(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 15. The Heydar Aliyev
Center has presented its visitors with another exhibition of
various pieces of art, trend reports.
The exhibition 'First Light' by Bahraini artist Rashid Al
Khalifa opened at the center on March 14.
The exhibition featured new installations by the artist.
His works - 'Fish Trap', 'Mosaic', 'We created all living things
out of water', and 'Circular Reflection' were presented for the
first time at the Heydar Aliyev Center. This is the artist's first
exhibition in Azerbaijan.
Al Khalifa expressed satisfaction with the organization of the
exhibition at the Heydar Aliyev Center, architected by Zaha
Hadid.
“I'm very glad that I saw Baku, and can present my works at the
Heydar Aliyev Center today. Some of the art pieces I brought were
created specifically for this exhibition. I was recommended several
times to visit Baku. It is a great honor for me to exhibit my works
in this majestic building,' the artist said.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the exhibition, the First
Deputy Director of the Heydar Aliyev Center Fargan Novruzov noted
that the center functions to promote samples of world culture.
'Today, the Heydar Aliyev Center has hosted an exhibition of
Sheikh Rashid Al Khalifa who is a member of the Royal Family of
Bahrain, chairman of the National Arts Council of Bahrain, the
first president and honorary president of the Art Society, which is
one of the brightest representatives of contemporary art. We hope
you enjoy the exhibition,' Novruzov said.
The Chairman of the Union of Artists of Azerbaijan, People's
Artists Farhad Khalilov also spoke at the event.
'I was pleased to visit such an exhibition today in this
magnificent building. I was lucky to meet many artists around the
world and get acquainted with their work. Arab culture and science
have a unique place in the world,” Khalilov said.
“This exhibition is distinguished by its unusualness. As an
artist, I'm experiencing the most vivid feelings at the exhibition.
I want to thank everyone who contributed to the organization of
such a wonderful exhibition, especially the Heydar Aliyev Center,'
he noted.
The exhibition curator Stefan Stoyanov said that his biggest
dream has come true.
'I visited Baku during the Festival of Poetry, Art and
Spirituality - Nasimi. Then we were also in this magnificent
building of the Heydar Aliyev Center, which made a huge impression
on me,” Stoyanov pointed out.
He named the Heydar Aliyev Center the finest example of the
architecture of the new century.
“For me, the moment I dreamed of, the exhibition of Rashid Al
Khalifa organized in this building, creates a feeling of
happiness,' the curator added.
Another curator of the exhibition, Yasmine Sharabi, said that
the exhibition features quite interesting works by the artist.
'Visitors will see an unusual setting here. They will also be
able to see artifacts that celebrate the unique architectural
ornaments of Bahrain, and geometric elements bearing divine
patterns. Sheikh Rashid Al Khalifa creates works that combine
antiquity and modernity. The works look to the future, but do not
forget the past ', she said.
Al Khalifa, welcoming everyone, noted that he was glad to
organize his personal exhibition in Baku.
'I would like to further expand the exchange program between
Bahrain and Azerbaijan in the field of art. I thank the Heydar
Aliyev Foundation and its leadership for accepting my exhibition,'
the artist said.
Director of the Heydar Aliyev Center Anar Alakbarov highlighted
the importance of organizing this exhibition in Azerbaijan's
capital.
'Organizing this magnificent exhibition at the Heydar Aliyev
Center is a great opportunity for us. In the future, we'll try to
organize joint exchange exhibitions of our young sculptors and
artists in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Our young sculptors and artists
will also benefit from this,' Alakbarov said.
Rashid Al Khalifa creates his works inspired by the nature that
surrounds him. The artist's examples of art are distinguished by
the unity of traditional and modern architecture with the
environment.
Rashid Al Khalifa was born in 1952 into the family of the King
of Bahrain. He studied art and design at Hastings College in the
UK. The changes in the artist's life and surroundings, who began
his career with landscape painting, also affected his chosen
field.
In the 1980s, samples of ephemeral art were more common in the
works of Rashid Al Khalifa, whilst in the 1990s, abstract forms and
experiments with other materials, in particular the 'convex
canvas', typical of his work, predominated in his works, and in the
2000s, aluminum became the center of the artist's creativity.
Rashid Al Khalifa is a participant in various international
exhibitions, art fairs, and biennales. He is currently the Chairman
of the Bahrain Arts Council. The RAK [Rashid Al Khalifa] Art
Foundation, founded by him, also provides support to young
artists.
The exhibition of the artist's works at the Heydar Aliyev Center
will last until September 10.