Mustafa Murtazaev: A true artist does not need hands, but a sensitive heart and perseverance. Unbroken artist Mustafa gives people joy by singing

Communication with this amazing and an unusual person brings joy and changes the idea of ​​the values ​​of life. After you encounter people like this, strong in spirit, it even becomes a shame: your problems are not that big. This is a persistent person who has subjugated fear, indecision, uncertainty, a person who, in spite of everything, sings!

D. Sufyanova

- What made the artist sing on the street? When did you sing for the first time?

I have been singing since birth, everyone in my family sings and loves music. My father is a musician and plays the keyboard. The group in which he used to play was called “Lyale” (“Tulip”). It was he who taught me to sing, not to be shy, to feel free. Mom also sang beautifully and took first places in various competitions. And my grandfather sang, he was also a violinist. And I sing, I know our old ones folk songs. I want this not to be forgotten. Here on the Internet they wrote about me that I beg, I earn my living in this way, I’ve “gotten it”... They wrote it wrong. I laughed, although it wasn’t funny, it was even offensive, but I don’t blame them... I sing to bring people joy! I want to record my own disc with Crimean Tatar songs, for this I need to save up money for equipment...

- And now you don’t draw anymore?

Of course, I draw, but I alternate this activity with singing. Sometimes I draw for a month or two in a row. Now I have several paintings, and I am planning an exhibition in Simferopol in the near future. Now I'm into impasto painting. I rarely paint portraits, most of all I like to paint flowers...

- Who are your idols?

Van Gogh, Modigliani, Nicola de Staël... I don’t like academicism either, I like something else better. The form should be simple and whole, and details - they are not needed, there is only the form and the energy of the form. In music, the idol is Muslim Magomayev, they don’t sing like that now. Of the Crimean Tatar singers, I like Edip Asanov. Good songs him.

- Who taught you to draw?

I learned this craft before I started writing, at the age of ten. For some reason, the crows were the first to appear from under my pencil. Later, Anna Lendal, a teacher at the Alushta art school “Neznayka,” noticed something in me.

- Was it easy to draw?

At first everything was difficult: sometimes the pencil would fall, sometimes I couldn’t hold the brush, sometimes the line wasn’t drawn the way it should be. But the teachers did not allow me to lose heart and give up. They constantly reminded us of a simple truth: “You shouldn’t copy everything and draw it as it really is. Bring your elements, your forms into the picture. And let there be a portrait with irregular facial features, but these will be your paintings.” My parents have always supported me too. They said: “Don’t give up, son, only through hard work and perseverance will you achieve success.” And they turned out to be right!

- Where else did you study?

I entered art school. I've made friends who don't notice that I'm missing something. Among them I would like to mention Elena Pavlovna Rozhenko, who greatly influenced me. Then he studied for four years at the Crimean National art academy, then postgraduate studies at the Kyiv National Academy of Architecture and Painting. Now I want to enter the variety school, they call me straight to the third year... However, there is a problem with registration at the place of residence. And so, in general, it’s never too late to learn!

- Why did you choose painting?

I’m like this from birth, some kind of energy bursts from within me, and something in me says: “Here I am!” I rejoice at everything around me, and I do everything to share it, so that people can see, hear me, feel warmth or some kind of joy! I believe that an artist has a certain mission - to show people what they do not notice, to make them think.

- What do you consider your greatest achievement?

What have I achieved? I learned to endure! Some new, deeper views appeared. This is a whole philosophy... I wouldn’t single out any special works, they are all dear to me. Although portraits, of course, are more expensive than other works. I have a portrait of my mother; it occupies a special place in my life and in my heart.

- Do you speak Crimean Tatar?

Yes, of course, I say. Grew up with my grandparents - how can I not speak native language? I'm not wild. ( Laughs.)

- What distinguishes you from other people, from other artists, singers?

Probably my persistence, my stubbornness and determination. If someone wants to do something, achieve something, then no one will stop him.
- What would you change in your destiny, in life, if it were possible?

I can say that I am happy with my fate, I don’t regret anything in my life. This is a challenge. I am grateful to the Almighty - but he gave me a bright head, a real human heart. And if we think on a larger scale - if I could, I would turn weapons into water, so that there would be peace, so that people would not know what greed, greed is...

