NEWS

Azerbaijan's Culture Ministry has released a video footage about Bibiheybat Mosque as part of the project "Let's know our Islamic heritage".

The Culture Ministry has provided insight into Bibiheybat Mosque, known as one of the major monuments of Islamic architecture in Azerbaijan.

The existing structure, built in the 1990s, is a recreation of the 13th-century mosque erected by Shirvanshah Farrukhzad II Ibn Ahsitan II, which was completely destroyed by the Bolsheviks in 1936.

The Bibiheybat Mosque includes the tomb of Ukeyma Khanum (a descendant of Prophet Muhammad). The courtyard of the mosque offers a beautiful sea view.

Notably, the Culture Ministry has previously released a video about Imamzadeh Mausoleum in Ganja.

The mausoleum consists of a complex including walls with entrances, small mosques and funerary monuments.

It is located inside the mosque, bears the grave of one of the sons of Imam Muhammad al-Baqir, the grave of one of the sons of Imam Muhammad al-Baqir.

The central dome of the mosque is decorated with floral elements and symbolic characteristic peacock drawings.

The central dome differs significantly from others in terms of its structure and dimensions.

The mausoleum was constructed using red bricks and features specific to the Arran Architectural School were used. Small dome cells on the right and left sides of the central dome were later added to the monument in the 13th-16th centuries.

Since 1946, the mausoleum has been known as a shrine to Imamzadeh.

By order of the President Ilham Aliyev, restoration works were been carried out at the mausoleum in 2010-2015.

The Culture Ministry has also launched "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.

The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) will restore the quadrangular Great Mardakan Fortress and Tuba Shah Mosque in the territory of the Baku settlement of Mardakan in 2021-2022.

Tuba Shah Mosque was built in 1492-1493.

The fifth edition of DokuBaku (IDFF) will take place on November 3-7 in Baku.

Founded in 2017, the festival is the first independent international documentary film festival, aimed to present a showcase documentary films from all over the world.

DokuBaku also intends to find new names and support local documentary filmmakers.

The main topic of this year's festival is "Senses ±". Such a choice was made because in the modern world, people's feelings are subjected to serious tests, such as social development and political environment, financial well-being and a global pandemic.

All this imprints on the person's perception of the world, including individual's personal experiences and physical condition.

The jury will be especially interested in films devoted to the people's inner and outer metamorphoses, their search for themselves and the meaning of their existence on earth.

The out of competition films will be screened as well. Moreover, retrospective of the Azerbaijani documentary films will be also arranged as part of the festival. It will be dedicated to the memory of the late Azerbaijani screenwriter and director Chingiz Rasulzade.

The applications can be submitted on the FilmFreeWay till September 20th, 2021.

The International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation has solemnly marked the 140th anniversary of the Hungarian composer Bela Bartok.

The event was attended by prominent public figures, representatives of diplomatic missions, culture and science figures, including president of the International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation Gunay Afandiyeva, People's Writer Elchin Efendiyev, People's Artist Murad Huseynov, diplomat Hasan Hasanov, writer Gunel Rzayeva, Ph.D. in art history Gulnara Khalilova and others.

At the opening ceremony, Gunay Afandiyeva informed the guests about the composer's rich legacy.

In her speech, president of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation Gunay Afandiyeva noted that the Hungarian composer was also known as a musical ethnographer who deeply studied folk art. He was one of the most famous researchers of Eastern European and Turkic folklore in Europe.

Through his collection and analytical study of folk music, he was one of the founders of comparative musicology, which later became ethnomusicology. In his research, Bela Bartok drew attention to the similarities between Hungarian and Turkish music.

"The closeness of the Turkic and Hungarian cultures throughout history has contributed to the close ties between the Turks and Hungarians. The very name of the country clearly demonstrates this connection. The whole world calls the Magyar country - Hungary - the Land of the Huns," she added.

Hungarian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Viktor Sederkenyi thanked Gunay Afandiyeva for organizing the evening and stressed the importance of the event in further developing cultural ties between peoples.

"Hungary has been an observer country of the International Fund for Turkic Culture and Heritage for two years. Now we are deepening our cooperation with the Turkic world. The Turkic-speaking peoples are our close friends as we share the same historical and cultural origin," said the diplomat

Noting that Bela Bartok studied scientific literature and the Turkic language in Budapest, the Ambassador added that the composer also researched the collection of folk music recordings collected by the Istanbul Conservatory from Turkish folk performers.

Furthermore, Dede Gorgud Chamber Orchestra performed the composer`s works "Divertimento for String Orchestra" and "Romanian folk dances".

Dede Gorgud Chamber Orchestra was created under the auspices of the International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation to promote Turkic culture in the international arena. The artistic director and conductor of the orchestra is People's Artist of Azerbaijan, Professor Yalchin Adigozalov.

International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation focuses on the preservation of Turkic heritage in member countries as well as conducting projects in collaboration with partners in third countries.

