II. The central piece is the graphic cycle 'Left in Childhood,' presented to the public for the first time—a series of poignant portraits capturing those whose coming of age was violently interrupted by the events of 1941.
For Anvar Mamadjanov, war is a personal story. His father, Alimjon-aka, served as a private soldier throughout the entire war. The artist recalls that his father was silent about the war, communicating through his eyes. This wordless gaze became the language of the entire exhibition.
The exhibition combines well-known cycles such as '101 Uzbeks' and '...And Could We Do That?' with the newly presented 'Left in Childhood' cycle. This series of graphic portraits, created with pencil and ink, took several years to complete, drawing on photo archives, books, and wartime testimonies.
The artist focuses on details rather than large-scale narratives, emphasizing eyes over faces. 'I pay less attention to facial details than to the gaze,' Mamadjanov explains. 'In the eyes of a twelve- or eight-year-old child, you can read the experience of an adult.' All works are portraits of real children whose fates were reconstructed from archival materials.
Almost all works are executed in black-and-white graphics. The only exception is the trace of a bullet present in nearly every portrait: the blood is drawn in red. This is the only bright spot—the point where life ends.
On the opening day, a heavy downpour hit Tashkent, but the hall was full. Students from the Republican Specialized Art School named after Benkov attended. Student Ezozа Payziyeva described Mamadjanov as a unique teacher who taught her not only technique but also self-confidence.
The 'Children of War' exhibition will run until June 28 as part of the annual campaign 'Bequeathed to Remember!', organized for the fifth time by the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan with the support of the Russian Embassy in Uzbekistan.
Source: podrobno.uz