Currently, Isakhunov, who resides in Karakol, is holding his personal exhibition at the historical and local lore museum of this city. For a month, residents can familiarize themselves with his works and nearly 14,000 exhibits of the museum. A correspondent from Turmush spoke with the artist.
Melas Isakhunov Tursunovich, born on June 3, 1954, in the village of Tash-Kiya in the Issyk-Kul region, graduated from the art school in Frunze in 1975. Since 1976, he has actively participated in republican exhibitions and worked at the artistic fund of the Union of Artists of the Kyrgyz Republic, particularly in the art workshops of the city of Przhevalsk. He is currently retired and has fully dedicated himself to creativity.
The theme of Isakhunov's creativity is tandoor bread, which symbolizes childhood, labor, and a mother's care for him. "Bread is the foundation of everything. Humanity works for it. I created 22 paintings dedicated to tandoor bread. In our village Tash-Kiya, it is baked everywhere, and the smell of fresh bread reminds me of the happy moments of my childhood when tandoors stood along the roads, from which the aroma of freshly baked bread wafted. People shared it with passersby, and those were wonderful days. That is why I depict mothers and girls baking bread in the tandoor, and I take photographs specifically for weddings," he shares.
Melas prefers to work in the triptych genre, where each of the three paintings reveals one common theme. His works include "Red Apple," which captures the autumn apple harvest, and paintings reflecting the change of seasons and his dreams of happiness for his son. "My wife Tamara Kanaeva and I have been together for almost 40 years; we have four daughters and one son, as well as two grandsons. I dream that my son finds a good bride. I depicted this dream in a triptych. In the first painting, my wife and I bless the young couple, and in the second, my daughter-in-law. In the third, we are laying our grandson in the beshik. We pray with his mother for our son's future. He is already 26, and we hope that this wish will soon come true. My wife is a doctor; she cares for people's health," the artist recounts.
Family also plays an important role in his creativity. For example, the painting "Sünnöt Toy" ("Circumcision Celebration") was even exhibited in Bavaria. "It depicts my son and daughters, while my wife puts a kalpak on the child. One tourist from Bavaria, after looking at the painting for a long time, asked why a foal is depicted next to my son. I replied, 'Because my son is my foal.' He liked the painting very much and bought it," the artist shares.
Additionally, he created a painting dedicated to ashlyanfu — a famous dish from Karakol, which is now in Spain. "Ashlyanfu can be called the calling card of our city. Every guest should try this dish. I captured the moment of selling ashlyanfu at the market, and a guest from Madrid bought it," Melas adds.
Isakhunov's works have been sold in 25 countries, including Germany, the USA, Canada, and Italy, with prices for his paintings ranging from $600 to $1200. Most of them depict life in the village. "I do not seek a special theme for my works. All inspiration comes from my native village. I often paint the four seasons, especially when the lilacs bloom. My goal is to convey my feelings on canvas and share good thoughts with people," the artist shares.
The theme of his exhibitions also reflects rural life. He has organized exhibitions titled "The Path to Peace Begins with the Village." Last year, three of his paintings were sold at an exhibition in Karakol to Paris, Madrid, and Poland.
Previously, his personal exhibitions were held in cities such as Astana and Bishkek. He is now preparing for a new exhibition in Bishkek, which will take place in the spring of next year. "Each exhibition requires a special approach. I hope to hold an exhibition in Bishkek in the spring, and right now my personal exhibition is taking place at the historical and local lore museum of Karakol. It is an amazing place with many exhibits, and every foreigner who comes here visits it. My works generate high interest, and I would like local residents to come to the museum as well," he adds.
