Samir Rakhmanov: Readability in Storytelling

Samir Rakhmanov gained a Jackson’s Alternative Award in Jackson’s Artwork Prize this 12 months along with his work Apple Tree. On this interview, he discusses what he’s been as much as since successful a Visitor Choose’s Alternative award in 2025, how a fee grew to become a springboard for brand spanking new work, and why some symbols are too sturdy to disregard.

Above picture: Samir within the studio

*Apple Tree*, 2025
Samir Rakhmanov
Oil on canvas, 110 x 140 cm | 43.3. x 55.1 in

Josephine: It’s been virtually a 12 months since we final spoke, after The Burial gained an award in Jackson’s Artwork Prize 2025. What have you ever been as much as since then?

Samir: 2025 was fairly a busy 12 months when it comes to work. After being honored with an award in Jackson’s Artwork Prize, I went on to take part in a few exhibitions, each domestically and internationally. There was additionally a larger effort to search for and take part in additional open calls. But it surely’s a troublesome job!

The studio remained busy as nicely, leading to over 40 new works and a number of other commissioned initiatives. The main focus was extra on experimenting with material and type than with supplies. My foremost supplies remained the same old oil paints, gouache, and oil pastel. In between all of that, I additionally continued instructing on-line portray programs.

These days, in 2026, my focus has been on a sequence of work centered round seaside and seaside scenes, testing other ways of storytelling by means of shapes, colour, and figures.

Work from *Mardakan Collection* within the studio

Josephine: What had been you fascinated about or exploring on the time you made Apple Tree? What impressed it, and the way did it come to be?

Samir: The topic of harvest and apple selecting had been in my head for a very long time. In 2024, I attempted a smaller work on the subject. The thought all the time appeared so easy and common, but complicated in its prospects and meanings, which intrigued me.

The composition for Apple Tree, nonetheless, got here from a commissioned portray I used to be requested to create for a consumer. I had full freedom with the fee, so I made a decision to do this topic of apple selecting, which I used to be positive would work for the collector. Ultimately, out of the 2 composition concepts, my consumer selected the opposite one. That portray, referred to as Harvest Time, was additionally chosen for Jackson’s Artwork Prize 2026 and reached the longlist, if I’m not mistaken. It had an analogous topic—selecting apples—however a very completely different colour concept and temper.

After ending the fee, I used to be left with the sketch for Apple Tree, which I actually wished to color, because it was my private favourite of the 2 sketches offered to the consumer. So, in the long run, I spent a number of months engaged on it within the autumn of 2025.

Josephine: What made you submit this piece to Jackson’s Artwork Prize?

Samir: I used to be kind of happy with how the portray turned out. I wished to strive exhibiting it, as I felt it “had one thing to say,” and was additionally thinking about the way it would possibly look on partitions outdoors my studio. Since I’ve been pushing myself to work extra on larger canvases, it felt vital to start out exhibiting these larger works as nicely.

The portray was proven domestically in early February, however I additionally thought of submitting it to Jackson’s once more this 12 months. I wasn’t positive it could attain the shortlist or win an award, particularly contemplating that I had already gained one the earlier 12 months. However in the long run, all of it labored out nice, I suppose!

Josephine: You’ve talked about the allegorical and symbolic components of Apple Tree, from biblical references to interpretations of adolescence. Was it your intention to discover these themes from the outset, or did they grow to be extra obvious because the portray developed?

Samir: I wouldn’t say it was there from the beginning or that it was the explanation I wished to color this scene. However the symbolism appeared virtually instantly as I started making research and sketches for it. Biblical references are troublesome to disregard each time apples are depicted, despite the fact that the Bible by no means identifies the forbidden fruit in Eden as an apple. However the image is already there, and the apple tree on the whole has been a strong image all through historical past.

The thought of adolescence, nonetheless, got here earlier, whereas I used to be fascinated about the panorama within the background. I began remembering sure childhood experiences and the landscapes of Azerbaijan from that point, with their hills and timber. One way or the other, this led me so as to add a second determine—a boy within the background—to convey the sensation of childhood friendship, when the older little one grows up and matures extra shortly, making the transition from childhood to adolescence.

As I pushed the portray additional, all these completely different concepts ended up staying within the piece. In fact, I by no means need to push a specific interpretation onto the viewer or make them see it in the identical approach. I’m happier when the viewer unpacks the portray in another way.

*A Plate Of Cherries*, 2026
Samir Rakhmanov
Oil on canvas, 95 x 70 cm | 37 x 23 in

Josephine: How did it really feel to progress by means of the competitors and finally win a Jackson’s Alternative Award, particularly after your success final 12 months?

Samir: Yeah, it was completely sudden! I believed that, out of all my entries, some would possibly attain the longlist at greatest. However once I noticed that Apple Tree had reached the shortlist, I used to be already so blissful and felt that I had principally achieved my purpose. Then, getting the information that the portray had gained an award was very flattering and positively made my day!

Josephine: What’s developing subsequent for you?

Samir: As talked about earlier, I’m creating a sequence of work and attempting to take my work in a brand new route, with a larger sense of readability and cohesion. There are already a number of sketches that I’d love to start out creating on larger canvases.

When it comes to instructing, some new on-line programs are deliberate for 2027, that are presently in improvement.

I additionally need to grow to be extra concerned in exhibitions and present my work at bodily venues. So one other purpose is to seek out venues and galleries to work with.