NEWS

A rare early painting by Vincent van Gogh, known as Head of a Peasant Woman in a White Headdress (Tete de paysanne à la coiffe blanch), has been sold for several million euros at an art fair in the Netherlands, Report informs via The National News UAE.

The sale took place at the annual European Art Fair (Tefaf) in Maastricht, where the painting was listed with an asking price of €4.5 million ($4.9 million).

Bill Rau, president of MS Rau Gallery, confirmed the sale to a museum. He said “It has been sold to a museum outside the European Union.

“We cannot discuss the price,” he said reflecting the gallery's commitment to privacy and discretion in such high-profile transactions.

The painting, which dates back to around 1884, represents a pivotal moment in van Gogh's career when he lived in Nuenen, a year before he completed The Potato Eaters.

The Dutch national news agency ANP said: “Although the name of the private museum was not given, 'it will be accessible to the public',” ensuring that this masterpiece will be enjoyed by future generations.

The TOMRIS international exhibition, showcasing artists from the Turkic world, has opened at the Heydar Aliyev Center.

The event was co-organized by the Azerbaijan`s Ministry of Culture, the Heydar Aliyev Center and the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY).

The exhibition will feature works of about 20 artists from Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Azerbaijan`s Deputy Minister of Culture Saadat Yusifova noted that Tomris was one of the central figures in the Turkic world.

TURKSOY Secretary General Sultan Raev noted that the exhibition dedicated to the first female ruler and commander Tomris aims to emphasize the significance of women in the Turkic world.

President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation Aktoty Raimkulova underscored that the works of modern artists demonstrate common heritage, heroes, history and traditions.

Following the speeches, TURKSOY presented awards to the artists, whose works were displayed at the exhibition.

Azerbaijan`s Ministry of Culture was also honored with TURKSOY`s special award.

The guests then viewed the exhibition.

The Embassy of Azerbaijan in Morocco has hosted a presentation promoting Azerbaijan’s tourism potential among tourism agencies and tour operators operating in the city of Rabat.

Head of 16 tourism companies of Rabat city mainly engaged in organizing tours for foreign countries, as well as Turkish Airlines Country Director of Morocco Seyfullah Ilyas attended the event.

Azerbaijani Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco Nazim Samadov provided insights into the tourism potential, the country’s culture and cultural heritage, emphasizing that Azerbaijan will soon organize promotional tours for Moroccan tourism agencies in the coming months.

The diplomat emphasized that 1740 Moroccan tourists visited Azerbaijan in 2023, adding that that the number of Moroccan tourists visiting Azerbaijan during the first two months of 2024 has increased by nearly 2.5 times compared to the same period last year.

Citizens of Morocco arriving in Azerbaijan can obtain an electronic visa through "ASAN Visa" system.

An exhibition titled “Legacy in loops: A journey to Uzbekistan`s embroidery” will open at the Heydar Aliyev Center on March 17.

Co-organized by the Heydar Aliyev Center and the Art and Culture Development Foundation of Uzbekistan, the exhibition will showcase more than 148 samples of decorative and applied art from Uzbekistan`s museum collection.

The exhibition is dedicated to the cultural and historical legacy, as well as the national costumes of Uzbekistan during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

German’s popular “Enzyklopädie des Islam” literary portal has published musaddas and ghazal (poetic genres) by prominent Azerbaijani poet Mahammad Fuzuli in German as part of the Azerbaijan’s State Translation Centre’s “Mahammad Fuzuli - 530” project.

The translator of the works presented with information about the poet’s creativity is Dr. Yavuz Özoguz, a well-known philologist, German language specialist and academic director of the portal.

The portal, which has a wide auditorium of readers, regularly publishes works by such outstanding poets as Khagani Shirvani, Nizami Ganjavi, Omar Khayyam, Yunus Emre, Imadaddin Nasimi, Wolfgang von Goethe, Theodore Fontaine, Friedrich Rückert, and Rainer Maria Rilke.

The great Azerbaijani poet Mahammad Fuzuli (1494-1556) is the author of the "Leyli and Majnun" poem, the pearl of the Oriental and World poetry.

By the decision of the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers dated May 7, 2019, his works were declared state heritage.

Azerbaijan`s National Day has been arranged today as part of the International Horticultural Expo 2023 Doha held in Qatar, gathering officials from Azerbaijan and Qatar, along with ambassadors from about 60 countries accredited in Qatar.

Co-organized by the Heydar Aliyev Center and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, Azerbaijan's participation in the expo is represented by a national pavilion under the theme "Green Desert, Better Environment." This theme aims to inspire the international community to explore and adopt innovative solutions for desertification mitigation.

As a part of the National Day organized at the "Doha Expo", the delegation led by Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Anar Alakbarov has met with Qatari officials to discuss the experience of Azerbaijan and successful participation in the Doha Expo 2023.

Addressing the opening event, Assistant to the President, Director of the Heydar Aliyev Center Anar Alakbarov touched upon the Azerbaijan-Qatar relations, which are based on mutual respect and cooperation. He highlighted the significance of Azerbaijan's National Day at the expo and expressed hope that the International Horticultural Expo would contribute to addressing climate change, a pressing global issue.

