Azerbaijan's First Lady attends opening of '012 Baku Public Art Festival' by YARAT Contemporary Art Space - PHOTOS

UNS Creative Stage on Friday hosted an opening of the first 012 Baku Public Art Festival, founded and organized by YARAT Contemporary Art Space non-profit organization. The core idea of the project was made public at the opening ceremony attended by the First Lady of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva.

As part of the project, Festival participants will take turns to place and present their works in different areas of Baku every Friday. The exhibition will feature works by Altay Sadikhzadeh, Aga Huseynov, Fuad Salayev, Mammad Mustafayev, Hussein Hagverdi, Mahmoud Rustamov, Teymur Daimi, Niyaz Najafov, Leyla Aliyeva, Farid Rasulov and other painters.

Famous public figures, political scientists, representatives of the accredited diplomatic corps in Azerbaijan, outstanding persons in cultures and art attended the opening ceremony of the 012 Baku Public Art Festival.

Speaking at the ceremony, Executive Director of YARAT Contemporary Art Space Aida Mahmudova expressed gratitude to all those who have been involved in this project’s implementation.

"I am very pleased to announce the launch of the Festival, which will demonstrate the versatility, originality and development of the Azerbaijani art. Visual arts have always played an important role in Azerbaijani culture and Baku was important space for the Azerbaijani artists. The 012 Baku Public Art Festival is a blend of modern art specimens, which express an optimism and faith in future and at the same time show the historical traditions and cultural heritage of the city," Aida Mahmudova said.

Speaking at the event, rector of the Baku branch of the Moscow State Lomonosov University, Professor Nargiz Pashayeva said: "The name of the Festival is “012 Baku Public Art”. 012 is a Territorial code of Baku. It demonstrates the theme of the festival. The exposition features not only the specific environment and visual interpretation of the artists, but also thoughts of the generation aged 21 to 69, social, sociological and cultural changes.”

From February 25 to March 1, the visitors will enjoy the exhibition at UNS Theater. A young filmmaker Rufat Hasanov will make a documentary about the project. The documentary will be screened at the closing ceremony of the 012 Baku Public Art Festival, due in September.
The project will start March 9 and will last 21 weeks.

Bank Respublika and Azercell Telekom are sponsoring the Festival, which has brought together 21 participants.


/AzerTAc/