Of course not. People are different... and there is a lot of negativity. It happens that they say: “What a shame! I found a way to make money." At such moments I think: it’s better to remain silent, everyone has their own path to achieving their goals. I have no right to judge or blame anyone!

At the end of our conversation, Mustafa spoke about his problems, that he could not register due to the lack of a state act on land plot. There, he says, “they ask a lot of stupid questions, but my problem is not solved, and nothing moves.” And he asked for help.

He also wished everyone harmony, a rainbow sky, he wished not to sit still, but to create for the good: create, draw, sing, plant trees.
I became his fan, I wanted to support the fire of this man’s tireless creativity! I will look forward to his new paintings and new exhibitions.

The Crimean artist tries to see the good in everything. Photo: Facts

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Crimean Mustafa Murtazaev was born without both hands and one foot, but he really wanted to become professional artist. The teachers of the Crimean Art School were amazed by Mustafa’s persistence: he tied a brush or pencil with an elastic band to the stump and patiently learned to work small parts in the drawing.

There is no dormitory for students at the school. Renting a house in Simferopol is a guy from poor family I couldn’t, so I went to study from home. If there was a thunderstorm or snowfall, there was no transport to the village. And then we had to walk more than 25 kilometers. This is despite the fact that the prosthetic leg weighed six kilograms and rubbed the skin until it bled. But for the sake of his dream, Mustafa was ready to endure any pain.

“You think I don’t have fingers? They’re inside, hidden under the skin.”

Over the course of five years, a lot has changed in the life of Mustafa Murtazaev. Now he lives in Kyiv, studying last year National Academy visual arts and architecture. He paints original canvases that are popular with art connoisseurs. His paintings are kept in private collections of collectors from England, Germany, Canada, Cuba, Russia and Ukraine... I agreed with Mustafa to meet in the academy’s workshop. I found him there rearranging the stretchers. And, succumbing to an impulse of pity, she offered her help.

How is it possible! You're a girl! - Mustafa makes scary eyes. - I can handle it myself. Do you think I don't have fingers? They are inside, as if hidden under the skin. With the tip of the stump I feel the buttons on mobile phone, locks on clothes, a brush for painting... And these are my paintings. Like?

Mustafa paints in an impasto manner - brush strokes applied in a thick layer give objects a special shape and volume. The canvases are filled with a riot of colors and a positive mood. The colors are bright, rich, it is clear that the artist is truly in love with life. However, my attention was drawn to a portrait of a woman with sad eyes.

This is my mother, she died several years ago,” Mustafa says sadly. - Thanks to her, I learned to hold objects in my hands. My mother told me that I was born three months premature. With injuries, very weak, he could not eat himself. The doctors suggested that my parents give me a lethal injection. Dad got angry: “If my son dies, it won’t be from the injection” - and took my mother and me home. My grandmother said a prayer over me and began to feed me with a pipette. Unexpectedly for everyone, I suddenly started eating and quickly gained weight.

As a child, I spent a long time learning to hold a spoon with both hands. The spoon kept falling, I was angry. Mom persuaded: “You can’t just give up. Try again.” In the end, he “defeated” the spoon, and then learned to use a knife and fork. One day, when I was about five years old, the program “In the Animal World” was on TV. There they talked about cheetahs. I had never seen such beautiful animals before. grabbed ballpoint pen and immediately portrayed an exotic predator. Having accidentally seen the drawing, the father asked whose it was. “Mine,” I say. My father believed it only after I drew a new cheetah in front of him.

I remember, director high school didn’t want to accept me into first grade: “How will he write? No, take your child to a special school.” My father winked at me: “Come on, son, draw something.” I quickly sketched the wolf. The director's glasses went up in surprise, and he enrolled me in first grade. It wasn't easy at school: I was constantly teased. I had a crush on a girl from a parallel class. One day he plucked up courage and approached her. But the girl screamed: “Don’t come closer!” and pushed me away. There was horror and disgust in her eyes...

That day I came home in tears. My father said: “Son, we need to strengthen our spirit” and began to teach me about sports. I did karate, boxing, and could do a thousand push-ups. Sport helped me a lot. When classmates are in Once again They called me a “stump,” I couldn’t stand it and beat three people at once. After this incident, my father forbade me to go to karate, but at school they respected me.

