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. In Kazakh Madonna, a version of which is held in the Almaty Museum of Arts, Azhiyev evokes the timeless motif of mother and child. His use of watercolour and light transforms this familiar theme into a meditative space of tenderness and calm. In contrast, Kazakh Wrestling captures rhythm and physical intensity, depicting the charged atmosphere of a traditional Kazakh sport where wrestlers compete standing, aiming to throw their opponent onto their back. Azhiyev conveys the dynamic movement of the bodies and the energy of the crowd leaning in with anticipation.