The organization provides assistance in the protection, study and promotion of Turkic culture and heritage through supporting and funding various activities, projects and programs. It carries out its activities in cooperation with TURKSOY and the Turkic Academy.

In 2019, at the 7th Summit of the Cooperation Council of Turkic-speaking States (Turkic Council), Uzbekistan became a member of the organization, and Hungary received the status of an observer country.

In February 2021, a memorandum of cooperation was signed between the International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation and the Lithuanian embassy in Azerbaijan.

Heydar Aliyev Center in Sheki has solemnly marked the 880th anniversary of Azerbaijani poet and philosopher Nizami Ganjavi. 

As part of the celebration, young artists presented the 5th-18th centuries miniatures for the poet's "Khamsa".

In their remarks, public and cultural figures stressed the role of Azerbaijan's national leader Heydar Aliyev in promoting Nizami's legacy.

In 1981, the poet's 840th anniversary was celebrated at a high level. In honor of the 850th anniversary of the poet, 1991 was declared the Year of Nizami by UNESCO.

Moreover, the 870th anniversary of Nizami Ganjavi was successfully celebrated in Azerbaijan, Italy, France, India, Russia and other countries.

The report "Great Leader Heydar Aliyev and Propaganda of Nizami Ganjavi's Legacy" was also read as part of the event.

Young actors of the Sheki State Drama Theater delighted the audience with the scenes from "Khamsa".

The celebration was followed by book and video presentations. 

Nizami Ganjavi started his creative activity with lyrical poems - gasidas, gazals and rubais. He dedicated his whole life to lyrical poems, and different philosophical problems.

The works of Azerbaijani poet and thinker have been translated into many languages.

Rare manuscript copies of his works are kept and preserved in world-famous libraries, museums and literary foundations in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Baku, Tashkent, Tabriz, Tehran, Cairo, Istanbul, Delhi, London, Paris and others.

In Khamsa (Quintet), the poet revealed the living pages of history.

The attack of the Russians on Barda city, a fairy tale of the Russian Princess, the beautiful Shirin amazons, battles, described in various poems of Nizami - all this is historically and geographically related to medieval Azerbaijan and the Caucasus.

Nizami Ganjavi passed away in 1209 in his native city of Ganja. A grandiose tomb was raised over his grave.

An engraved deer toe dating back 51,000 years is the oldest ornament in the world, according to researchers, who say it shows Neanderthals had an eye for aesthetics,Report nforms via Daily Mail.

It was skilfully engraved with regularly spaced and neatly stacked chevrons, say the team from Lower Saxony State Service for Cultural Heritage in Hannover, Germany.

The ancient ornament was discovered near the entrance of Unicorn Cave in the foothills of the Harz mountains in Germany by archaeologists.

It had a flat base for placing upright, suggesting it was a decoration, presenting the image of Neanderthals as 'knuckle-dragging brutes' is 'wide of the mark.'

The chevrons in the bone, which would have been boiled before carving to make it softer, suggest it had 'symbolic meaning' and was a pre-meditated artistic work.

Study leader Dr. Dirk Leder said: 'It is an outstanding example of their cognitive capacity. The engraved bone is unique in the context of Neanderthals.

'What makes the item so interesting is the pattern is very clear and the engravings are very deep. It would have taken some 90 minutes to carve the chevrons.'

There are six individual lines carved into the bones, suggesting there must have been the idea to combine them in a coherent way.

The notches carved into the bone are between half an inch and an inch long and set at a 90-degree angle, meaning they 'are not butchery type cuts,' said Dr. Leder.

'It shows Neanderthals were capable of advanced and complex behaviors - including producing artistic impressions,' he added.

The Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum invites you share your photo with work of art.

The Carpet Museum stores 17th century carpets decorated with beautiful ornaments that once served as family charm against envy.

If you want to add traditional vibes to your photo shoot, capture the happiest moments in the unique interior of the Karabakh room.

"Organize your pre-wedding photo shoot in a space filled with the energy and beauty of carpets reflecting our traditions and culture. ​The museum preserves the 17th-century carpets adorned with the talismans of family well-being.​ Also, if you dream of a vintage-themed photo shoot in the national spirit, we invite you to capture the moments of your happiness in the Karabakh room's unique interior," the message said.

Meanwhile, the Carpet Museum stores over 14,000 exhibits of the finest Azerbaijani carpets.

The museum hosts multiple events, including international symposiums, conferences and various exhibitions.

In 2019, the museum received national status for its significant contribution to the popularization and promotion of the Azerbaijani Carpet Weaving Art.

Moreover, the Carpet Museum won Travelers' Choice Awards for the fourth time in a row last year.  In 2020, the Carpet Museum enriched its collection with beautiful pile carpets purchased by the Culture Ministry at the Sartirana Textile Show in Italy.

The 19th century Guba carpet Ugakh was donated to the Carpet Museum, while Karabakh carpet Chelebi enriched the collection of the museum's Shusha branch.

Arts Council Azerbaijan has successfully presented "Seven Beauties" project as part of Art Fest Nizami.

