Aflatun's Journey
Aflatun Israilov is a self-taught seascape and landscape painter, who took a brush for the first time at the age of 40.
He was born and raised in a picturesque region between the Caspian Sea and Caucasus mountains.
Being physically weak in his childhood, he started doing sports to keep fit and later received a “Master of Sports” degree at the age of 20.
For many years Aflatun taught Jiu-Jitsu and Karate to many students across Azerbaijan.
Inspired by the beauty of the Caspian Sea and swift rivers of the Caucasus mountains, he founded a new Martial Arts style ‘Su-Yolu’ (translated from Azeri as “water flow”) – a system of unarmed defensive combat based on the movement of water, and taught local children the new style.
transition
He made a transition to painting in 2010 in the most challenging time in his life.
He intuitively ‘dived’ into water topic from Fine Arts perspective. Later he realised it was great personal discovery and as a result his philosophy based on water came together into a consistent whole.
artist statement
Aflatun’s art is not just about seascapes.
It conveys nature power and the Creator’s immensity.
It unites the opposites, showing human life is filled with challenges, but the sunshine always triumphs.
Aflatun’s ability to render light and ocean movement is phenomenal.
Water technically being one of the most difficult art objects, is shown in his work playfully in many different ways.
One is obvious – realism and endless love for the Caspian Sea are professionally embodied into Aflatun’s vibrant paintings.