"FLY TO BAKU" FROM PARIS

The exhibition "Fly to Baku: Contemporary Art from Azerbaijan" has opened in Paris with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the English-language magazine Baku. The ceremony was attended by the President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva and Vice-President of the Foundation Leyla Aliyeva, as well as French Minister of Culture and Communication Frederic Mitterrand.

The exhibition, which has already been held in London, opened in Paris this time. The interest in it is proved by promotional banners installed on the main streets of the French capital.

The exhibition, which is of particular importance among the measures taken by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation for a better promotion of Azerbaijan in the world, opened in the famous Paris mansion Salomon de Rothschild. Its conduct is yet another confirmation of the fact that the promotion of Azerbaijani culture is a priority for Azerbaijan's First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva and Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva.

This exhibition, which is being held on the initiative of Leyla Aliyeva, can also be regarded as a successful presentation of modern Azerbaijani art inspired by the fusion of Eastern and Western cultures. Speaking at the ceremony, Leyla Aliyeva noted that the dynamism and creative spirit of the works demonstrated at the exhibition reflects most of what is happening in Azerbaijan today. "My country is experiencing a period of unprecedented development, which is clearly reflected in contemporary art," Leyla Aliyeva said. She talked about the ancient history of Azerbaijan, as well as Baku magazine, which is now available in stores in Paris, and noted that this edition also gives prominence to young artists.

Speaking about the works and painters presented at the exhibition, Leyla Aliyeva said: "It involves 21 painters from Azerbaijan. Some of them are young and have just started their careers, while others have been engaged in art for a long time and are well-known painters. It shows more than 100 works - videos, installations, paintings, performances and photographs. Interestingly, most of these works were created for the Fly to Baku exhibition and are exhibited for the first time. We plan to hold this exhibition all over Europe, and there is hope that it will be held in New York. And we will end the exhibition in Baku."

Noting that in May, Baku will host the Eurovision Song Contest, Leyla Aliyeva invited the participants in the ceremony to the capital of Azerbaijan to see its beauty.

The exhibition's curator, Herv? Mikaeloff, said that the exhibition attracts attention with his richness, while the works presented at it stand out for their originality. "Azerbaijani art has deep historical roots," said Herve Mikaeloff, noting that such events contribute to a better promotion of our country in the world. He expressed gratitude to Azerbaijan's First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva and Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva, who had made great efforts to hold the exhibition.

After that, the First Lady of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Foundation Leyla Aliyeva and French Minister of Culture and Communication Frederic Mitterrand familiarized themselves with the exhibition "Fly to Baku: Contemporary Art from Azerbaijan".

Leyla Aliyeva is also a participant in the exhibition. The illustrations of which she is the author will be used in the future in the book of fairy tales "Once Upon a Time", which is planned to be published in English and Russian. "Pomegranate", "Pomegranate Tree", "Life Goes On" and other paintings by Leyla Aliyeva won the hearts and minds of visitors with their originality.

A work of the young artist Aida Mahmudova, demonstrated at the exhibition, attracted the attention of participants in the ceremony with its style. In it, the author shows in the present her past life, the events she had to encounter and the feelings she had to experience.

In addition, the exhibition includes works by famous artists Altay Sadixzada, Anvar Asgarov, Mirqadir Zeynalov and others. The works of 21 authors are presented in such genres as applied arts, graphics, sculpture, photography and video art. Each of them is of interest for its originality and artistic style. These works, which are the fruit of interesting avant-garde ideas, give an idea about the features of modern Azerbaijani art. The exhibition, which features works that are the embodiment of original taste, interesting thought and refined spirit in a single area, attracts attention with non-traditional techniques of expression.

At the exhibition, visitors can also see the works of artists who represented Azerbaijan at the Venice Biennale at different times, young painters living abroad and artists who had participated in representative international events. All this testifies to the fact that, thanks to projects implemented by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation to identify young talents, the talented youth of our country are also being popularized along with the rich culture of Azerbaijan.

Original works showcased at this exhibition reaffirmed that the possibilities of art are endless and it recognizes no limitations. The spirit of this exhibition, which is rich in avant-garde shades, is also confirmed by the fact that Azerbaijan has always paid great attention to culture and art and that the country is constantly making efforts to create more favourable conditions for the development of culture and providing opportunities for free creative work.

Thus, the exhibition which opened in Paris is another opportunity to demonstrate Azerbaijani culture and national identity. Hundreds of foreign citizens are eagerly familiarizing themselves with the rich, magical world of Azerbaijani culture. The interest in this ambitious and comprehensive exhibition, which runs until 21 April, gives grounds to assert that it has become a real event in the cultural life of Paris, which caused great repercussions. It is planned to hold such exhibitions in Moscow, Berlin, Rome, New York, and Baku in the future.

After the official part of the event, a reception was held in honour of the visitors on behalf of Azerbaijan's First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva. First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva and French Minister of Culture and Communication Frederic Mitterrand addressed the reception.