The large-scale festival is timed to the 880th anniversary of great poet and philosopher and the Year of Nizami Ganjavi announced in Azerbaijan. 

The "Seven Beauties" were displayed in an open-air area, near Art Tower Gallery in the Old City. 

The banners were created during the workshop of photographers Lala Huseynova, Alexander Karyagin, Mirsadikh Huseynov, Farhad Alakparli, Simon Peter, Emin Guliyev and Madina Dorozhkina.

Each photographer presented his own view on Nizami Ganjavi's poem "Seven Beauties".

Public and art figures, including writers Natella Osmanli and Narmina Mammadzade, publicist Gulnara Imanova, restaurateur Lidia Aliyeva, head of the Art School Sona Guliyeva, designer Sabina Zulalova and ballerina Dariga Naimanova.

The project curator is Sona Guliyeva, costume designer-Sabina Zulalova, makeup artist - Angelina Babayeva.

The collection of epic poems "Khamsa" ("Five") is the main work of the classic of Azerbaijani literature Nizami Ganjavi (1141-1209). All five poems - "Treasury of Secrets", "Khosrov and Shirin", "Seven Beauties", "Iskander-name", "Leyli and Majnun" are written in the form of masnavi (couplet).

The first presentation was dedicated to the Indian princess, which was embodied by the head of the Art School, Sona Guliyeva.

Meanwhile, separate videos were shot for each "Seven Beauties". The guests were presented the video "Indian Beauty".

The project brought together Saida Tagizade (pianist), Mehman Piriyev (reader), Madina  Dorozhkina (video), Sabina Zulalova (costume designer) as well as make-up artist Angelina ( Bonjour Beauty Baku). 

The festival encourages talented people to participate in various joint projects.

The project also focuses on raising awareness of the young generation about Nizami's literary heritage. 

The Heydar Aliyev Foundation will erect a monument to the outstanding composer Uzeyir Hajibeyli in Shusha.

The process of creating a monument is currently underway in Baku.

Heydar Aliyev Foundation is actively working on the restoration of religious and cultural monuments in the territories liberated from Armenian occupation.

Hundreds of cultural institutions were destroyed on Azerbaijan's territories as a result of Armenian vandalism.

Over 700 historical and cultural monuments registered by the state before the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict were looted, including the 11 and 15-span Khudaferin bridges in Jabrayil, Ganjasar and Khudavend sanctuaries in Kalbajar, the mausoleum in Aghdam's Khachin Turbetli village, Azykh cave in Fuzuli as well as Shusha state historical and architectural reserve.

Heydar Aliyev Foundation is also working on restoration and repair of religious monuments such as  Ashaghi Govhar Agha Mosque, Yukhari Govhar Agha and Saatli Mosque.

The historic mosques were designed by architect Karbalayi Safikhan Karabakhi,  one of the representatives of Karabakh architecture schools.

The religious monuments were vandalized the occupation of Shusha city by the Armenians.

The interior of Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque was destroyed, the decor of the minarets was damaged.

The covering and other architectural elements were  destroyed as well.

The first stage of the reconstruction has been completed. Now the work is underway in the second stage.

Stones in the walls of the mosque are put in accordance with the original project.

Assessment work is being carried out with the participation of foreign experts in Ashaghi Govhar Agha Mosque, which was destroyed as a result of the Armenian occupation.

After the occupation of Shusha city by Armenians, Saatli historic mosque was destroyed and turned into ruins.

Local and foreign experts are working on the restoration of Azerbaijan's liberated territories.

Azerbaijan's living vocal treasure Alim Gasimov has captivated the listeners at the Chekhov International Theater Festival 2021 in Moscow. 

The audience enjoyed the two-day concert at Moscow International Music House that brought together mugham singers Alim Gasimov and Farghana Gasimova as well as musicians Rauf Islamov (kamancha), Zyaki Valiyev (tar), Rafael Askarov (balaban) and Javidan Nabiyev (naghara).

Founded in 1992, the theater festival takes place every two years in Moscow. The festival was founded by the International Confederation of Theater Unions.

More than 600 performances from 51 countries have taken part in the festival over the past years. 

Alim discovered the world of mugham as a child, when he began singing for his own enjoyment. He grew up in the town of Shamakhi, 100 km northwest of Baku. "I had no idea that I would become a singer," he remembers.

His powerful voice represents a move away from the traditional style of mugham. Qasimov recorded about nine albums, three of which are mugham albums with his daughter, Farghana.

The recipient of the international IMC/UNESCO Music Prize in 1999, Qasimov was called "one of the 20th century's greatest singers" by Folk Roots, who praised him for his "pure vocal excitement."

Qasimov has collaborated and performed with some of the world’s leading musicians, including Yo-Yo Ma, Kronos Quartet and Jeff Buckley.

The musician gives concerts in the world’s most prestigious concert halls.  The magical voice won over audiences in Central Asia, the USA, Europe, and Japan.