Sculpture is one of the types of fine arts. In sculpture, a person or any object of depiction is created in a three-dimensional form. Usually, the possibilities of sculpture depicting human and sometimes animal (animalistic genre) are somewhat limited compared to painting.
There are two main types of sculptures: three-dimensional or round sculptures; relief sculptures.
The basic plan, the plane of light, the mass and the volume play a big role in the better acquisition of the statue.
Different materials are used in the manufacture of sculptures: stone (marble, limestone, sandstone, granite, etc.), wood, bone, metal (bronze, iron, bronze, etc.), clay, burnt clay, ceramics (terracotta, majolica, pottery, porcelain, etc.) gypsum and other materials. In addition to traditional materials, modern sculpture uses completely different materials: glass, ice, snow, and paper.
In general, 3 areas of sculpture are known.
1. Monumental
2. Decorative
3. Workbench sculpture
The most primitive form of sculpture is stone figures. Stone human figures dating back to the Middle Ages, found around the cities of Shamakhi and Aghdam, are considered to be more advanced examples of our sculpture. Stone carvings in Bayil Castle (XIII century), horse and ram figures on tombs (XV-XIX centuries) can also be considered a new and memorable page of sculpture.
In the village of Bilav, Ordubad region of Nakhchivan, there is a stone ram statue made in memory of Safarali, who died in 1088 AH (1677-1678 AD). It is clear from the signature on the monument that the ram statue was made by Abid. The sculptor Abid, who lived in the 17th century, also designed some of the 17th-century stone ram-type tombstones that remain in the village cemetery.
Among the most famous examples of sculpture is the architectural monument of the Shirvanshahs called “Bayil Castle” or “Sabail”, built in the XIII century in the port of Baku. The inscriptions and reliefs on these monuments played a decisive role in the decorative design of the building. Along with the inscriptions on the “Bayil stones”, the images of people and animals (tiger, camel, horse, ox, bird) are deeply engraved. “Bayil stones”, which have the character of a frieze, once formed a decorative element of a magnificent architectural monument located on land.
The art school opened in Baku and the acquisition of sculpture by local staff in various central cities of the USSR played a major role in creating the current state of sculpture.
Bringing Azerbaijani sculptors together and uniting them around one organization fell to the Soviet era. But before that, there were connoisseurs of plastic art in Azerbaijan. Recent research proves that sculptures were created in Azerbaijan before 1920. These samples were created by folk artists, as well as professional sculptors and art critics educated in Russia and Europe.
Unknown sculptors also worked during the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR). Due to the inability to implement all projects in the short-lived AXC, there is no accurate information about the works themselves or the authors. However, there is enough information in the sources about the existence of these projects. For example, the first professional sculptor Zeynal Alizadeh was actively involved in the development of the state emblem, a number of orders and medals.
A number of monumental monuments have been erected in Baku in connection with the formation of modern professional sculpture in Azerbaijan, and national sculptors have been trained. Ibrahim Guliyev, one of the first Azerbaijani sculptors in 1920-30, as well as Elizabeth Tripolskaya, Pinhos Sabsay and others living in Azerbaijan. Statues were erected in Baku with the participation of sculptors.
Earlier, the sculpture department of the Azerbaijan State University of Arts was separated from the school and the Azerbaijan Academy of Arts was established. At present, talented sculptors are trained at the university, which is headed by academician Omar Eldarov.
Among the 100-120 members of the Union of Artists, there are sculptors from both the professional and folk arts departments. The latter are engaged in creating drawings and other works on granite, marble and other means. At least 5-6 solo exhibitions of a sculptor wishing to become a member of the Union of Artists must be held.