“I peel potatoes even faster than other guys.”

All free time“I was drawing something,” Mustafa continues. - However, to enter art school was afraid. I thought they wouldn’t accept a cripple. I was already 25 years old when my father persuaded me to apply. At first the teachers were scared: how can you teach a person to draw if he has no hands? However, the father managed to convince the teachers. I was ten years older than the other students and I was ashamed of it. Now I regret that I did not dare to act earlier.

After graduating from school, Mustafa applied to the Crimean Art School named after Samokish. A publication about a young talent in the media forced local authorities to pay attention to talented artist. The guy was given a Tavria car. According to the law, as a disabled person, he was entitled to a free car from the state, but for many years he stood in line number 500, and the line didn’t even move. People's Deputy Refat Chubarov arranged for a new prosthesis to be made for Mustafa at the Kharkov Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology. Unlike the previous one, the prosthesis developed by German specialists weighs only 800 grams. Now Mustafa can run and jump.

After college, the guy became a student at the Crimean branch of the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture. Last year he came to the capital to enroll in his fifth year to receive a specialist diploma.

Oh, how I was afraid entrance exam! - Mustafa admits. - I thought: why did I come? They won't accept it anyway. He was the first of all applicants to paint a picture from the production and submit it for trial admissions committee. I wanted to go home as soon as possible. And suddenly they announce: “Mustafa Murtazaev, the score is four. You are enrolled.” I jumped for joy!

At home, in Crimea, they told me: you won’t survive in Kyiv. This is an evil city, where money and power decide everything. But for me Kyiv has become a good city. Here I met wonderful teachers and true comrades. We have a very friendly group.

While we were talking, other students came to the workshop. The guys greeted Mustafa by shaking his right stump. The girls kissed him on the cheek. It is clear that he is the favorite of the group.

It’s true: Mustafa makes you fall in love with him from the first sentence,” says academy student Yana Karpunina. - And where does he get so much optimism? It happens that you come to him with bad mood- will instantly cheer you up. He always has new jokes and anecdotes in stock. Do you know how Mustafa cooks? Real jam. Delicious salads, soups, potatoes...

So are you also a cook?

Why are you so surprised? - Mustafa shrugs. - I peel potatoes even faster than other guys. Most of all I love to cook mashed potatoes. Sometimes I cook a big pot in the hostel and treat it to my friends. For me there are no barriers in everyday life. When I come to the village to visit my father, I carry buckets of water - one at a time in my hand. And I chop wood. In addition, I play table tennis, drive a car and walk on my hands. Don't believe me? I will show you now.

Mustafa bent down, rested his stumps on the floor, threw his legs up and... walked!

He's unbending, you know? - student Artem Trushel talks about a friend. - Mustafa cannot be stopped by difficulties. His example inspires us. Is it possible to give up if such a person is nearby?

“I won the right to marry not according to tradition, but to the woman I love”

Mustafa is very open, temperamental and writes the same way,” he praises classmate Ian. - His paintings are rich, emotional, extraordinary: it is impossible to remain indifferent.

That's probably why they sell so well.

IN in social networks I post photos of my work,” Mustafa explains. - People come to my page and ask: “Can I buy this?” Although I cannot sell some paintings: too much soul is invested in them. For example, I worked on one still life for almost two years. They wanted to buy it for five thousand dollars. This huge amount, but for me the canvas is priceless. Or a portrait of my mother: it will always be with me. In general, the paintings are selling well, enough to live on in the capital.

I dream of writing a lot of works, selling them and building a house. I want to get married, but I have nowhere to take my wife. In 1989, my parents returned from Uzbekistan to Crimea, to the village of Privetnoye. However, the house where my grandmother lived before the deportation was occupied by other people. We started to build new house, just finished last year. My brother recently got married and brought his wife. This means I need to think about my own housing.

Do you have a bride in mind?

My beloved girl lives in Simferopol. We've been together for six years. My father insisted that I, according to tradition, marry a Crimean Tatar. However, I won the right to be with the woman my heart chose. I sincerely believe that with your hard work you can achieve any goal. The main thing is to want it with all your heart. In the morning I wake up with the first rays of the sun and thank the Almighty for living, breathing the air, and painting. This is already a lot. The rest, as they say, will follow.

