Irina Eldarova "Offer", 2013, oil on canvas, 152×152 cm, image courtesy of Irina Eldarova
VENICE – From Caspian to Pink Planet: I Am Here is the title of the project that theAzerbaijan presents to 60th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, as part of the National Pavilion set up at the Arsenale, Campo della Tana, Castello 2126/A. Curated by Luca Beatrice and Amina Melikovathe exhibition is open to the public from 20 April to 24 November 2024.
Drawing inspiration from the theme proposed by the Director of the Biennale, Adriano Pedrosathe exhibition aims to explore the different facets of being foreign, through the works of three artists: Vusala Agharaziyeva, Rashad Alakbarov and Irina Eldarova.
A message of hope
The exhibition challenges the perception of extraneousness, proposing a message of optimism and hope. The artists invite us to reflect on the fact that each of us can feel “at home” everywhere, both physically and mentally. The power of imagination and empathy allows us to overcome barriers and put down roots even in unknown contexts.
Vusala Agharaziyeva Pink Planet, 2024 Wood, metal and acrylic Wood, metal and acrylic 150 cm Photo by Nigar Rzayeva Image courtesy of Vusala Agharaziyeva
Works that tell stories of bonds and roots
The works on display metaphorically explore the profound bonds that unite individuals with their environments. Each work, created with a variety of artistic techniques, connects to the general theme of the Biennale and at the same time offers a vivid portrait of the Azerbaijani company.
As he explains Luca Beatrice, co-curator of the Pavilion, Azerbaijan is a country in cultural and artistic ferment. The exhibition reflects this liveliness, putting tradition in dialogue with innovation. “A quick visit to Baku was enough to understand the cultural and artistic effervescence of this ancient country, where contemporary architecture dialogues with history, technology and industry accelerate very rapidly and art becomes the most faithful mirror of this attitude projected towards the future”.
The very title of the exhibition, From Caspian to Pink Planet: I Am Here, embodies this duality. There is the local sea that supplies itself with oil, a philosophical vision of the planet, Hollywood, like East meets West but, in response to Foreigners Everywherethe definitive statement arrives I Am Here.
Amina Melikova co-curator of the Pavilion, highlights the diversity of the artists present: “The three artists represented this year in the Azerbaijan Pavilion belong to different generations and use different expressive means and techniques. However, their works selected for exhibition at the Biennale touch, in one way or another, situations that intertwine reality and fantasy in which an individual must overcome alienation and achieve a sense of belonging within the observed/imagined space".
Vusala Agharaziyeva: fantastic journeys and reflections on identity
Vusala Agharaziyeva takes us on a fantastic journey through her project “Pink Planet”. Inspired by the works of science fiction of the fifties and sixtiesthe artist explores the theme of identity and strangeness through a variety of media, including painting, sculpture and digital installations.
Rashad Alakbarov: urban labyrinths and the search for the self
Rashad Alakbarov presents a large-scale installation entitled “I Am Here”. The work recreates the claustrophobic atmosphere of a modern one labyrinthine city, where individuals move along predetermined trajectories. But there is a way out: a mirror that reflects the imperative “I am here”, inviting us to find our place in the world.
Irina Eldarova: the meeting between myths and distant worlds
Irina Eldarova reflects on the condition of a foreign woman through the series “I Am Here”. The work tells the imaginary meeting between a typical Caspian oil worker and Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe. A surreal encounter that highlights cultural differences and the search for a sense of belonging.
An invitation to reflect on being foreign
The Azerbaijan Pavilion invites us to reflect on the experience of being foreigners in a globalized world. The exhibition pushes us to reconsider the meaning of “home” and “belonging”, celebrating the diversity and resilience of the human soul.
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