Renowned artist Merdan Kakabaev, who was born and raised in the northern region’s Gubadag etrap, has donated a series of paintings depicting famed Turkmen bagshis (folk musicians) to the Dashoguz Velayat Local History Museum.
The donated paintings include portraits of famous folk performers, such as Bayar-Bagshi, Nazar Baga, Kabeshikh Bagshi, among others.Some of them have been shown in themed exhibitions at the Museum of Fine Arts.
Historical-cultural heritage and landscapes of his home region hold an important place in Merdan Kakabaev’s career as an artist.His paintings of Dashoguz velayat’s architectural gems, warm-hued still lifes and landscapes filled with a profound love of his native land are much liked and well remembered by art enthusiasts.
This year, ethnographic exhibits have become welcome additions to the Museum’s collection as well.Among them are an array of 18th - and 19th -century pottery, including khums (large vessels used for storing grain), old felted items, and household articles.
The collection also boasts a well-preserved wooden butter churn (juwaz).