Karabulak, Dzhetysu province, Kyrgyzstan 1924-2015 Almaty, Kazakhstan

(1924, Karabulak – 2015, Almaty) A founding figure of the Kazakh school of watercolour, Uki Azhiyev worked primarily in the medium along with ink and pencil, and developed a style defined by expressive lines and intricate detail. He was drawn to capturing light, space, and the fleeting nature of time, often playing with movement and evoking the sensation of an instant, a flash. During World War II, he took part in the defense of Leningrad and, after the war, returned to Kazakhstan and graduated from the Almaty Art College in 1948. A dedicated teacher, he later helped shape art education in the country.