The name of this member of the Academy of Arts in Uzbekistan, who also works as a lecturer at the school of education in Tashkent, Yannis Salpinkidi, recipient of the Order of Friendship of Peoples, is quite well known in Uzbekistan's cultural circles as well as throughout the world. The talented education specialist and painter wrote many articles on art theory and art history. The catalogue "Yannis Salpinkidi and his Students" has become a monument for followers of his school. Many of them live and work abroad. His concepts of human values are reflected in his joyful and decorative paintings, that abound with light and color. Among his colleagues he is considered "the greatest philosopher" of all the Uzbek artists. High human ideals always remained the focus of this seventy years old painter's artistic quest.

Fortunately, our association had the pleasure of meeting Yannis Salpinkidi shortly after its formation. The artist donated his drawing "Big Heart for Little Ones" to us, which has since become the symbol of our organisation. The association's logo was also designed based on his sketches – a heart that encloses a small child lying safely in the hands of an adult. This great man and great artist has expressed his appreciation for our charitable mission from the very first day. The artist’s thoughts on human life as well as his opinions on the cultural heritage and the humanitarian mission of physicians are reflected in a letter to our association from september 2013:

"It is difficult to not appreciate the importance of your work, for that reason I would like to dedicate a few lines to you...

Russia, oh Russia! We are citizens of the former soviet states, nourished by your culture. We carry it within us, and with it, the European culture as well. For centuries, German blood coursed through the veins of Russian tsars. There is obviously a strong bond between the two nations. And judging from your devotion for those Russian children, the war has cast no shadows on this relation.

Give those children their lives back, and let them enjoy its perfection. Only after life is coming to its end one starts to appreciate how much value it holds… Take as an example the great German physician and humanist Albert Schweitzer, who saved thousands of lives in distant Africa.

I am convinced that there are many highly qualified doctors in Germany who continue his charitable work. “Non-holy saints” they were called by the Russian clergyman Tichon…”

To pick up on the artist, we would like to quote Albert Schweitzer, the German-French physician, theologian, musician and cultural philosopher, the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize of 1952, himself: "One has to do something for those in need of help, something that one does not profit from – the reward is the joy of being able to help.", "A man is good only when life, as such, is sacred to him, that of plants and animals as that of his fellow men, and when he devotes himself helpfully to all life that is in need of help." We would like to share those words with every caring person. Do good! Good deeds nourish life. This source will not dry up.

This is the idea Yannis Salpinkidi layed the child into the adult's protecting hands, lifting it up as if it was carried by wings. The child embraces a big heart, a symbol of love and warmth, which breathes new life into it.

Kseniya Simonova's sand histories