(MENAFN- AzerNews)
Laman Ismayilova read more By Laman Ismayilova
Professional photographer Aydin Sadixov has traveled around
European countries, capturing some of the most famous
landmarks.
Throughout his journey, the photographer showcases stunning
historical and cultural monuments of great importance.
The project is organized in partnership with the
Italy-Azerbaijan Design Center for a period of two years and
features separate events including photo exhibitions and
presentations on the architectural masterpieces of different
countries.
Poland is a dream country for any photographer, who is
fascinated by centuries-old architectural sites.
In the heart of Europe, Azerbaijani photographer Jamshid
Mustafayev captured breathtaking views of major landmarks for his
exhibition.
As the project curator Aydin Sadixov told azernews , the third
exhibition held within the project 'Architectural Masterpieces of
the World' opened at the Azerbaijani University of Architecture and
Construction.
Around eighteen photographers were on display as part of the
exhibition organized in partnership with the Polish Embassy in
Azerbaijan.
To note,Jamshid Mustafayev have previously presented several of
his photo works taken in the city of Krakow within the 'V4' group
exhibition.
This time, the photographer did not limit himself to the
presentation of the historical sights of one city but revealed the
architectural monuments of several magnificent cities of Poland at
once.
Each photo reveals the architectural splendor of temples,
original and unique architectural elements of historical buildings,
town halls, and statues, as well as the power and grandeur of
castles and fortifications located in parts of the country.
The exposition demonstrates the photo works taken by him in
Warsaw, Wroclaw, Gdansk, Krakow, and Katowice.
The event started with the opening speech of Rector of the
University of Architecture and Construction, Prof Gulchohra
Mammadova, Polish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Rafal Poborski, director
of the Italy-Azerbaijan Design Center Farid Karimov as well as
project curator, photographer and traveler Aydin Sadixov.
The event was attended by the diplomatic corps of the Polish
Embassy in Azerbaijan, students, and teaching staff as well as
media representatives.
After the official part, the project curator together with the
representatives of the Polish Embassy conducted an interesting and
very informative tour through the photographs presented at the
exhibition and told in detail about interesting historical
references, construction features, architectural style, and even a
number of legends about all Polish historical sights.
During that short tour through the works, the curator answered
all the questions of the guests and university students, who were
actively interested in the development of Polish architecture in
the different historical periods.
Polish architecture is a completely unique combination of
different architectural styles, ranging from Romanesque and Gothic
castles to modern post-modern complexes.
Most of the buildings shown on display belong to the periods of
the Middle Ages and early modern times, styles - Gothic, Baroque,
and Renaissance.
Historians say that the formation of the Polish state dates back
to the 10th century AD.
The Polish state started to form as a result of the union of
peoples living in the territories and places, where the cities of
Krakow and Poznan are now located. Therefore, the most ancient
Polish buildings have been preserved there, including religious
ones. For instance, fragments of the 10th-century temple have been
preserved in the Wawel Castle in Krakow.
Polish cities showcase the full range of European architectural
styles. Thus, Romanesque architecture is clearly represented by
religious buildings in the city of Krakow, the architecture of
Gdansk is mainly represented by a unique brick Gothic style, while
the architectural style of Wroclaw has a number of features of
German architecture.
Known as the Polish ancient capital, the city of Krakow has one
of the best-preserved Gothic and Renaissance urban complexes in
Europe.
During the presentation of the exposition, Aydin Sadixov told a
number of interesting historical facts, about the history of Polish
architecture. Photo works representing incredible historical and
architectural masterpieces of the Polish cities of Krakow and
Gdansk take central places in the exposition presented within the
event.
Krakow is the ancient capital of the Polish kingdom, located on
the picturesque banks of the Vistula River.
This is a city with a thousand-year history, where monarchs were
crowned and buried. The architecture of the city perfectly combines
the charm of the Middle Ages, the Romanesque architectural style,
Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and modern Art Nouveau.
The city of Krakow and its legendary Wawel Hill, on which the
castle is located, are important historical and architectural
masterpieces and symbols of Poland.
