Azerbaijani Pavilion, Azerbaijan at Venice Biennale of Art - Azerbaijani Pavilion, Procuratie Vecchie, Piazza San Marco 139-153 - City of Venice
(Photo: Born to Love, 2022, painting, installation Courtesy of the artist)
Exhibition in progress from April 23rd to November 27th 2022
The 59th Biennale Arte will open to the public on 23 April. But on the 20th, 21st and 22nd there will be the various openings and collateral events that always suddenly animate the Venetian artistic life. The awards ceremony will take place on the day of the opening to the public.
The title of the 59th edition of the Biennale d'Arte is Il Latte dei Sogni that means The Milk of Dreams.
The invited artists are 213 from 58 countries. There are 26 Italian artists, 180 the first participations in the International Exhibition, 1433 the works and objects on display, 80 new productions.
In all, 80 nations will participate in the Venice Biennale in the pavilions at the Giardini, the Arsenale and in the historic center of Venice.
Go to the page of the 59th Venice Art Biennale
Azerbaijani Pavilion, Azerbaijan at 59th Biennale Arte of Venice
The title of the exhibition at the Azerbaijani Pavilion is Born to Love.
Artists: Zhuk, Infinity, Ramina Saadatkhan, Fidan Kim (Novruzova), Fidan Akhundova, Sabiha Khankishiyeva, Agdes Baghirzad.
Executor: Heydar Aliyev Foundation
Curators: Emin Mammadov.
Commissioner: Ambassador Mammad Ahmadzada.
Seat: Azerbaijani Pavilion, Procuratie Vecchie, Piazza San Marco 139-153 - Venice
Press Release of Azerbaijani Pavilion
For the Biennale Arte 2022, the Azerbaijan Pavilion is proud to present Born to Love,
which marks Azerbaijan�s fifth participation in the International Art Exhibition �
La Biennale di Venezia, realized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.
Born to Love is a reinterpretation of the principles of the time, imbued with the
history of Azerbaijani culture and trends in modern technology.
Curator Emin Mammadov introduces the fascinating exhibition of works by seven
Azerbaijani contemporary female artists that draw on the phenomenon of the Infinite
Consciousness of the Universe.
All the projects presented at the Azerbaijan National Pavilion resonate with the
central theme of the Biennale, Milk of Dreams, after the children's book of the same
name by the surrealist artist Leonora Carrington, and at the same time speak to
important cultural and historical features of our country.
Culture is the irreplaceable means by which people
learn to understand each other more deeply and more
justly. It comprises a universal language of communication
clear to all, irrespective of national or religious identity.
Through culture and art, people demonstrate their
aspiration to develop humanitarian cooperation and to
contribute to the expansion of dialogue between
civilizations.
Azerbaijan, which incorporated Eastern and
Western cultural values, and where representatives of
various nationalities and religions have lived in mutual
respect and trust for centuries, has had very positive
experiences in the field of cultural dialogue. International
festivals, conferences, and exhibitions form an integral
part of modern Azerbaijan�s cultural life.
Creative projects, organized abroad, have become a
fine tradition. Through the language of art, we tell the
world about Azerbaijan, its culture, and its history. Each
new event varies in staging and invokes a different
spiritual atmosphere in each viewer. It is free and creative
communication, and direct human contact, that promotes
the strengthening of mutual understanding, friendship,
and trust.
This year, at Biennale Arte 2022, Azerbaijan
presents a fascinating exposition Born to Love in which
seven Azerbaijani female artists use modern techniques
and materials to realise and convey their ideas. Born to
Love could be a reinterpretation of the standards of the
time, pervaded by the history of Azerbaijani culture and
patterns in cutting edge innovation.
All the projects displayed at the Azerbaijan National
Pavilion resound with the central subject of the Biennale,
Milk of Dreams, after the children's book of the same title
by the surrealist Leonora Carrington, and at the same time
talk to imperative social and verifiable highlights of our
nation.
Mehriban Aliyeva
President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation
Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO and ISESCO
Heydar Aliyev Foundation
Set up in 2004, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation is the largest non governmental organisation in Azerbaijan, contributing to the
social and economic development of the country. The
Foundation's primary goal is safeguarding national and spiritual
values and the widespread promotion of Azerbaijani culture. The
organisation is implementing numerous projects and programs
in various fields such as education, culture, public health, science
and technology, sports and the environment. It contributes to
promoting and recognising Azerbaijani culture worldwide and
the reconciliation between nations and religions by providing
large-scale projects abroad.
