Across the hall from the exhibition on the legacy of Russian art from World War II, another former Soviet Union country, Azaebaijan, is represented by a display of work of one of its most active contemporary artists, Farhad Khalilov, being held as part of the Buta Festival to celebrate Azerbaijani art and culture across London.

Khalilov Farhad Kurban-ogli was born in 1946 in Baku  and studied art in Baku and Moscow. In 1987 he was awarded a Silver Medal from the USSR Academy of Arts and in 2006 Grand Prix of the Teheran Biennale.  He came to London’s attention in 2011 with his first solo exhibition here; this exhibition displays some of his older paintings and also works on paper, but also many newer paintings executed in the last year.  The show is sponsored by philanthropist and art collector, Farkhad Akhmedov.

His work is both simple and complex and makes the viewer think and reflect on what he is portraying. Abstract flowing lines echo buildings and landscapes, from series which are called “Reflections”, “Recollections” and “Unexpected View”.  His portraits are ambiguous – from the swirling lines of his work from “Reflections”, a portrait appears while “Portrait of an Interior” is both a room and a portrait; what is the hidden meaning – is someone trapped there within the interior?  What emotions is the artist trying to arouse in the viewer?