Wood Carving Art has an important place in Turkish history from the years when the Turks were in Central Asia to the Seljuk period and then to the Ottoman period when it lived its golden age. This unique handicraft, which has managed to survive from ancient times to the present day, sometimes on objects and sometimes alone, continues to be performed by its enthusiasts as a cultural element. Ibn Haldun University aims to contribute to the teaching of this distinguished art within the scope of art courses. In the first period of the Wood Carving course taught by Wood Carving Artist Vugar Mammadov Allahverdi, our students gained basic skills by learning to carve geometric patterns on wooden boards. Wood Carving lessons will continue in the second period of the art courses that will start in the spring semester.
We talked to Vugar Mammadov Allahverdi about the intricacies of wood carving, which includes a metaphysical meaning beyond an ordinary handicraft. On this occasion, we got to know Vugar Mammadov Allahverdi, who has a colorful and versatile personality.
Can we get to know you briefly?
I was born on 22 May 1969 in Ordubad city of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. I graduated from Baku Music Academy in 1998. For the sake of the freedom and territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan, I became a war veteran by participating in the wars against the Armenian occupation troops in Nagorno-Karabakh.
In the years 1990-1993, I successfully defended myself in practical seminars in the presence of the Professor delegation of the Beijing Vuş Academy in the cities of Bishkek, Alushta, and Moscow, and received my trainer diploma in the field of "Chinese Martial Arts". At the same time, I taught both the physical and spiritual sides of this art in Baku until 2015.
As a result of my great interest in Turkish Sufi music, I organized concerts in Baku for the first time by forming Turkish Sufi Music groups named "Mevlana" and "Buta" consisting of children. I started calligraphy with my own efforts since 1997 and carving the Quranic verses on wood since 2004 by taking lessons from the famous Azeri master Seyfeddin Mensimoğlu and the famous Iranian master Mehdi Tusi.
In the field of Wood Carving, I participated in 42 exhibitions, 18 of which were abroad and 24 in the country, between 2004-2018. Between 2013 and 2015, I worked as a Wood Carving Instructor at the Disabled Youth Rehabilitation Center in Baku. I have been residing in Istanbul since 2015 and I have been teaching at the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Lifelong Learning Center İSMEK as a master trainer for about 3 years.
How did you meet with Wood Carving and start this art?
My first encounter with Wood Carving was when I came across the calligraphy on the wood of my future teacher at an exhibition held in our gallery in 2004. This impressed me a lot and this is how the wood carving adventure in my life began.
The name of one of your exhibitions: “The Dhikr of Wood” This is a very impressive name for us. What is the reason for choosing this name?
On April 17, 2017, my first personal exhibition of Ümraniye Municipality, titled "The dhikr of wood", was held. Since the incident of the Prophet (PBUH) speaking to a weeping date log affected me a lot and had a very special place in my inner world, I decided to name this exhibition The Dhikr of Wood.
So, can we talk about a metaphysical dimension behind the art of wood carving?
Certainly. First of all, let me say this: Everything in nature remembers Allah, as do trees. For example, we will embroider Lafzatullah on a wooden plate. It is almost as if we call Allah with our hands, our minds, and in short, with our whole being, until the work is completed.
What other benefits do you think there are for a person to be interested in the art of Wood Carving?
First of all, wood is a pure, natural substance. I think that even touching wood is good for people in this age when things made of unnatural materials such as plastic and the like surround us. We personally experience that it relaxes people physiologically and psychologically and takes them away from the stress of daily life. Regardless, dealing with a hobby affects one's life success in a positive way. Our students who are interested in Wood Carving also express how dealing with this business makes them feel.
How did you find the motivation of the students in the Wood Carving course at our university?
I think that the motivation of my students in the "Wood Carving" course at your university is very good. This interest of the young people in the art of wood carving made me very happy. I congratulate Ibn Haldun University for giving this opportunity to its students.