Various agreements are signed between Azerbaijan and Italy in all the fields of partnership. The
Heydar Aliyev Foundation is actively engaged and participates in the cooperation between the
two countries. Cultural events are organised by the Foundation in Italy and move the bilateral
relations up a rung. Recognition of the rich and ancient culture of Azerbaijan in Italy contributes
to the strengthening and promoting the international image of the country worldwide.
Those bilateral relations are essential in the scope of significant cultural and humanitarian projects
realised by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation led by Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva, President of the
Foundation. Thus, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation implements projects and holds a significant
number of events to open out the culture of Azerbaijan, its history, music and cuisine, and touristic
potential. The Heydar Aliyev Foundation also applies some charitable activities, such as the
restoration of ancient historical and cultural monuments in Italy: restoration of the Philosophers
Hall of the Capitoline Museums in Rome, restoration of antique bookshelves in the Sistine Hall of
the Musei Vaticani (museum of the Vatican), restoration of ancient manuscripts dedicated to
Azerbaijan in the Vatican library, or restoration of the Zeus statue in the Museo Pio Clementino
(museum of the Vatican). One of the most important projects in the matter was the restoration of
the Catacombs of Marcellinus, which dated back to the Roman Empire period and are very
significant for the whole Christian world. Moreover, the Foundation contributed generous funds
to restore Chiesa della Piet� in Venice.
The Artists
Agdes Baghirzade
Born in Baku, Azerbaijan, in 1975
Lives and works in Baku, Azerbaijan
Since 2002 has participated in the numerous
local and international exhibitions
The Other Side of Me
The Other Side of Me is a subjective
illustration of the world as Agdes
Baghirzade sees it, taking vignettes of
everyday life, ranging from
architectural details to
phantasmagorical reflections, Sufi
dervishes, and abstract patterns from
nature. She takes great delight in chance
happenings or images. The environment
� whether natural or urban �always
stimulates her work and the aura
created by that which we find in our
world, where man-made objects and
constructions co-exist with nature.
The Other Side of Me is where each
object or moment of which is not only
fixed by the camera but full of hidden
meaning.
Fidan Akhundova
Born in Baku, Azerbaijan, in 1989
Lives and works in Berlin, Germany
Since 2011 has participated in the
numerous local and international
exhibitions
Saltation
The sculpture tells the story of one step. To leave a
stuffy room and make her own, conscious choice.
What awaits the woman who takes this step, the leap
into the unknown? The road ahead is full of doubts
and difficulties but it is a more conscious and free
one. Patriarchal, traditional society deprives women
of choice in the womb. Selective abortion deprives a
woman of her right to life. And if she happens to be
born, from an early age her perception of the world
is strictly controlled by her father, brother, family,
and society. Toxic attitudes inherited from the family
turn her into a dependent, non-self-acting person.
Visitors are given the opportunity to feel the state
before stepping into the unknown, new and free, and
to experience the dynamics of the sculpture, which
symbolises thousands and thousands of women's
destinies.
Fidan Kim (Novruzova)
Born in Baku, Azerbaijan, in 1997
Lives and works in San Francisco, USA
Since 2009 has participated in the numerous local and
international exhibitions
Totem
Fidan Kim (Novruzova) in her Totem project
reflects the evolution of mankind, the relationship
of man with animals, and the basic principle of life,
which is and that is survival of the fittest. Man's
struggle with himself as well as with the
environment. And that at the moment protecting
the environment, animals in particular, is a top
priority for all of us. Environmental protection is
an important issue because the environment is on
its way to degradation.
The struggle for existence is a struggle 'for'
something; it is purposeful and only in so being is
it meaningful and able to bring meaning into
life. The environment refers to everything that
surrounds us. The trees, plants, forests, rivers, and
all are our natural environment. Unfortunately,
this natural environment of ours is under threat
due to human activities. Humans are damaging
the environment on a daily basis, pressing the
need for its protection.
Infinity
All is sacred
The ethereal and mind-blowing graphics of
the All is sacred installation by Infinity are
based on the sacred geometric patterns that
exist all around us � they are the perfect
shapes and patterns forming the basic layout
for life in the universe. By using these sacred
geometry patterns and the harmonic sounds
of the Universe, this installation allows us to
be seen as a person that�s partitioned from
others.
Infinity�s art in spite of being profoundly
individual belongs to everyone, reflecting
our poetic sensibility and effortless grace.
