The artists who struggled in the 1960s and 1970s played a significant role in the current success of Azerbaijan's Contemporary Painting Art, which has developed freely, without political pressure or reaction. Rasim Babayev, once recognized as one of the founders of the "Absheron School," which was known to only a small portion of Azerbaijani society, is one of the leading figures in this struggle in the last quarter of the 20th century. Babayev, one of the pioneering figures of contemporary painting and one of Azerbaijan's most prominent artists, dedicated his entire life to fighting against the oppressive Soviet regime and its influence on art. In his works, he brought to light the identity, language, folklore, history, and mythology of the Azerbaijani people, who were subjected to oppression and exploitation. From this perspective, Babayev’s works are not only artistic and philosophical in nature but also hold great value in terms of national-ethical, ideological, and sociological aspects. His creative beliefs, characteristics, and developmental trajectory have been the subject of numerous studies, not only because of his works but also due to his artistic sensitivity and social role. Despite many studies, a holistic panorama of Babayev’s creativity has yet to be presented, largely due to the multifaceted and ever-evolving nature of his work. This research aims to explore the fundamental characteristics of Rasim Babayev’s creativity based on his worldview and philosophy. Additionally, the study seeks to introduce Babayev to Turkish art researchers. The study attempts to convey key turning points in the artist’s life, the foundations of his philosophy, the main stages of his creative journey, and the dominant images and themes in his works.
Keywords: Azerbaijan, Contemporary, Painting, Absheron –School