Others with such a fate would have broken down, but he, on the contrary, is striving for joy, for the sun,” Anatoly Zorko, associate professor of the painting department of the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture, admires his student. - This can be seen in his paintings. Mustafa doesn't like to be helped. He carries heavy stretchers himself and prepares the palette. But squeezing paint out of zinc tubes without hands is very difficult... He is extremely purposeful. As soon as I’m setting it up, I see Mustafa is the first to grab the brush and is already applying strokes.

He writes in an expressive manner, or, as they say, “with feelings.” It is clear that every stroke passes through the soul. It happens: the Almighty took his palms from him, but in return gave him the talent of a painter. Mustafa naturally sees color and color. His paintings stand out noticeably against the background of the works of other students. By the way, Mustafa’s paintings have been noted more than once at all-Ukrainian exhibitions.

I recently learned about another talent of his. I had a birthday. Mustafa came up and asked: “Do you want me to give you a song?” And how he sings! I have never heard such voices before. While Mustafa sang for me "Apple Trees in Blossom" by the famous Soviet singer and composer Evgeny Martynov, I thought: what can his voice be compared to? And I remembered. Only the larks sing so high at dawn.

“I started singing before I spoke,” Mustafa smiles. - When I draw, I usually hum to myself. The song itself comes from the throat, helps to write. As a child, I often sang at weddings. And now, if anyone has a holiday, they ask me to sing. Friends recorded my songs and posted them on the Internet. If you're interested, type my name into a search engine and listen.

Mustafa has an unusually strong voice - three and a half octaves. He sings so soulfully about separation from his beloved that it sends shivers down your spine. Most of all, Mustafa loves to perform songs by famous performers in the Soviet Union. Because they "make sense".

Friends insisted that I try my hand at the X Factor show,” says Mustafa. - Last Sunday I came to the preliminary casting. Sang a song soloist of VIA"Flowers" by Alexander Losev "My clear little star". The expert who selected the show's participants was silent for a long time, and then said to me: “You sing very correctly, like in an opera. And we are looking for pop performers. Come back next year.”

At first I was upset. Then I thought about it and decided that there was no reason to be upset. After all, I live in Kyiv, and a lot happens here vocal shows. I will go to all castings. Once upon a time I didn’t believe that I would become an artist. But he achieved his goal!

IN Lately I have to travel a lot. This is understandable, because the desire to participate and win in various junior competitions and festivals is natural for a boy of my age. So I travel from city to city, to the award ceremony. And during another trip to capital city Kyiv had an unexpected meeting with amazing person, communication with whom changed my understanding of the values ​​of life.

In general, I don’t really like road acquaintances, but this is a special case. My mentor Mustafa Arifov and I were sitting in the carriage and discussing the results of the presentation, and suddenly our attention was attracted by a handsome young man who, limping slightly, walked past into the vestibule. Something in his appearance alerted us, but at first we didn’t understand what. Everything fell into place when the stranger walked back into his compartment. He did not have both hands: he very carefully carried a bright picture, holding it with the shoulder joints. Shocked, we looked at him, and then, having come to our senses, we decided: we’ll definitely get to know each other and, after interviewing him, we’ll “draw” portrait sketch. Moreover, Mustafa Islyamovich remembered that he had once seen a TV show about this Crimean artist and his name was the same, Mustafa, and his last name seemed to be Murtazaev.

Without thinking twice, we grabbed a notebook, a pen, a camera and a voice recorder - the full “combat arsenal” of a journalist - and rushed into the attack. And here we are sitting in the first compartment and talking with the culprit of our commotion. Mustafa Bey immediately warned that he could not stand pitying looks and stupid questions impudent journalists. Once in Kyiv, where he is now finishing his studies at the National Academy of Fine Arts, journalists came to his room and said from the doorway: “Show me how you peel potatoes!” Mustafa Murtazaev, without holding back his emotions, showed them the door. Noticing the silent question in our eyes, the artist slowly began his story.

“I was born this way,” the interlocutor shares with us shyly covering his hands and continues.

