YARAT! presents "Khazar" project by Nazrin Mammadova - PHOTOS

A presentation of the project of artist Nazrin Mammadova "Khazar", organized by the YARAT! nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion of contemporary art of Azerbaijan was held in Baku in Icheri Sheher (Old, or Inner City) on Friday.

YARAT! Founder Aida Mahmudova, famous artists and public figures attended the event organized during 012 Baku Public Art Festival.

YARAT! Founder Aida Mahmudova said that the artist in this work would like to show the importance of the Caspian Sea for Azerbaijan, as well as to emphasize the issue of environment and ecology.

It's no secret that art is an immense force that can draw people's attention to current issues. Nazrin Mammadova's installation serves as a vivid example of this statement. It's a 260x200x30cm water tank filled with seawater. Historically, the Caspian Sea is one of the most interesting subjects for scientific research. Although it is not connected to any ocean, it is actually a sea by the chemical composition of its water and endemic types of inhabiting species. It has always played a significant role in the process of economical, cultural and political development of Azerbaijan. According to archive records, left by Shirvani, Pontiysky and Belazuri, Baku harbor was serving as a point of intersection for different cultures and nations as a trade route. The work touches upon an extremely important ecological problem related to the level of water at the Caspian Sea that leads to the collapse of seaside landscape, infrastructure, and decrease of biological diversity. One of the main goals of this installation is to focus the viewers' attention of the danger of climate change -the most dangerous threat to humanity in XXI century. It is also significant that the water tank is situated at the very heart of Baku, turning it into a memorial of the Caspian Sea. Each culture tells us what to keep and what to leave behind. This installation serves as a reminder about the fact that once upon a time the Caspian Sea covered the territory that is now a very modern, dynamic and rapidly expanding city.

Fluctuations of the Caspian Sea that have been taking place during the last one and a half centuries, can be traced from remaining photographs. For example, on one of the photos, taken by military photographer A. Ulskiy in 1983 (64), the coastline lies at the bottom of the Maiden Tower, today's Mugam-Club restaurant, and a so-called Small Caravansarai of the Old Fortress. Both of them were once included and linked within the fortress wall facing the sea. But we can see significant changes on the photograph, taken in 1985 by Alexandre Michon, who has captured the view of Baku from the Nagorny Park: a series of houses behind the dismantled fortress wall on the side of the sea, paved Alexander II Quay (present Neftchilar Avenue) and not a single tree along the coastline. The avenue was laid out in 1909-1911 following the initiative of a city council, particularly one of its most active members - Mamed-Hasan Hajinsky, as also evidenced by photographs, taken at that time. Thus as a result of natural fluctuations and anthropogenic factors the coastline of the central Baku has significantly moved away in most of the places.

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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