I greet you as Eltaj, an artist born in the culturally rich lands of Azerbaijan in 1986. My journey with photography began as an enthusiastic hobbyist, and over time, I’ve nurtured it into my life’s vocation. The city that I’ve grown up in serves as my canvas, a setting that is as familiar as it is rich in stories waiting to be told. As an artist, my work has been recognized and awarded both domestically and internationally. Several private, public, and corporate collections hold my pieces as expressions of raw emotion and humanity. But beyond my commitment to art, I am a staunch advocate for social justice, dedicating my time to working with individuals grappling with physical and mental disabilities.

My photography focuses mainly on the essence of human emotions. The subjects of my work are chosen due to my interest in people’s inner narratives. My goal is to imbue my work with an exquisite sensuality, bringing to the forefront primordial emotions while addressing the weighty themes of memory, eros, mortality, and pain. As I capture these subjects, I strive to resonate with their internal feelings. In this process, I have often sensed a mysterious connection that binds us, a connection that I am eager to illuminate in my art. I use ambiguous, cropped images of the human body as a conduit to tap into the profound uncertainties between pleasure and pain, urging viewers to confront their elusive interiors.

Why this genre, you might ask? I believe our lives are deeply interwoven with our emotions, reflected in our bodies, and expressed on our faces. This connection serves as a primary channel to showcase these feelings. Capturing these feelings, however, is no easy task. Fear, laughter, passion, pain, love – these are experiences that defy explanation but are universally shared. My photographic projects consistently utilize the stark contrasts of black and white. This stylistic choice allows me to usher viewers into an intense confrontation with their psychological selves, an encounter that may be terrifying yet irresistibly captivating. The absence of colour in my photography removes distractions, allowing the viewers to experience the reality of the image with raw immediacy. In my current endeavour, I am focusing primarily on personal long-term projects, corporate work, and editorial assignments. Each project presents an opportunity to push the boundaries of my artistic expression further, and I am excited about the possibilities this journey presents. I am Eltaj, and this is my artistic statement – an open invitation to the world to experience the profound depths of human emotion through my work.

Contact: [email protected] / +994503611016