YARAT! Organization presents 'Arsenium' project by Ali Hasanov

A presentation of the multimedia art project of artist Ali Hasanov "Arsenium", organized by the YARAT! nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion of contemporary art of Azerbaijan was held on Friday in Baku in the territory of the dockyard.

Artist Ali Hasanov welcomed the guests and expressed his gratitude for attention to his project. Rector of Moscow State University`s Baku branch Nargiz Pashayeva, YARAT! Founder Aida Mahmudova, famous artists and public figures attended the event organized during 012 Baku Public Art Festival.

The name of this multimedia art project called Arsenium is based on the historically significant event of the first performance in Baku of the "Symphony of sirens" by avant-garde Russian composer and theorist Arseni Avraamov. Project Arsenium is not a reconstruction of the "Symphony of sirens", it's more a tribute to the event that played a significant role in the art-scene of Baku.

This art project is based on video-animation in the style of pseudo-chronological and mythological elements. Music for the project is written by Ali Hasanov in collaboration with Natalya Goncharova. The soundtrack consists of electronic music performed by Russian musician and composer Arseny Trofim along with the Baku choir and brass band. To create a suitable atmosphere the performance will take place at one of Baku's dockyards.

Arseny Avraamov was an avant-garde Russian composer and theorist, one of the important musicians of his time. He was the creator of ultrachromatic keyboard tuning method and famously claimed that generally accepted musical canon and classical instruments failed, offering to change them with new ones.

The cityscapes of Baku were chosen by Avraamov to perform his symphony not by coincidence. The composer had thought that the level of industrial development of Baku and its landscape provided a perfects spot for carrying out his ideas. The symphony was performed in Baku on 7th of November, 1922 by the whole Caspian naval fleet, two artillery batteries, several infantry companies, a machine-gun company and couple of seaplanes as well as a military band of 200 people and a choir. - The "Symphony of sirens" is one of Arseni Avraamov's most famous works and considered to be the first ever piece of concert music written in the middle of the XX century. Following its premiere in Baku, the "Symphony of sirens" was also performed in Moscow a year later. After composing and performing this piece, Avraamov lived in Dagestan and afterwards in Moscow. He took part in production of first Soviet movies, and since 1941 has been conducting the Russian Folk Chorus.

The 012 Baku Public Art Festival features the work of twenty-one of the finest emerging and established artists in Azerbaijan. Each has been given the task of creating a visual reinterpretation of a setting that holds significance for them within the city. By bringing their work into the public sphere, the artists will gain creative freedom and will achieve a higher level of exposure without the constraints imposed by a gallery or museum.

Works of the following artists will be exhibited: Altai Sadikhzade, Aga Ousseinov, Fuad Salayev, Mammad Mustafayev, Huseyn Haqverdi, Mahmud Rastamov, Teymur Daimi, Niyaz Najafov, Mekhti Mammadov, Rashad Alakbarov, Ali Hasanov, Aida Mahmudova, Faig Ahmed, Farid Rasulov, Leyla Aliyeva, Sitara Ibrahimova, Rashad Babayev, Nail Alakbarov, Orkhan Huseynov, Nazrin Mammadova, Shargiya Rahmanli .

The participating artists belong mainly to a generation of young talent, who have observed the regeneration of Baku, and are passionate about promoting Contemporary Azeri art, whilst staying in touch with their rich cultural heritage.

As part of the 012 Baku Public Art Festival the award-winning film director Rufat Hasanov will be making a documentary to record the project from inception to completion. He will interact with each artist and follow the development of their work in the lead up to the Festival, culminating with the unveiling of the artworks. This film will be shown at the closing ceremony of the 012 Baku Public Art Festival.

Founded in 2011 by Aida Mahmudova, YARAT! is a non-commercial, private organisation dedicated to the promotion and nurturing of Azeri Contemporary art nationally and internationally.


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