- When my mother was pregnant with me, I developed normally until about six months, but then something happened to her body, irreversible processes began. The doctors decided that fatal role What played here was that before giving birth, my mother worked in cotton fields, which were treated with the strongest pesticides and defoliants. The doctor who delivered the child suggested that my parents kill the disabled baby, but my father flatly refused such “mercy.” You know, if I had not been born this way, I would hardly have been an artist. He would have been an unremarkable boy, like hundreds of them walking the streets. Mom always jokes: “You’re like an alien from another planet who came to us on Earth to share kindness.”

He truly shared kindness with the people around him. Until the family moved to Crimea, to the historical homeland of his ancestors. In the village of Privetnoye, not far from Alushta, a boy from a poor Crimean Tatar family always had to prove to everyone that he was no different from those around him.

“My classmates called me names and bullied me,” Mustafa Bey says bitterly. - They called me “freak”, then “stump”, then “devil”. At every opportunity they tried to give a blow or, with rude and evil jokes, to humiliate. Seeing that I could not stand up for myself, my father began to teach me martial arts techniques. But soon the training had to be canceled, as the parents of my offenders complained to the director that I had “raised” their boorish offspring.

- What else didn’t you like about school? - I'm interested

- Exact sciences, and especially mathematics. After all, there is something that is higher than it, the sixth sense - intuition. I also didn’t like to write; I couldn’t write letters for a long time, and the pen kept falling out. The doctor made a prosthesis for right hand, but he only got in my way. Seeing that it was very difficult for me, my parents always supported me. They said: “Don’t give up, son, only with hard work and perseverance will you achieve success...” And they turned out to be right!

By the age of ten, my interlocutor rode a bicycle, chopped wood, dug a garden, hammered nails - in general, he did any homework. He also knew how to draw. True, he learned this craft before he began writing. The first to appear from under his pencil were crows, somehow attracting the boy's attention. Later, Anna Lendal, a teacher at the Alushta art school, began to develop his talent and recognized the artist’s extraordinary gift.

- She said this: “You will grow into a real master brushes, just don't give up. And you know, she turned out to be right. True, at first, everything was very difficult for me: the pencil would fall, the brush would not hold, or the line would not go as it should. But the teachers did not allow us to give up. They constantly reminded us of a simple truth: “You shouldn’t copy everything and draw it as it really is. Bring your own elements, your own forms into the picture, and let there be a portrait with irregular facial features. But these will be your paintings.”

Already in mature age Mustafa Murtazaev entered art school. At first, the students were wary of him, but then they got used to their unusual-looking classmate and became his true friends.

- My friends don’t notice that I’m “missing” something. They see my work, which is not like the work of other brush artists. They like my persistence, my stubbornness and determination,” he shares and continues without hiding his pride. - In my opinion, a real artist needs not hands, but sensitive heart and perseverance. If someone wants to achieve something, then no one will stop him.

My hero did it. Over the past three years, Mustafa Bey has produced more than eighty paintings, in demand by both domestic gallery owners and foreign collectors: portraits, landscapes and still lifes. His fans always look forward to new works and new exhibitions from him. And I hope that my very main picture which will bring him world fame, Mustafa Murtazaev will draw more. Just give him patience and inspiration!

Bekir ABLAEV,
junior correspondent of the creative association
young journalists
"Spring" of Nizhnegorsk Central Children's and Youth Center

Mustafa Murtazaev once rushed at offenders like Bruce Lee, but now he shows pictures about love to the whole world

An exhibition of works by one of the most amazing masters of Crimea has opened in the Simferopol art center. Mustafa Murtazaev does not have both brushes, but he draws beautifully by attaching a pencil or brush to his hand. His exhibition is called “Visions of Love”, and the artist explains that he exhibited his new paintings about the joy of life, about faith in something bright, in something that never dies - about love.

Mustafa - unusual artist. And it's not about bright colors, in which there is still no lightness. It's not about talent and ability. The point is the notorious and hackneyed by time and standard phrases of fortitude. The painter already has more than two hundred works. Favorite directions - still lifes, landscapes. He writes poetry, music, and participates in foreign exhibitions. They talk and write about him. And he believes that an artist is the same doctor who recognizes a person from the inside - and shows him strength, beauty, and shortcomings. He believes that with the help of a brush you can cure melancholy, disbelief, anger, and despair.

THE PARENTS DID NOT REGRET.

