Five years ago, looking over Lilya Garipova’s, my colleague in journalism at that time, first timid drawings, could I suppose that since then her collection of art-works will count about 250, and that I will have to speak at the opening of her exhibition? Knowing her purposefulness and craving for self-perfection, I could. But I didn’t.

- But for Lilya Kadyrova, Tuimazy museum chief, who had persuaded me and helped to arrange my first exhibition three months ago, there wouldn’t be the next step - this exhibition in Oktyabrsky, - said Lilya Garipova. – Also a certain concourse of circumstances took place which allowed me to frame many works making them more presentable. Besides, I realized that people are interested in my works, though at first I drew for myself only and didn’t plan neither to exhibit nor to sell them. However, time changes all.

Indeed, time changes all, it changes our views and passions, though some of the passions remain till the end of our days. For Lilya Garipova it was painting that became such a passion.

It is worth mentioning that her craving for drawing revealed in the early childhood: she has been taking part in the various competitions since 5 years old. But she lacked patience to finish the art-school for what she was sorry years later, when it turned out that by the highest standards it is not enough to wish to draw, it is necessary to be able to do it. It is necessary to have training, technique etc. But as people say, he who wants, gains his ends. And here is the result – a solo exhibition.

- I am not an artist in the true meaning of this word, - Lilya said modestly, - I am most likely a self-researcher. By means of painting I try to look into my soul: what kind of world is there? And I realize that this world is boundless. It is a fairy-tale and magic in which I participate.

The names of Garipova’s paintings speak for itself: “The Island of Love”, “The Sky Goddess”, “The House of My Soul”, “The Birth of the Heart”, “Merging of Two Moons” etc. One should see them and feel them plunging into their unique enchantment and childish spontaneity which Lilya could preserve in her soul.

To add to this, today in the town museum all comers may join to this fairy of images, to the depicted dreams or romantic fantasies – call it whatever you like – from the world of unusual person and a distinctive artist Lilya Garipova.