Sura Madatova
Welcome to my website!
My name is Sura, and I was born in 1987 in Baku, Azerbaijan. My name was passed down to me from my grandmother. It comes from the Arabic word used for chapters in the Quran and also translates to "picture." This name reflects my life, which has unfolded in chapters shaped by the different countries I’ve lived in, and it also connects to my visual nature—images have always held great importance to me.
As a child, I had a talent for drawing and enjoyed playing music. I was often lost in my imagination, captivated by the beauty of nature and the intricate details of the world around me.
In 2009, after graduating from Azerbaijan Medical University, I got married and moved abroad with my husband for a long-term assignment. Although I trained as a dentist, I never pursued the profession, as my heart was always drawn to creativity. After becoming a mother, I devoted myself fully to motherhood for several years. During this time, I received my first professional camera as a gift and began photographing my daughter almost daily, creating a rich archive of memories. I also captured countless moments from our many travels, with my husband always encouraging me and believing in my talent.
It has always been important for me to capture life's moments and freeze the beauty of what I see. Photography felt like a way to "cheat" time—to hold onto a moment and make it last.
I began to take photography more seriously while living in Brazil during one of my husband’s assignments. There, I published a cookbook featuring Azerbaijani national dishes, for which I did all the photography and design myself. The success of this project gave me newfound confidence, and I realized my visual skills were coming to life. To further develop my abilities, I completed the “Still Life” course at the Rodchenko Moscow School of Photography and an author’s course by Sanan Aleskerov. During this time, my work was exhibited for the first time at the Gazelli Art House in Baku.
Recently, I began creating calligraphic works with flowers and herbs, which has become a form of meditation for me.
I am constantly learning and expanding my horizons while preparing new projects. I believe in myself and trust that the most exciting adventures are still to come.
Sincerely,
Sura