(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 9. The
Azerbaijan-Latvia exhibition 'Between Heaven and Earth' has been
opened at the Heydar Aliyev Center, trend reports.
The event was attended by President of the Republic of Latvia
Egils Levits, who is paying an official visit to Azerbaijan,
Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Anar
Alakbarov, Chargé d'affaires a.i. of Latvia in the country Vija
Buša, and other official guests.
The exhibition, organized jointly with the Latvian Embassy in
Azerbaijan, covers the poetry of the brilliant poet Movlana
Jalaladdin Rumi. The ideas of Rumi, who lived and worked in the
13th century, were dedicated to achieving spiritual uplift and
perfection. The exhibition features works by Ieva Krūmiņa from
Latvia and the world-famous photographer Reza Deghati.
While delivering a speech during the event, Buša noted that
today's exhibition is of paramount importance for her country. She
noted that this is the result of the joint efforts of both
countries, and the exhibition demonstrates the similarities between
the two nations.
The Latvian chargé d'affaires a.i. underscored that the Latvian
Embassy in Azerbaijan attaches particular importance to art
projects. In the meantime, the embassy contributes to the cultural
ties between Latvia and Azerbaijan, the dialogue in this direction.
Thus, thanks to such events, the fine arts of Latvia are promoted
in Azerbaijan. With the opening of this exhibition, another step
will be taken in the field of cultural cooperation.
President Levits emphasized that the exhibition's title was
chosen correctly and aimed at bringing together different peoples
and cultures. He said that today no one wants to live in a
monotonous, global cultural context. The unique culture of each
people must be preserved. National cultures are based on
traditions, but these traditions need to be developed. National
cultures should be open to ideas put forward by other cultures.
Calling this exhibition a vivid example of bridges between our
countries, the leader thanked the Heydar Aliyev Center for
organizing the event. He noted that the building of the Heydar
Aliyev Center is one of the most beautiful examples of modern
architecture. The Latvian president stressed that by holding such
joint cultural events, the two countries become even closer to each
other.
The author Krūmiņa, whose works are presented at the exhibition,
expressed her satisfaction with participation in the event. Talking
about her works, she pointed out 43 illustrations in oriental
style, keeping the traditions of miniature at the highest possible
level.
'The thoughts of both peoples have a lot in common. Art brings
us closer. This means that the ideas that we share can be perceived
by each other,' she stressed.
The famous artist Ieva Krūmiņa is a member of the Latvian
Academy of Arts and the Association of Latvian Textile Artists.
While doing her work, she relies on a quote from the famous Latvian
poet and writer Imants Ziedonis 'Don't live without love, the world
is nothing without love!', trying to study similar, common features
between peoples, and when looking at her works, one can find a part
of himself or herself in these works of art. Her creations convey a
message to people to 'repair' our world with 'threads of love'.
The world-renowned photojournalist Reza Deghati covers, along
with wars, military conflicts, also the beauties of humanity. His
work has been published in National Geographic, Time, Stern,
Newsweek, Paris Match magazines. He is the author of 30 books and
the recipient of numerous awards. Deghati's work, in which Rumi's
ideas revolve around a mystical dance conveying the theme of the
circulation of energy between earth and sky, was featured on the
cover of National Geographic magazine in 1994. He is the owner of
the French Order of Merit and the 'Dostlug' (Friendship) Order of
Azerbaijan.
The exhibition will last until April 3 at the Heydar Aliyev
Center.