Ancient Baku 1997

Tahir Salahov painted “Ancient Baku” with oil on canvas using bold, expressive brushstrokes. The marks are confident, each one building on the last, a real testament to painting as a process. Look closely at the wall in the foreground, see how the textured whites create a sense of depth, almost as if you could run your hand along the rough surface? Then you notice the small, vivid pops of color – a red and a blue door. Aren't they great? These small areas pull our eyes into the painting, echoing the color in the sky and acting as a counterpoint to the earthy tones in the buildings and foliage. The way Salahov handles paint reminds me of some of the early Fauvist painters, who were also interested in using color and mark-making to express a sense of place. The painting becomes a conversation – a back and forth between feeling and form. It’s a place where ambiguity and interpretation thrive.