NEWS

Azerbaijan's honored artist Yagub Zurufchu, who died of coronavirus at the New Clinic yesterday, was buried in the Gurd Gapisi cemetery, Report informs.

The honored artist was buried next to the People's Artists Arif Guliyev and Rafig Huseynov (Ramish).

The funeral was attended by the head of the Baku Main Department of Culture Jalil Malikov, and other cultural figures.

An exhibition of Azerbaijani artist Niyaz Najafov has opened in Paris, France, Report informs.

About ten works of the Azerbaijani artist are displayed in a solo exhibition organized at the Italian Gallery in the 1st arrondissement of Paris.

The exhibition, entitled "White Certificate," includes works created by Niyaz Najafov in recent years. The opening was attended by a large number of French art lovers.

The exhibition will last until September 25.

Niyaz Najafov has been one of the most famous artists in Azerbaijani art for the last ten years. His works have been exhibited in Russia, the United States, Germany, Denmark, France, and other countries. Najafov's works are also kept in many museums and private collections outside Azerbaijan.

Baku's most anticipated jazz festival is back with an incredibly rich program.

The music festival has a lineup of some of the internationally acclaimed musicians from Azerbaijan, the Netherlands, Azerbaijan, Hungary, Turkey, Russia, Israel and Luxembourg.

Fetiblue Band, Dock in Absolute, Rain Sultanov, Sinem Islamoglu, Isfar Sarabski Trio, Nijat Aslanov Group, delighted jazz lovers on September 10-12.

Moreover, "I am Jazzman" gala concert was held as part of the event.  The contest "I Am Jazzman" is open for 14-30 years old musicians.

The project aims to reveal young talents among beginner musicians who love jazz music.The competition serves as a great platform for future professional jazz music.

For more than 15 years, the Baku Jazz Festival has become an essential part of the country's musical life.

The musical event is organized by acclaimed saxophonist Rain Sultanov to showcase Azerbaijan's long-running attachment to jazz. 

The first ever Baku Jazz Festival was held in 2005 since then it has grown to be widely recognized as one of the country's leading festivals.

Baku Jazz Festival and related advertisements are broadcasted in Euronews TV channel. In 2006, it was included in the list of the top biggest jazz festivals worldwide.

Since 2017, the festival joins the Europe Jazz Network. Baku Jazz Festival is also a member of UNESCO International Jazz Day Celebration.

Some of the 20th century's greatest films have been screened as part of the Baku Jazz Festival 2021.

The film screenings took place at the Art Tower Gallery on September 11-12 with the support of the Arts Council Azerbaijan, Azernews reported.

The film critic Ulvi Mehti invited jazz and cinema lovers to plunge into the great films with exciting plots.

Based on the festival's motto "Jazz of Victory", the choice fell on films symbolizing the victorious spirit of art.

Wim Wenders' "Buena Vista Social Club", Martin Scorsese's drama "New York, New York" were screened as part of the festival.

Buena Vista Social Club (1996)

Film critic Ulvi Mehti provided insight into Wim Wenders' documentary about the music of Cuba, famous Buena Vista Social Club  (1996) which gained huge fame. 

The ensemble was named  after the homonymous members' club in the Buenavista quarter of Havana, a popular music venue in the 1940s. It included many veteran musicians who performed the popular styles of the time, such as son, bolero and danzón. 

The band's eponymous album was released in September 1997 , quickly becoming an international success, which prompted the ensemble to perform with a full line-up in Amsterdam and New York in 1998. 

Furthermore, the Mexican Ambassador to Azerbaijan Rodrigo Labardini shared his impressions of the trip to Cuba in the second half of the 90s. He also spoke about the concerts of the revived Buena Vista group by director Wim Wenders.

New York, New York (1977)

Martin Scorsese's drama "New York, New York" is a musical tribute, featuring songs by John Kander and Fred Ebb.

The story is "about a jazz saxophonist (Robert De Niro ) and a pop singer ( Liza Minnelli) who fall madly in love.

At the end of the film screenings, Ulvi Mehti thanked the audience for the recreating the atmosphere of the Baku's retro cinemas.

Everything has its own beauty. Sometimes it can be hidden among wondrous things in lonely, empty spaces.

