Now, having gone through numerous life challenges, he has returned to art and has become known as a talented master.
The artist was born on October 18, 1968, in the village of San-Tash, located in the Tyup district.
From an early age, he showed an interest in drawing, inspired by the works of his maternal uncles, who had artistic skills. He vividly remembers the military scenes with tanks and soldiers that left an indelible mark on his childhood memory.
"Everything starts in childhood. My uncles painted wonderfully. When they came to visit us, I always asked them to draw something. Unfortunately, they did not have professional education in this field," he shared.
From a young age, Suyunbek was able to see inspiration in everyday things and lived in a world of fantasies. He often imagined himself among the flowers on the windowsill and loved books with beautiful illustrations. In school, he became a member of the editorial board and received his first recognition by taking first place in a drawing competition at a children's camp.
In high school, following an assignment from his literature teacher, he filled an album with images of poets and writers, as well as their characters.
In 1985, he enrolled in the art and graphics department of the Karakol Pedagogical Institute. From 1986 to 1989, he served in the navy, but even then, he did not abandon his artistic pursuits.
"I served in the navy for three years, and in the garrison of Gadzhievo-Severomorsk, at the invitation of the commander, I created my first large painting measuring 3 by 4 meters. A pencil never left my hands. In our barracks, there were three artists, and we painted three walls. At that time, I didn't think much of it, but now I am proud of it," he recalls.
Rakhimdulaev also mentioned interesting incidents related to his military service and art:
"When I was on duty at the checkpoint, all the officers passed through with passes. There was a very beautiful female officer serving in our garrison. One day, I drew her portrait and hung it on the board at the checkpoint. She liked my work and brought me sweets. Soon, the officers began to order portraits of their families. I also found a tabletop in the dump, cleaned it, and painted mountains and the sea on it. The commander hung this work in his office," he added.
After graduating from the institute, he received a scholarship, got married, but life's difficulties and family responsibilities distracted him from creativity for a while. During those challenging times of the Soviet Union's collapse, he had to take any job to support his family. Despite invitations from art galleries in Bishkek, he could not relocate due to family circumstances.
Over the years, the artist left painting and engaged in wood carving and carpentry. However, over time, he realized that art was his calling and returned to painting. His creations have been sold to Russia and abroad — to the USA, England, and Germany.
Suyunbek is the father of six children — four daughters and two sons. Two of his daughters have become seamstresses and work on orders, one of the children is interested in crafts, and the twins show talent in drawing.
The main theme of his work is nature, as every moment of it is unique.
"Nature inspires me because there are no identical moments, only beauty, character, and hidden feelings that are hard to express in words," the artist noted.
He prefers to create paintings where nature and life speak for themselves.
Rakhimdulaev shared another vivid story related to his landscapes:
"Once, when a snowstorm was raging, I decided to depict the Karakol Gorge. I tried to capture every moment of nature. The work turned out very well, but due to spending a long time in the cold, I caught a cold and spent ten days in bed," he recalls.
In the future, if health permits, the artist dreams of leaving behind classic and philosophically rich works. He is drawn to works that convey small life episodes, silence, and mystery.
"I am interested in various techniques: oil, gouache, watercolor, acrylic, colored and simple pencils, pastel. In style, I am closer to impressionism and realism, but I would like to try other directions as well," he concluded.
