On May 3, the National Museum of Tajikistan hosted the opening of a solo exhibition by Tajik miniature artist Olim Kamalov titled "Shahnameh", the epic poem written by Abdulqosim Firdavsi. The exhibition will be open to the public until June 3.
The exhibition features 50 miniatures created over different years. The central focus is on works inspired by the epic Shahnameh.
Among the showcased works are pieces such as "The Discovery of Fire by King Hushang," "The Flight of Kay Kavus to the Sky," "Kay Kavus Choosing a Horse," "Leopard Hunt," "The Birth of Rustam," "Rustam Taming His Horse Rakhsh," and others.
A large composition dedicated to Shahnameh unites multiple storylines and presents a visual narrative based on the classical masterpiece.
In addition, the exhibition includes miniatures based on the works of Timur Zulfikarov, Nizami Ganjavi, Omar Khayyam, and Kamol Khujandi, as well as pieces on religious themes.
A separate section of the exhibition is devoted to paintings by the artist's daughter, Bonu Kamalova, who continues her father's work as his student.
Doctor of Sciences in History, Professor Larisa Dodkhudoyeva noted that Olim Kamalov had begun by copying the works of the great miniaturist Kamoliddin Behzod, and today he successfully integrates modern images and ideas into traditional techniques.
In her opinion, his art preserves craft traditions while also demonstrating the dynamism and creativity of Tajik miniature painting.
Olim Kamalov has participated in international exhibitions and festivals, where he has repeatedly received awards. In 2017, at the initiative of the Embassy of Tajikistan in London, five of his works were added to the collection of the British Museum.
In 2022, his solo exhibition was held in France, in the city of Chevreuse, under the support of former French Ambassador to Tajikistan Michel Tarran.
As part of the current event, a presentation of the artist’s miniature catalog also took place. The project was implemented under the support of the Embassy of France in Dushanbe and the Embassy of Tajikistan in Paris.