The quest for discovery, both old and new has inspired art figures to turn semi-abandoned places into incredible art space. 

The art project exhibition "Improvised by inDUSTry" was initiated by Bahram Khalilov, Konul Rafiyeva and Rustam Huseynov as part of the Baku Jazz Festival 2021, Azernews reported.

Wonder of abandoned places 

The unique art project is dedicated to the visual refraction of space and time, the change of paradigms and meanings, which have now turned into artifacts with new meanings.

The exhibition opened in the artists' workshops near the Icharishahar metro station.

Speaking about the art project, photographer and curator Rustam Huseynov said that the choice of this site wasn't made by chance. 

The most important thing was to present the art project in the place soak up with art.

Through the exhibition, the project organizers strive to show how sometimes even abandoned places play a role in the formation of a creative environment.

This venue was specially selected for the exhibition, which could potentially become a creative center in the future.

The exhibition featured photographs by Rustam Huseynov and Arif Guluzade, an installation by Bahram Khalilov, a sculpture by Huseyn Khagverdiyev, performances by Rustam Huseynov and Bahram Khalilov. 

The event was co-organized by the Center of Contemporary Art and the United Artists Club with the support of the Khatai Art Center.

Hidden beauty of dark places

The exhibition began with a conceptual post-apocalyptic performance by Rustam Huseynov which shows that art lasts forever despite all challenges that COVID-19 has thrown at us.

Through his performance, Rustam Huseynov shows us how to find beauty in dark and empty spaces. Let the world be imperfect, but there is a still place for beauty that drive us further.

Music that flows within

Music inspires a variety of feelings in the listener and sometimes those feelings transform into incredible paintings. 

Talented artist Bahram Khalilov delighted the art lovers with his paintings inspired by the sounds of the rain. He demonstrated how changing the sound affects the work of art.

Everything can crumble in dust, but the art spirit is immortal. It can fill everything with new meaning.

At the same time, live streaming was shown with Stockholm that featured a "body art happening".

A happening is a performance, event or situation meant to be considered as an art.  Key elements of happenings are planned, but artists sometimes retain room for improvisation.

Famous artist Lyudmila Kristeseva and curator Konul Rafiyeva provided insight into the art project.

The exhibition will be followed by a public discussion on the transformation of the urban environment and the protection of its cultural values 

The closing ceremony will take place on September 18.

Baku Jazz Festival 2021 is pleased to announce an art exhibition "Improvised by inDUSTry".

The exhibition will open in the artists' workshops near the Icherisheher metro on September 10.

The unique art project is dedicated to the visual refraction of space and time, the change of paradigms and meanings, which have now turned into artifacts with new meanings.

The exhibition will feature paintings, installations, photographs, video art and performances by artists Huseyn Hagverdiev, Bahram Khalilov, Rustam Huseynov and Arif Guluzade.

The crumbling artifacts of the past, the dead objects of the industry take on new meaning as objects of inspiration for artists, receiving a second life and a new purpose. 

All go to one place. All are from the dust and to dust all return... Just as jazz is musical improvisation and reflection on the life of urban civilization, so artists improvise visually to change the paradigm and replace the meanings of relics of a bygone era. 

The art project exhibition "Improvised by inDUSTry" was initiated by Bahram Khalilov, Konul Rafieva and Rustam Huseynov. 

The event is co-organized by the Center of Contemporary Art, the United Artists Club with the support of the Khatai Art Center.

The exhibition will finish its work with a live performance on September 18. 

Attendance of the event is possible by prior registration and Covid-19 restrictions. 

Media partners of the event are Azernews.az,  Trend.az, Day.az, Milli.az.

Meanwhile, the Baku Jazz Festival will take place in Baku on September 10-18, bringing together jazz musicians from Azerbaijan, the Netherlands, Azerbaijan, Hungary, Turkey, Russia, Israel and Luxembourg.

Along with foreign guests, Azerbaijani jazzmen will perform at the festival, including Honored Artists Rain Sultanov, Shahin Novrasli, Isfar Sarabski, musicians Elbay Mamedzade, Elvin Bashirov and many others.

This year, Baku Jazz Festival 2021 will differ from the traditional one as it will be held in a club format amid a coronavirus pandemic. 