Alakbarov also underscored Azerbaijan's efforts to address global climate change issues, including the upcoming COP29 scheduled to be held in Baku this November. He thanked Qatar for organizing such a successful platform in Doha and emphasized the close relations between the two nations based on mutual friendship, respect, and shared values.

Hailing Azerbaijan`s hosting of COP29, Chief Commissioner of Doha Expo 2023 Bader bin Omar Al Dafa underscored that Azerbaijan actively partners with the United Arab Emirates, which hosted COP28, and Brazil, the host country for COP30, to improve sustainability and cooperation in international discussions on climate change issues. The Chief Commissioner of Doha Expo 2023 also touched upon Azerbaijan`s economic progress and accomplishments.

Then, the event saw performances by People's Artist Azer Zeynalov, the folk dance troupe and mugham singers. Additionally, a photo exhibition showcasing Azerbaijan's mesmerizing nature and historical monuments was presented, along with displays of Azerbaijani culture, including folk crafts and national costumes, in the Azerbaijani pavilion.

Co-organized by the Embassy of Bangladesh in France and the Secretariat of UNESCO, an international event on the occasion of the International Mother Language Day has been held in the city of Paris.

The exhibition dedicated to the International Mother Language Day featured stand of Permanent Delegation of Azerbaijan displaying different colored books, postcards, national souvenirs in Azerbaijani language, which aroused great interest among participants.

Addressing the event, Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, spoke about the importance of mother language and education. She also stressed the significance of ensuring cultural and linguistic diversity for sustainable societies, as well as preserving the differences of cultures and languages that promote tolerance and respect for others.

Stefania Giannini, as well as the chairpersons of the UNESCO Executive Board and the General Conference viewed the exhibition on the Azerbaijani language.

The event featured recitation of the ghazals by Khurshidbanu Natavan, daughter of the last Karabakh khan Mehdigulu Khan Javanshir, the outstanding representative of the 19th century Azerbaijani poetry.

The UNESCO Headquarters also hosted a concert program as part of the celebration of the International Mother Language Day, which brought together about 20 countries, including Azerbaijan.

The idea to celebrate International Mother Language Day was the initiative of Bangladesh. It was approved at the 1999 UNESCO General Conference and has been observed throughout the world since February 21, 2000.

The Old City, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been featured in the prestigious calendar published by the organization for the year 2024.

Selected from among 1,157 historical monuments across 168 countries on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the monuments included in the calendar represent the epitome of human heritage.

The calendar aims to communicate the universal significance of these monuments, often regarded as the jewels of humanity, to a broader audience.

Vice-President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva and Head of Baku Media Center Arzu Aliyeva attend the event

An exhibition entitled “Crucible of hope” by famous Ghanaian artist Kojo Marfo has opened at the Heydar Aliyev Center.

Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva and Head of Baku Media Center Arzu Aliyeva participated in the event.

Prior to the opening ceremony, artist Kojo Marfo spoke with journalists about the stunning organization of the exhibition.

“It is my first visit to Baku. I am very happy to be here and to host my exhibition,” the artist emphasized.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Jean-David Malat, the exhibition curator, expressed his gratitude to Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva, Head of Baku Media Center Arzu Aliyeva and Director of the Heydar Aliyev Center Anar Alakbarov.

The participants then viewed the exhibition.

Kojo Marfo`s works have been exhibited in Amsterdam, Barcelona, London, New York, Paris, Tokyo, and other cities.

DokuBaku International Film Festival announces the call entry for the 8th edition. The main topic of this year's edition is titled iCOSMOS.

At the core of this year's festival lies a narrative journey that delves into the consequences of choices, both immediate and delayed, shaping the destinies of characters. This thematic exploration acts as a captivating lens through which we navigate the intricate fabric of karma, illustrating how our decisions intricately weave the tapestry of our lives.

Taking this exploration a step further, our festival intertwines the concept of "i" with the cosmic energies that envelop us. Acknowledging the symbiotic relationship between the cosmos and the self, we echo the ancient wisdom of "As above, so below," emphasizing the interconnectedness of the macrocosm (universe) and the microcosm (individuals). By doing so, we invite filmmakers and audiences to embark on an introspective journey, fostering self-awareness and deepening their understanding of the profound ties binding humanity to the vastness of the cosmos—the higher self.

This narrative journey aligns seamlessly with the age-old philosophy of Maya in Hinduism, where the external world is perceived as transient and illusory. By peeling away the layers of illusion, we encourage a deeper exploration of personal truths and a realization that transcends the surface of existence. This inward reflection resonates with various spiritual practices, urging individuals to unravel the mysteries of their true nature.

Festival’s categories are Best Feature Documentary Film, Best Short Documentary Film, Best Local Documentary Film, Best Documentary Film for Children (DokuKids), Non-Main Competition.

The Early bird deadline is 03 March,2024. The regular deadline is 04 April, 2024. Late deadline: 05 May, 2024

The festival will be held between the 1st to 6th of October 2024 at various venues, in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The selected films will be announced on 08 August 2024.