Infinity clarifies, �My artwork is driven by a
need to be one with the essence of nature and
the world in which we live. Being a seeker of
wisdom and truth, all humans are extremely
motivated to understand mankind�s place in
the universe and the meaning of our
existence.� All is sacred immerses us into the
ocean, where the pearls of perception and
intelligence can be our own to hold and
reclaim.
Ramina Saadatkhan
Born in Baku, Azerbaijan, in 1977
Lives and works in Baku, Azerbaijan
Since 1992 has participated in the numerous
local and international exhibitions
Energy of Chaos
Energy of Chaos, 2022, painting
Image courtesy of Fakhriyya Mammadova
In this artist's world, two beginnings have
already manifested themselves, which should
lead to the birth of a multidimensional human
universe. These two beginnings, from the
interaction of which comes all the egregious
diversity of our cosmos, are called differently
by different world traditions - good-evil, yinyang, feminine-masculine. Most often in
today's world, one speaks of the latter
interactive nexus, the masculine and the
feminine. But Ramina Saadatkhan's art, despite
its dynamic though unobtrusive eroticism, is
above these socio-cultural "gender" issues. The
artist creates Energy of Chaos, controlled chaos
in the blazing cauldron of which one image
melts into another... not to talk about feminine
or masculine in their trivial sense. For the
author of these paintings, the main thing is the
discovery and manifestation of the
superhuman, archetypal energies in their
mutual penetration and mutually
extinguishing...
Sabiha Khankishiyeva
Born in Baku, Azerbaijan, in 1990
Lives and works in Baku, Azerbaijan
Since 2012 has participated in the numerous
local and international exhibitions
Dragon
Azerbaijan is considered one of the main centers of
carpet weaving in the world. As an example of ancient
art, Azerbaijani carpets were famous all over the world.
Now, these carpets are considered to be the most
valuable exhibits in world museums. Varni and
Ajdahali (dragon) carpets are such well-known carpets.
In her Dragon project, Sabiha Khankishiyeva used
different ceramic plates with dragon symbols peculiar
to Karabakh carpets to create the illusion of the giant
�Karabakh dragon�. Karabakh carpets have a special
place in the collection of pile carpets and the history of
carpet weaving in the territory of Karabakh dates back
to BC, to the third millennium.
In European tradition, the dragon is typically firebreathing and tends to symbolize chaos or evil,
whereas in East Asia it is usually a beneficent symbol
of fertility, associated with water and the heavens. "S" -
shaped mystical Karabakh Dragon by the artist reflects
the central element of "Gasimushagi" carpets that
belong to the Jabrayil group of the Karabakh carpetweaving type and is a symbol of mankind�s protection.
Zhuk
Born in Baku, Azerbaijan, in 1992
Lives and works in Baku, Azerbaijan
Since 2009 has participated in the numerous local and
international exhibitions.
Born to Love
In the Born to Love installation of Zhuk, the water element is used as the environment that is the
basis of the birth of mankind, starting with the womb of the mother.
The project's primary purpose is to connect the constant interaction between man and our planet,
which both gives us this life and nourishes it. In return, in most cases, it receives indifferent and
negative influences from our side. In this project, the symbol of life on Earth is the image of the
embryo as the beginning of the origin of all life on the Planet. The dark substance visually
represents the emissions of the waste left by humans in the environment. Thereby showing the
indifferent and negligent attitude of humanity towards Earth.
Curator
Emin Mammadov
Emin Mammadov, Artistic Advisor of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, lives
in Baku. In 2012 he was appointed Honored Worker of Art of the Azerbaijan
Republic. Mammadov has gained international recognition quickly and has
curated numerous exhibitions in Azerbaijan and Europe. Mammadov
curated Virtual Reality Azerbaijan Pavilion in 2019, UNDER ONE SUN.
The Art of Living Together Azerbaijan Pavilion in 2017, and also curated the
exhibitions Beyond the Line and Vita Vitale that were shown at the
Azerbaijani Pavilion of the Biennale Arte 2015. Within 2016�to 2018 he was
curating the international travelling exhibition Live Life in London, Paris,
Berlin, Tbilisi and Moscow
Useful information for the visit
Hours:
Gardens from 10.00 to 19.00. Arsenale from 10.00 to 19.00 (from 10.00 to 20.00 on Friday and Saturday until September 30th). Closed on Mondays (except May 13, September 2, November 18).
Tickets: please visit the official website.
Phone: +39.041.5218711; fax +39.041.5218704
E-mail: aav@labiennale.org
Web: Biennale
of Venice |
