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Laman Ismayilova read more Azerbaijani pavilion has been set up at Biennale of Islamic Art
held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The Biennale of Islamic Art is an international art exhibition
which showcases a mix of ancient artefacts and contemporary art
pieces, Azernews reports.
The large-scale event demonstrated 280 historical artifacts from
different parts of the Islamic world. These artifacts included
ancient Qur'anic folios. the 150-year-old Kiswa, which is the
embroidered silken cover of the Kaaba, the first holy site in
Islam.
The biennale visitors also enjoy contemporary installations and
artwork commissioned by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation. The
Biennale of Islamic Art took place at the SOM-designed Western Hajj
Terminal.
The Azerbaijani pavilion demonstrated a collection of Islamic
art provided by the National Art Museum with the support of the
Culture Ministry. The curator of the contemporary art project was
Konul Rafiyeva.
The pavilion displayed valuable exhibits from the museum's
collection, as well as the multimedia installation "Varga and
Gulsha: The Return", inspired by Ayuka's poem "Varga and Gulsha",
the only complete manuscript of the 13th century, and illustrations
by the artist Abdul-Momina Muhammad Al-Hoy.
A multimedia project called "Voices of Azerbaijan" was also
presented as part of the Biennale of Islamic Art to promote
Azerbaijan's rich cultural heritage.
Famous tar player and music producer Ibrahim Babayev and digital
artist Teymur Amirkhan delighted the audience with "Echo of the
Past" for the first time, while the sound artist Farhad Farzaliyev
presented the audiovisual installation "Timeless Soundscapes".
The event was attended by Azerbaijani Ambassador to Saudi Arabia
Shahin Abdullayev and Azerbaijan's Commissioner for Human Rights
Sabina Aliyeva as official guests.
The audiovisual installation "Echoes of the Past", presented as
part of a multimedia project, is a hypnotic journey through time
and culture, introducing the ancient petroglyphs of Azerbaijan and
the rich history and art of Islamic culture.
The installation draws inspiration from the unique artistic
expression of both cultures and the deep connection between
them.
The sound and visual elements are designed to take the viewer to
another world, where they can experience the beauty and complexity
of Islamic art and the mysterious charm of petroglyphs. The
installation is divided into several sections, each representing a
different aspect of Islamic art and petroglyphs.
The first section introduces the viewer to the world of Islamic
art, showing its beauty, complexity and diversity. The second
section takes the viewer back in time to explore Azerbaijan's
ancient petroglyphs, revealing their secrets and mysteries. The
third section bridges the two worlds, highlighting the links
between Islamic art and petroglyphs and how they influenced each
other.
The soundscape reflects the rhythms and melodies of Islamic
music, creating a sense of movement and flow that reflects the
complex designs of Islamic art. The visuals draw their aesthetic
from symbol-rich petroglyphs, combining it with the symmetry and
complexity of Islamic art to create a stunning visual harmony.
"Echoes of the Past" is a unique and unforgettable experience
that showcases the beauty and complexity of Islamic art and the
ancient petroglyphs of Azerbaijan.
"Timeless Soundscapes" is a live performance that weaves the
musical heritage of Azerbaijani, Kazakh and Uzbek traditions with
the cutting edge art of artificial intelligence. This innovative
project uses Ableton Live and advanced algorithms to create an
immersive audio experience that harmonizes technology and art. This
evolving combination embodies the rich heritage of the musical
traditions of these post-Soviet Islamic countries.
Focusing on the sonic experience, the minimalist approach
encourages viewers to immerse themselves in the AI-created
soundscape, highlighting the transformative power of sound and the
ability of the AI algorithm to capture the essence of musical
heritage.
The project draws attention to the close connection between
technology and art, demonstrating how an artificial intelligence
algorithm breathes new life into traditional art forms and offers a
new look at the cultural treasures of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and
Uzbekistan.
The performance reaches its apogee in a grand finale where the
essence of musical tradition is revealed, creating a unified
experience that resonates deeply with the audience.
The biennale visitors also enjoyed Azerbaijani traditional
dishes, which reflect the country's history and its connection with
Islamic culture.
Note that the oma -designed scenography divided
the exhibition space into two complementary parts.
A choreographed trajectory through a sequence of newly built
galleries allowed visitors a progressive sense of orientation as
they moved from one room to another. Inspired by the concept of the
Qiblah – the direction Muslims face when they pray – the exhibits
manifested gradually in a journey from darkness to light, starting
in a dimly lit room filled with 17th-century astrolabes – used to
calculate the Qiblah – and concluding in the bright space hosting
an installation which incorporates the First Saudi Door of the
Ka'bah in Makkah, installed during the reign of King Abdul
Aziz.
Under the terminal's canopy, a desert-like landscape alluded to
the journey of Hijrah – Prophet Mohamed's journey from Makkah to
Madinah. Slopes and slanted walls of various heights, arranged in
relation to the geometry of the existing structure, were built to
display the artworks, creating a sense of exploration throughout
the visit. Two freestanding pavilions acted as reference points in
the open landscape, exhibiting artefacts from Makkah and Madinah.
In contrast to the rough atmosphere outside, the exhibits in the
two pavilions were embedded in a bright, diaphanous screen wrapping
the perimeter of the walls.
Independent from the theme of the Biennale, a separate gallery
named AlMadar, or The Orbit, demonstrated the items from twelve
local and international institutions including Kuwait's Al Sabah
Collection of Islamic art, together with an exhibition that pays
homage to the Hajj Terminal – both celebrating their 40th
anniversary.