One of the branches of decorative-applied folk artistry is the art of Tezhib. Tezhib was historically used to adorn the borders of calligraphy, and today it is also presented as an independent form of painting. These are primarily symmetrical works consisting of stylized plant forms or various designs.

“ABAD” artisan Guncamal Orucova is a Tezhib artist. She has been engaged in this delicate and challenging art, which had been forgotten and neglected over time, for eight years now.

Ms. Guncamal was born in the Khanlig village of the Gubadli district. At the age of 13, she was forced to relocate with her family to Baku city. She is a graduate of the Vocational Education program at Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University. She teaches Technology at the Khanlig Village Secondary School No. 1 named after K. Mirzayev in the Gubadli district.

“I am passionate about the art of Tezhib. I encountered this art in Islamic religious books and decided to study it more deeply. Initially, I gifted my handmade works only to friends and acquaintances. However, my desire to share my art with a wider audience, organize exhibitions, and train students in this art grew day by day. On my brother’s advice, I joined ‘ABAD.’ And now, several of my goals have begun to be realized step by step.”

It should be noted that you can explore Guncamal Orucova’s handmade works at “ABAD” ethno-boutiques.