Suimonkul Chokmorov 

(1939 - 1992) 

A portrait of Suimonkul Chokmorov, an outstanding Kyrgyz actor and artist, is depicted on the front side of the banknote with denomination of 5,000 Som.  

Suimonkul Chokmorov was born on November 9, 1939. He belonged to a generation of people whose childhood coincided with the harsh years of war. In his childhood, Suimonkul was seriously ill. His first drawing teacher was his older brother Namyrbek. Most of all, Suimonkul was fond of albums with reproductions of famous painters. Deprived of childhood joys, he began to repaint them, and after a while people around him noticed his undoubted success.  

When Suimonkul got better, doctors advised him to take up sports. While studying in Leningrad, Suimonkul Chokmorov became a master of sports in volleyball and was a member of the student team of the city on the Neva.  

The rural youth received the basics of art education at the Frunze Art School, and after graduating from it, he consolidated his knowledge at the Repin Art Institute in Leningrad. The teacher of S. Chokmorov was People’s Artist of the USSR E. Moiseenko.  

The activities of S. Chokmorov as an artist does a lot for him as a cinematographer. But this relationship is reciprocal: his work in cinematography enriches his painting, stimulates it, and the artist Suimonkul Chokmorov finds his way to Kyrgyz and world cinematography, which will later become a stellar path for the artist.  

Suimonkul Chokmorov’s acting debut was more than successful. He came to the cinema in 1967. His first and leading role was in the movie “Shot at the Karash pass”. He played in historical and adventure films (“The seventh bullet”, “Dersu Uzala”, “Scarlet poppies of Issyk-Kul”), and in dramas on modern themes (“Red apple”). In 1970-80s, he was among the most recognizable actors in Soviet Central Asian movies on historical-revolutionary themes.  

Chokmorov was awarded the Toktogul State Award and the Komsomol Award for his outstanding creative achievements. He was the first Kyrgyz filmmaker to be awarded with the honorary title “People’s Artist of the USSR”, he is also the People’s Artist of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan. In November 1991, Chokmorov was awarded the International Award of Ch. Aitmatov Club in the field of literature, art and culture.  

С. Chokmorov lived only 53 years. However, during that time he did a lot for the development of Kyrgyz cinematography, and as a painter he painted landscapes, still lives, and portraits. Suimonkul Chokmorov created more than 400 paintings, his models are mainly people of creation. The main picturesque works are kept in the Kyrgyz State Museum of Fine Arts.