YARAT! presents "Shopfront" project by Orkhan Huseynov - PHOTOS

A presentation of the project of artist Orkhan Huseynov "Shopfront", organized by the YARAT! nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion of contemporary art of Azerbaijan was held in Baku on Friday.

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

The aim of this work on Aziz Aliyev Street is to emphasize the aesthetic past and present beauty of the street with its fashion boutiques and art galleries. Baku Arts Center that was situated on this street gathered the most original and distinctive artists of the post-perestroika era during the late eighties. Today there are mostly fashion boutiques, representing the most famous brands. Thus we have an energetic mixture of two worlds - the one of haute couture fashion and the one of sophisticated art. The original street lighting gives an impression of an art gallery that supports the statement that Aziz Aliyev Street is one of the most strikingly beautiful streets of contemporary

Fashion boutiques and art galleries have always coexisted on this street but never interacted. The artist wants to place pieces of contemporary art behind the shop-windows of fashion boutiques with the permission of their owners in order to perform the fusion that have always been so crucial to the atmosphere of this street. This artistic intention might be interpreted as an act of cultural intervention, when art pieces intrude on the territory of glamour, creating a perceptual effect that is completely new to both worlds.

One of the most beautiful streets of Baku started near one of the central squares - the Parapet (the Youth Square) and ended near the Alexander II Quay (Neftchilar Avenue). At different periods in history this street was called differently: Mihaylovskaya, Zevin, Injasenet, and Aziz Aliyev street. Located in the center of one of the most comfortable districts with numerous stores, banks, palaces, hotels, and public places, Mihaylovskaya street used to be one of the business venues of the big city. It was built up with three-storey dwelling houses and vast rows of shopping stalls in classical forms. At times of pre-revolutionary Baku former Mihaylovskaya street was the center for the most prestigious shops such as houseware store owned by Israfilov brothers, or Ramazanov stalls called "Obraztsoviy" row. Nowadays such places would be called brand boutiques. Complete development of this street was a result of a town-planning development of the Quay's (Neftchilar Avenue) and turning all of its surrounding districts into public trade centers.

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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