Heydar Aliyev Center hosts MAMA "Mother Nature" int'l art project and exhibition "Participate!"

By Laman Ismayilova

On November 14, an opening ceremony was held at the Heydar Aliyev Center for the international art project called MAMA "Mother Nature" and the exhibition "Participate!", which calls for the protection of the environment.

The opening of the exhibitions was attended by the Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, founder and head of the IDEA Public Union Leyla Aliyeva, the head of the Baku Media Center Arzu Aliyeva, and their family members.

The MAMA "Mother Nature" international art project, which started its activities during the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), was conceived by the Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva.

The exhibition displayed as part of the project is presented in collaboration with the IDEA (International Dialogue for Environmental Protection) Public Union and the Heydar Aliyev Center.

The exhibition "Participate!", which focuses on the topic of environmental protection, was organized by the IDEA Public Union and the Heydar Aliyev Center in partnership with the head of the UN Office in Geneva Tatyana Valovaya and Swiss Association of Women and Empowerment (ASWE).

In her speech, Leyla Aliyeva expressed her hope that the displayed works would provide positive energy to the viewers. She thanked everyone involved in realizing the exhibition.

Leyla Aliyeva expressed confidence that the work being conducted in Azerbaijan during COP29 would result in many positive outcomes.

The Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation spoke about the problems arising from climate change on our planet, discussing the negative impacts of air, soil, and water pollution. She highlighted that issues related to climate change and pollution have a serious effect on Azerbaijan's ecosystem, noting that existing problems are approached with optimism and creativity. She pointed out that the activities of the IDEA Public Union, founded in 2011, are specifically aimed at addressing environmental concerns.

Turkish artist Seval Özcan, who also spoke, expressed her deep gratitude to Leyla Aliyeva for organizing the magnificent international exhibition. She emphasized that nature does not need humans; rather, humans are in need of nature, and our world is currently under great threat. Özcan stressed the significance of events related to climate change being held in Baku during such challenging times.

In a video message to the event participants, the head of the UN Office in Geneva Tatyana Valovaya, expressed her gratitude to the IDEA Public Union, led by Leyla Aliyeva, as well as the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Swiss Association for Women and Empowerment, for their efforts in bringing the two projects to life in the context of global efforts to combat climate change and achieve a greener world.

"These two exhibitions align with the commitments of member states reflected in the 'Pact for the Future' and will play a vital role in the key topics discussed at COP29. Furthermore, these exhibitions are especially close to my heart because they reflect the intersections of art, technology, and environmental commitment. Such works remind us of the consequences of indifference and compel every viewer to consider their role as a herald for our planet. These exhibitions call us to action and make us think about the impact of our choices, as well as the legacy we will leave for future generations," Tatyana Valovaya noted in her video message.

Afterward, the guests toured the MAMA "Mother Nature" and "Participate!" exhibitions.

Guests who visited the exhibition shared their impressions with AZERTAC.

Sadhguru (Jaggi Vasudev), the founder of the Isha Foundation and a renowned Indian yogi, emphasized the necessity of caring for our world, especially for art. According to him, the best expression of care for art should also include elements of art and music; otherwise, we cannot touch the souls of people.

Artist Kamran Mammadov stated that his work displayed at the exhibition highlights the importance of everyone, regardless of their profession, showing care for our planet and nature.

Sculptor Omar Heydarov noted that the exhibition is multifaceted, encompassing all types of artistic expressions. He pointed out that it showcases both the beauty of nature and calls for its protection.

The MAMA "Mother Nature" international art project brings together 55 different artists from 28 countries, including the USA, Germany, the UK, Brazil, South Korea, Georgia, India, Spain, Israel, Latvia, Pakistan, Russia, Turkiye, Ukraine, and others, calling for the protection of our planet for future generations through art. Artists from different countries and nationalities aim to raise awareness about climate change through their works.

The exhibition features a total of 127 artworks, including digital installations, paintings, graphics, and sculptures.

The exhibition "Participate!" is dedicated to environmental protection, ecological awareness, and the promotion of eco-culture. The project aims to enhance people's ecological awareness, engage children and adolescents in the ecological agenda, and support their eco-activity in popular formats.

The exhibition consists of three parts. The first part, titled "This Is How It Was. What Will Happen Next?", features works from several prominent artists of the 19th and 20th centuries that depict landscapes from various continents, alongside representations of how these landscapes would change due to global warming using artificial intelligence technologies. It showcases changes expected in the environment through works by Claude Monet's "Water Lily Pond," Paul Cézanne's "Mont Sainte-Victoire," Albert Bierstadt's "Between Sierra Nevada, California," and others. The audience is posed with the questions: “What will happen to these landscapes if global warming is not halted? Will future generations be able to see them?”

The second part of the exhibition is called "17 Sustainable Development Goals." It demonstrates the three components of sustainable development—economic, social, and environmental balance—also reflected in the document titled "Sustainable Development Agenda for 2030," adopted by the UN General Assembly in September 2015 with the participation of 193 countries.

The third part of the exhibition, titled "Participate!", invites people to join their efforts in the protection of nature. Visitors have the opportunity to creatively express their interesting, unconventional ideas and initiatives towards ensuring ecological safety using vibrant colors. Organizers urge individuals to take action without hesitation for environmental protection and to save our planet.

It should be noted that this exhibition is not the first project realized within the framework of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the UN. In June 2022, the photo exhibition "My Seas, My Oceans" was held at the UN office in Geneva, and in October 2022, the photo exhibition "17 Faces of Action" took place at the Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku.