On October 8, 2025, the Azerbaijan National Museum of Art hosted the opening of a solo exhibition by Honored Artist and Professor Arif Alasgarov titled “Old Bakuvian: Longing and Emotions.”

At the opening ceremony, speeches were delivered by Shirin Malikova, Director of the Azerbaijan National Museum of Art; People’s Artists Salhab Mammadov, Fuad Salayev, and Arif Huseynov; Honored Art Figure Valida Mammadova; PhD in Art Studies Telman Ibrahimov; and Head of the “Design” Department at the Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts, Faig Dadashov. They highlighted the artist’s rich creative legacy and his significant contribution to the development of Azerbaijani visual art. At the end of the event, Honored Artist and Professor Arif Alasgarov expressed his gratitude for the kind words about his work and for the high appreciation of art in general.

Organized by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the museum, the exhibition features more than 60 graphic and painting works by the artist created over different years.

Both in his graphic and pictorial works, the artist explores themes such as the life of ordinary people, intergenerational relationships, love, and the meaning and origins of existence.

The exhibition presents works executed in oil painting, etching, monotype, and lithography techniques — including “The Strong Ones,” “Tightrope Walkers,” “The Potter,” “The Hunter,” “Wrestling,” and “Master and Apprentices.” The piece “Pehlivan” (The Wrestler), displayed both in traditional and animated form, stands out as one of the highlights of the exhibition.

The exhibition “Old Bakuvian: Longing and Emotions” will remain open to visitors until October 26, 2025.