The first ever Baku Jazz Festival was held in 2005 since then it has grown to be widely recognized as one of the country's leading festivals.

Baku Jazz Festival and related advertisements are broadcasted in Euronews TV channel. In 2006, it was included in the list of the top biggest jazz festivals worldwide.

Since 2017, the festival joins the Europe Jazz Network. Baku Jazz Festival is also a member of UNESCO International Jazz Day Celebration.

Azerbaijan was represented at the international food festival in the US through the initiative and support of the ‘Azerbaijan Friendship Organization’ operating in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina, the Azerbaijani State Committee for Work with Diaspora told Trend on Sept.8.

According to the committee, 26 countries, including Azerbaijan, US, Italy, Germany, Japan, China, and Colombia, took part in the festival, organized to popularize the traditions and dishes of national cuisine of different countries.

Souvenirs and books about the history, culture, tourism potential of Azerbaijan were demonstrated at Azerbaijan's stand.

The head of the Azerbaijan Friendship Organization, a member of the Coordination Council of American Azerbaijanis, Adika Igbal and others, told the local residents and guests of the festival in detail about the culture and national cuisine of Azerbaijan.

During the festival, dances of the peoples of 26 countries were also presented. The visitors welcomed the Azerbaijani dance performed by the ‘Karabakh’ dance group.

Fashion designer Gulnara Khalilova has presented her stunning collection "Karabakh is Azerbaijan!" at the 4th Stockholm International Fashion Fair. 

The fashion show that showcased brand news collections of world-famous designers from Sweden, Serbia, Tunisia, Spain, Italy, Morocco and other countries was held virtually amid coronavirus pandemic. 

Speaking about her fashion collection, Gulnara Khalilova stressed that it was made in honor of Azerbaijan's victory in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War.

The 44 days of war ended with the Russian brokered peace deal signed on November 10 by the Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian leaders.  

Each costume in the fashion collection is inspired by the Azerbaijan's liberated regions. The fashion collection left no one indifferent.

Gulnara Khalilova, the head of the Center of National Costumes, is a frequent guest of international fashion weeks. She is the two-time winner at the Eurasian International Fashion Festival "Silk Road" held in China.

Her fashion collections have been successfully presented in Turkey, Russia, China, Austria, Romania, Great Britain, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and other countries.

She also designed costumes for Azerbaijan's 2013 Eurovision representative Farid Mammadov and created a hand panel with the official mascots of the EuroGames.

During the opening of Rio 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio, Champion of the European Games Ilham Zakiyev was in national dress, created by the designer which was a novelty in the history of the Olympic movement.

Khalilova is the author of a number of books dedicated to the traditions of clothing, including the history of Azerbaijan national clothing, the textbooks and catalogues for higher education institutions.

In 2014-2015 she worked as a teacher at the State Academy of Fine Arts. Since 2017, she has been teaching at Khazar University. The designer also heads the Women's Entrepreneurship Development Association.

Azerbaijan's Culture Ministry has released a video dedicated to Taza Pir Mosque as part of the project "Let's know our Islamic heritage".

The Taza Pir Mosque is considered the religious center not only of Azerbaijan, but of the entire Caucasus. The Office of Muslims of the Caucasus is located here.

The history of the sanctuary dates back to the 14th-15th centuries, when it existed as a tomb belonged to Abu Seyid Abdulla, known as a scholar and Islamic saint.

The mosque was built on the tomb at the initiative of the Azerbaijani philanthropist Nabat Khanum Ashurbeyova in 1905-1915.

Architect Zivar bey Ahmedbayov designed the interior of the mosque in accordance with architectural examples of the Muslim East. 

During the USSR period, religious sites were transformed into other institutions.

In 1934, the Taza Pir Mosque was used as a tea factory, summer cinema, warehouse, etc. Later, the Spiritual Administration of the Transcaucasia Muslims was restored, and the mosque continued to function as before.

In 2005, by order of President Ilham Aliyev, a project was prepared for the restoration of the mosque and the reconstruction of the adjacent territory.

In 2009, after major reconstruction and large-scale construction work, the Taza Pir Mosque  was put into operation.

Notably, the Culture Ministry has previously released videos about Juma Mosque in Baku as part of the project "Let's know our Islamic heritage".

