This year would have been 85 years since the birth of Suimenkul Chokmorov, an outstanding citizen of the Kyrgyz Republic, People’s Artist of the USSR, People’s Artist of the Kyrgyz SSR, People’s Artist (Painter) of the Kyrgyz SSR.
Unfortunately, his life ended too soon, when he reached his creative perfection as a film actor and as a painter.
From early childhood, he became interested in painting and entered the Frunze Art School in 1953, from which he graduated in 1958, and then studied at the Leningrad Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture named after E.E. Repin. He successfully graduated from the Institute in 1964 under the guidance of E.E. Moiseenko, the famous Soviet battle painter, People’s Artist of the USSR.
This monument was built on the initiative of Sagynbek Abdrakhmanov, Chairman of the Public Foundation of Suimenkul Chokmorov, and on funds raised from Kyrgyz citizens.
Sculptor Azamat Abdrakhmanov.
Architect Nurseyit Mambetkaziev.
He worked as a teacher of painting and composition at the Frunze Art School from 1964 to 1967.
As a painter he painted landscapes, still lifes, portraits - about 400 highly professional works, which are now kept in the Kyrgyz State Museum of Fine Arts named after G. Aitiev. His models are mainly people of art: “Portrait of S. Karalaev” (1974), “Dedication to Sayakbai Karalaev” (1974), “Actor Zhumadylov” (1971), “Portrait of the People’s Artist of the Kyrgyz SSR Dzhangorozova A.” (1978), “Cinematographers of Kyrgyzstan” (1986),
“Portrait of Veteran Sadybakas”, portraits of Japanese film director Akira Kurosawa (1987) and actor Toshiro Mifune, Italian actress Monica Vitti, as well as paintings “Mother” (1967), “My Son” (1972), “Kurmanzhan Datka” (1988), “Spring in the village” (1985), “Morning in the village” (1985). He was a member of the Union of Artists of the USSR (1967), a member of the Union of Artists of the Kyrgyz SSR (1974), and in 1990 he was awarded the title of People’s Artist of the Kyrgyz SSR”.
*Competition winner Azamat Abdrakhmanov and on the left, Chairman of the Board of the Suimenkul Chokmorova Foundation Sagynbek Abdrakhmanov.
*Photo for memory. Seated from left to right: People's Artist of the Kyrgyz Republic Abdray Osmonov, Executive Secretary of the Chokmorov Foundation Pusurov Kambar. Standing from left to right: people's artists of the Kyrgyz Republic Suyutbek Torobekov, Taalaibek Usubaliev, chairman of the board of the Suimenkula Chokmorova Foundation Abdrakhmanov Sagynbek, elder brother of Suimenkul Chokmorov Suyorkul Chokmorov, representative of the Kyrgyz Congress in Kyrgyzstan Kultaev Kadyrbek, sculptor, member of the Union of Artists Askar Turumbekov, architect Nurseyit Mambetkaziev.
*People's artists of the Kyrgyz Republic S. Torobekov and A. Osmanov. Discussion of the approved sketch made from plaster of the monument to Chokmorov.
The International Award of the Ch. Aitmatov Club in the field of literature, art and culture was awarded to him in 1991 for his great contribution to the development of Kyrgyz fine arts and cinema, for his highly professional performance of roles in films based on the works of Ch. Aitmatov.
Suimenkul Chokmorov began acting in films in 1967 and his first major role was the role of Baktygul in the brilliant film “Shot at Karash Pass” directed by Bolot Shamshiev, which brought popularity and fame to the aspiring actor.Later, he also played with talent, both in historical and adventure films, and in dramas on modern themes. He starred a lot in film adaptations of the works of the Kyrgyz writer Ch.Aitmatova.
Throughout his life Suimenkul Chokmorov starred in dozens of films by iconic Soviet producers: “Shot at Karash Pass” (1969), “Dzhamilia (1969), “Extraordinary Commissar” (1970), “Scarlet Poppies of Issyk Kul’ (1972), ‘Bow to the Fire’ (1972), ‘The Seventh Bullet’ (1972), ‘I am Tien Shan” (1972), “Fierce” (1973), ‘Dersu Uzala” (1975), “Red Apple” (1975), “The Life and Death of Ferdinand Luce” (1976), “The apple of the eye” (1977), “Ulan” (1977), “Early Cranes” (1979), “Men without Women” (1981), “Wolf Pit” (1983), “Sunday Walks” (1984), “The First” (1984), “Waves die on the shore” (1985), “Joloy” (1978).
He was a multiple diploma winner and laureate of all-Union film festivals for the best performance of a leading man’s role in the films: “Shot at Karash Pass” (1969), “Scarlet Poppies of Issyk-Kul” (1972), “Fierce” (1970), “Men and Women” (1982).
In 2000 he was recognized as the best actor of Kyrgyzstan of the twentieth century.
For talented artistic embodiment of the images of Soviet people, for the creation of film works that educate young people citizenship, courage, love for the Motherland, he was awarded the Lenin Komsomol Prize in 1972, and for playing the role of Azat Bairamov in the film “Ulan” - the State Prize of the Kyrgyz SSR named after Toktogul Satylganov.
Suimenkul Chokmorov was awarded the prize in the category “Award for Actor’s Work” at all-Union film festivals four times: in 1972 in Tbilisi, in 1974 in Baku, in 1978 in Yerevan, in 1982 in Tallinn. He is the only actor in the USSR who was four times awarded the diploma of the Union of Cinematographers “For the Best Man’s Role”.
For his debut role in the film “Shot at Karash Pass” Chokmorov received the title of Honored Artist of the Kyrgyz SSR, and in 1975 People’s Artist of the Kyrgyz SSR.
In 1981 he became People’s Artist of the USSR.
In 1990 S. Chokmorov was honored with the title of People’s Artist (Painter) of the Kyrgyz SSR.
С. Chokmorov is one of the outstanding actors of world cinema, not only of Soviet and Asian cinema, but also of world significance. Despite the fact that he came to cinema as a non-professional with no experience in cinema, he forever remained the greatest master.
He represented the Soviet film art in many foreign countries of Europe, Asia and Africa as a popular film artist.
He was seriously ill in childhood. To overcome the disease, he engaged in sports, played volleyball. During his years of study in Leningrad, he became a master of sports in volleyball, played in the student team of the city and was considered one of the best players. Later he played for the volleyball team of the Kyrgyz SSR.
*Photo for memory. Seated from left to right: People's Artist of the Kyrgyz Republic Abdray Osmonov, Executive Secretary of the Chokmorov Foundation Pusurov Kambar. Standing from left to right: people's artists of the Kyrgyz Republic Suyutbek Torobekov, Taalaibek Usubaliev, chairman of the board of the Suimenkula Chokmorova Foundation Abdrakhmanov Sagynbek, elder brother of Suimenkul Chokmorov Suyorkul Chokmorov, representative of the Kyrgyz Congress in Kyrgyzstan Kultaev Kadyrbek, sculptor, member of the Union of Artists Askar Turumbekov, architect Nurseyit Mambetkaziev.