Iqbal Hasanalizadə, a renowned artist from Sumgayit, creates unique artworks from wooden waste materials. As an artisan supported by ABAD, his handcrafted pieces are cherished by customers, who acquire them with delight. By profession, Hasanəlizadə is a geography teacher, which perhaps fuels his passion for promoting Azerbaijan’s tourism industry.

Guided by the motto “No tourist should leave Azerbaijan without a souvenir,” Hasanalizadə crafts his products to leave a lasting impression on visitors to the country. He explains:

“In my works, I depict our ancient city in a style reminiscent of animation. The vibrant colors I use inspire a positive outlook on life. One tourist even described my work as resembling a living cartoon, which filled me with joy. It meant they understood my vision.”

Hasanalizadə believes that ABAD plays a vital role in promoting Azerbaijan as a land of artisans:

“My greatest dream is for Azerbaijan to be recognized as a land of galleries, where the workshops and studios of our master artisans are open to all and become some of the most visited places in the country.”

He also acknowledges the multifaceted support provided by ABAD:

“I’ve always had many ideas, but I faced challenges in realizing them due to technological limitations, financial constraints, or lack of time. By joining ABAD, I am gradually overcoming these obstacles.”