The mosque was built in the 15th century on the site of an ancient fire temple. A magnificent minaret was constructed at the northern wall of the mosque.

There are traces of a Zoroastrian temple at the site. Some scientists believe that the Juma Mosque was built on the remains of a temple of fire-worshippers.

Moreover, the Culture Ministry has also launched the "Know your Christian heritage" project, covering the history of state-protected churches and other temples in Azerbaijan.

The videos dedicated to the Albanian church in Sheki's Kish village, the Alban-Udi Chotari church in Gabala's Nij village, the 19th Kurmyuk temple in Gakh region, the Albanian church (Three Saints Church) and German Lutheran Church in Sheki, Orthodox church in Ganja as well as the Holy Myrrhbearers Cathedral in Baku were also released as part of the project.

Azerkhalcha will take part in Heimtextil Russia, an international trade fair of interior fabrics, home textiles and decorating materials. 

Heimtextil is a platform for meeting with major Russian and foreign manufacturers of home textiles, fabrics, and materials for decoration.

The international exhibition will take place on September 14-16 at the Expocentre Fairgrounds in Moscow.

Azerkhalcha OJSC is the largest manufacturer of handmade carpets in Azerbaijan. The company  was established in May 2016 under the presidential decree.

Azerkhalcha focuses on production and export of carpets and carpet products, organization of sales both domestically and internationally, application of new technologies in the carpets production, etc. 

Its factories are successfully operating across the country as each region has its own carpet weaving traditions.

Azerkhalcha OJSC produces both traditional Azerbaijani carpets and subject products.

Carpet-weaving art is considered an integral part of Azerbaijani culture and craftsmanship. Azerbaijani carpets are stored in many prestigious museums and private galleries around the world.

According to their technical aspects, Azerbaijani carpets are classified as flat-woven (pileless) and knotted (pile). The flat-woven carpets are linked to the earlier period of carpet weaving. There are several kinds of pileless carpets such as Shadda, Verni, Jejim, Zilli, Sumakh, Kilim and Palas.

Shadda is a flat weave carpet, made primarily in Nakhchivan, Agdam, Gubadly, Agjabadi. The artistic composition of shadda made by complicated whipping, as well as its constituents have a complex form.

One of the most widely spread types of the flat-weave carpet is "verni". The key pattern of "verni" is the S-element. Its shape varies, it may resemble both figure 5 and letter S. This element means "dragon" among the nomads and “water” among the village people.  According to ancient beliefs, a dragon featuring carpet would protect the family from foul weather. Agjabadi, Barda, Aghdam, Nakhchivan are the centers of this type of pileless carpets.

Jejims are woven on simple horizontal looms by narrow stripes 30–35 cm wide and 15–10 cm long. The resulting product is a cloth to be used as a wall carpet, a bedding coverlet, or curtains.

The major jejim production centers are Barda, Nakhchivan, Zangilan, Shusha, Shamakha.

Zilli carpet is characterized by stylized forms of animals and vegetal elements. In terms of their composition and pattern the Azerbaijani zillis are very diverse. They feature images of large elements in the shape of big lozenges, paired horns, and various stylized elements.

The Sumakh carpets have become widely spread and recognized over the last few centuries. Since the 18th century, they have been made in the country's Guba and Gusar regions.

The Sumakh carpets feature the diverse stylized vegetal motifs, various geometrical elements such as large hexahedral, square, rhomboid medallions.

Kilim is the most widespread type of flat-woven carpets. They are made by passing the weft through the warp using the technique of compound interweaving. Kilim is characterized by a slot-like gap (opening) around the geometrical patterns.

The technique of kilim weaving predetermines the pattern shapes in the form of a lozenge, triangle, and trapezium. Images of animals, birds and humans are geometrized in kilims. Kilims of different regions are distinguished by their composition, pattern, and colors. In terms of their technical peculiarities, kilims can be classified into five major groups based on the area of production: Kazakh, Karabakh, Absheron, Shirvan and Tabriz kilims.

Palas is one of the widely spread flat-weave carpets. The palas weaving process consists in passing the weft through the warp by a simple technique.

The weavers decorate the palas by traditional patterns in the form of horizontal stripes commonly used throughout Azerbaijan. As a rule, the palas is not framed by a border.