Doctors were unable to explain to the parents why their first-born was born without both hands and feet. Mustafa's mother worked hard in the cotton fields of Uzbekistan, which were treated with chemicals. Perhaps that's why. The Murtazaev family moved to Privetnoye, which was formerly called Uskut, in 1989. They began to build a new house, which remains unfinished. No money left. “My parents didn’t feel sorry for me. They forced me to do everything myself,” the artist recalls. - And I am grateful to them for that. Of course, they overfed me with fish oil (smiles), and because of this, now I can’t eat anything fatty, but nothing. This is not the main thing."

LOOKED UP TO BRUCE LEE

Mustafa studied at a regular school. After the ninth grade, he attended the Alushta art school. Then he graduated from the Crimean Art College. M. S. Samokisha. Well, very soon he will complete his studies at the Crimean branch of the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture. “Maybe it wasn’t easy at one time,” says the artist. - But that’s okay, because I learned to draw before I learned to write. I painted everywhere: on the walls, on the linoleum, on the boards. He drew everything he saw around: dogs, chickens, cows. I especially liked watching cats, their soft and plastic movements. I remember one of my first more or less serious work there were crows. For some reason I like these birds. I also remember that I once painted boats in oil... it looked like they were embroidered. I knew nothing then about how to draw correctly, nor about what techniques there are. I just did what I liked (laughs). And I also just loved watching programs about animals. Somehow I even decided for myself that I was a tiger. This means that he must not retreat.”

Once upon a time, Mustafa's idol was Bruce Lee. Like the actor, the guy did push-ups up to two thousand times and practiced martial arts. It happened that he started a fight, defending himself from offensive attacks. Everyone was afraid of him. “Then they stopped touching me,” he says. - And I stopped fighting. I was afraid of my own strength. Alas, now I have given up sports, but, in fact, it saved me. I studied a lot. I looked at my father and I wanted to be as big, strong and strong as him.”

“I wish I had a wife on X Factor”

Mustafa's dreams are down to earth. "Oh, I dream about personal exhibition in Kyiv,” Mustafa smiles. - It would be nice to go somewhere to work in Italy and France. I also dream of participating in the X Factor project. He already has a repertoire assembled. He writes and sings Russian, Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar songs. By the way, he's going to study Italian language, because he studied opera for four years.

“Should I confess again? “I really want to paint a portrait of Refat Chubarov,” Murtazaev laughs. - But he apparently doesn’t know this, so he doesn’t place orders. But seriously, my desires are ordinary, male: to buy an apartment and get married.” And he adds that if he has already decided something for himself, come up with something, he will definitely do it. He’s just a little sad that there are almost no orders. “They say it’s good, but expensive,” the artist laments. - And they don’t take it. But it’s okay, we’ll break through. I like it when it's difficult. This is a test of strength. I don't like people who feel sorry for themselves. I can't stand being dependent on someone. I know that if ideas are born, then they need to be brought to life, regardless of difficulties.”

Makes booths to relax

In the summer, Mustafa makes money by painting portraits of vacationers on the embankment. Pencil on paper. At first I was very complex if it didn’t work out and the similarities were not so noticeable. And then he stopped. After all, every artist has his own vision of a person. He also paints sea rocks with intricate patterns and landscapes. Now “these cute little things” are being given more and more. Previously, when money was very tight, I sold to survive. “But in general, I believe that the more you give, the more you will have,” the painter laughs. - I would give everything away, but I understand that without money it’s impossible. But I like to give people joy. Do something nice for them."

Mustafa loves to work outside. In the courtyard. In the house, he is “pressed by the atmosphere of endless renovation” and the fact that “different people come and go.” And I want peace and tranquility. “I also really love the sea,” says the painter. - I can stand on the embankment for hours and watch. The sea... it is so different, so strong and unpredictable... And inspiration comes when I am sad. Then you want to do something, throw out everything that has accumulated on the canvas. It happens that at first I seem to hear music inside me, and then I get to work. And it happens that the plot of the painting comes to me in a dream. I know - peace is with you and in you, if you hear it. And you will see. Well, in order to relax and get away from all sorts of thoughts, I do things that have nothing to do with painting, for example, I put together dog houses.

Irina Kerzhentseva