For centuries, well-known architects, craftsmen, and artists
have created their unique image. Fortifications, valuable
architectural monuments, and original sculptures attract thousands
of architects and tourists from all over the world.
Krakow is also considered a Polish cultural capital, as numerous
cultural festivals, holidays, and large-scale exhibitions are held
here every year.
Thousands of the most valuable architectural monuments keep the
memory of the outstanding history of Krakow and Poland. The history
of Krakow is very beautiful and mysterious, there are many legends
about it. The most famous, tells about the giant dragon 'Smok'.
None of the knights could vanquish the monster until a young
shoemaker defeated the dragon.
Under Wawel Castle, you can see the entrance to the cave where,
according to legend, the dragon lived. The first mention of the
city dates back to 965.
In the XIV century, the first coronation took place here and
Krakow acquired the position of the capital of the royal city. The
architectural complex of the old town of Krakow is considered one
of the most important cultural heritage monuments in Poland and in
the world.
The urban plan of old Krakow has not changed for several
centuries, and thanks to this fact, it has been perfectly preserved
to this day, currently being a historical and architectural
masterpiece of the world.
Starting from the XIII century, Krakow was surrounded by
fortifications and defensive walls, and houses, churches, and
palaces were built inside them. One of the important fortifications
of the city is the Barbican.
This powerful fortification and defensive building, built in the
Gothic style, played an important role in protecting the city. It
was considered the most advanced achievement of military technology
in the 15th century, it had 130 shooting ranges, and its walls were
three meters thick, which ideally protected it from cannonballs.
The entire fortification complex, along with the arsenal,
surrounded by walls, ramparts, and ditches, was an almost
unsurpassed barrier to the enemy.
Gdansk is the sea capital of Poland, one of the most beautiful
places in the country. Gdansk is called the city of Neptune because
it is completely cut by water channels. In addition, the city is
famous for its amber and fertile lands. The city is steeped in
Polish history and cultural traditions.
Gdansk is one of the oldest cities in Poland - the first mention
of it was dated 997. Interestingly, the territorial and historical
center of Gdansk is one of the largest in Poland and Europe. The
architecture and atmosphere of Gdansk are special and unique, it is
typical for the ancient port cities.
The architectural style of the streets is a mixture of late
Gothic and Baroque motifs. Considering the features of the
architecture of this city, it should be noted that it is an
important open-air museum for a unique architectural style - brick
Gothic.
The city contains a huge number of architectural monuments and
houses made in this architectural style. The beautiful Gothic
building of the city hall immediately attracts attention.
This 83-meter building, unique in its construction and
architecture, with a tower decorated with clockwork, dates back to
1379. Now it houses the city museum. The building of the town hall
is made of red brick, in the style of the Gothic-Renaissance.
The top of the town hall is crowned with a spire, and the upper
tier of the tower is decorated with a city clock. The Neptune
Fountain is a beautiful XVII-century fountain built on the
initiative of the City Council. All sculptures of the fountain
depict different sea creatures, both fictional and real.
On the second tier of the fountain, there is a sculpture of the
most famous marine fairy-tale creature Neptune, which is one of the
symbols of the city. The pier of the city is the hallmark of
Gdansk. There are ancient stone buildings, towers, and part of the
old city fortifications.
After viewing the photo exhibition, the guests of the event went
to the assembly hall, where a lecture by Second Secretary of the
Polish Embassy in Azerbaijan, Dr. Katarzyna Piasecka conducted by
offered a brief look at how Polish architecture has changed over
the ages. Dr. Katarzyna Piasecka traced the idiosyncratic features
in the famous Polish buildings through various regions and
stylistic trends.
The lecture also touched on the historic events that had an
impact on the architectural environment. The lecture and photo
exhibition aroused great public interest.
Aydin Sadixov has previously demonstrated architectural sites in
Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic within the project.
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Tags: azerbaijan poland photographer culture photo exhibition history travel photography aydin sadikhov historical monuments cultural monuments polish history polish landmarks landmarks jamshid mustafayev