(MENAFN- AzerNews) YARAT Contemporary Art Space will present an exhibition "Heaven
Can Wait" by Azerbaijani artist Aida Mahmudova on June 8, Azernews
reports.
In order to explore all the possibilities of our existence, we
have to turn to art and the social sciences. While there are
universal values of art, we must not forget that our literary and
visual context is strictly local. The following point is essential:
The reality in which a person feels himself/herself most profoundly
is the artistic reality that leads us to the universal reality.
Here, Aida Mahmudova takes us to a kind of landscape, to the
reality of the landscape, to save us from the claustrophobia of the
self.
Although the reality of the landscape that the artist created at
the center of the“Heaven Can Wait” exhibition may seem personal
and difficult to understand at first glance, the artist critiques
the pathology of the self. On the one hand, life stands before us
in all its anatomical reality, and in some cases, life appears as
much more than a landscape. On the other hand, trying to separate
life from the landscape will also lead us to a kind of alienation.
All life, all personal or social history, takes place in a
landscape, in geography, and there is always some place that
resonates in our memory.
Mahmudova states that geography is an essential dimension of
civilization, and that people can be contacted within this
geography. Two large canvases at the center of the exhibition tell
us about geography and its diversity and importance, while also
drawing our attention to its beauty and horror. These canvases,
which symbolize the beginning and the end, also contain clues about
the past and the future. The paintings, which are in harmony with
the fragmentary structure of our age, mark an organism's return to
its original point after its entire natural cycle (birth, life, and
death).
While the artist depicts the world by looking at humanity, she
also affirms our shared experience through herself. It is a call
made by Mahmudova: The power of art summons and affects our minds,
nerves, memories, emotions, and, ultimately, souls. She expresses
our existence in the world through the negative castings of the
molds she took from her own body and the volumes they occupy in the
void. She also conveys hope in her canvases and surface works that
she hangs from the ceiling. In these landscapes, we can see our
memories as well as glimpses of our future. In her works, she
proclaims that through art, we can fight material and spiritual
evils, and communicate the ideals of the past, present, and future.
Mahmudova shows us the universal importance and power of art
because she makes people remember their lives and their history
with her works.
Art no longer confines itself to describing, measuring, and
analyzing the world as it appears. Mahmudova believes that
geography and memory are too abstract to be presented in a
naturalist way. While Mahmudova's works convey that art contributes
to the world's renewal, she states that modern time and space are
insecure and introverted. Therefore, the world is depicted as an
open composition on the edges of the canvases. Her works can be a
means of discovery and expression for the audience; she calls for
greater openness and creativity where barriers to meaning are
removed.
With a courageous pioneering action, Mahmudova shows us that
humanity can transcend borders with appropriate skills and tools.
As a result, the exhibition seeks to cross physical and conceptual
borders. Unless we cross these borders, we will not have humanist
geography. A careful look at the works will provide us with
significant clues to understand a little bit about how this can
happen, and if we dare.
YARAT Contemporary Art Space is delighted to present“The
Seventh Solitude”, a remarkable group exhibition that brings
together the captivating works of a talented ensemble of
Azerbaijani artists, including Huseyn Hagverdiyev, Tarlan Gorchu,
Orkhan Huseynov, Ramal Kazim, Novruz Mammadov, Faraj Rahmanov,
Eltaj Zeynalov, Ismail Safarali, and Nadir Eminov. This exhibition
showcases both commissioned pieces by YARAT and other works created
by these artists in recent years.
Drawing inspiration from Nietzsche's enigmatic concept of the
“Seventh Solitude”, the group exhibition endeavors to connect the
fundamental values of modern estrangement, presence, and eternal
return within the social context.
In today's fast-paced modern world, despite the abundance of
people, close interactions do not necessarily enhance opportunities
for communication. The prevalent“conveyor production” of
socio-psychological stereotypes, preferences, evaluations,
behavioral patterns, and perceptions tends to erode individual
differences, ultimately resulting in the fragmentation of one's
personality. It becomes evident that within the framework of modern
society, attaining the state of the“seventh solitude” necessitates
a specific social context. Solitude, in this sense, extends beyond
physical separation and encompasses a spiritual dimension detached
from society. Within this framework, the central theme of the
exhibition revolves around the quest for the elusive“seventh
solitude” experienced by individuals who deliberately seek solace
in seclusion.
The exhibition explores the progression from the initial notion
of“solitude” to a more profound and transformative state known as
the“seventh solitude”. This evolving state, seen as a conscious
choice, is intertwined with concepts such as freedom, the Path
towards self-realization, and the essence of existence. It delves
into the intricate connections between these concepts, inviting
contemplation on the profound implications they hold for individual
experiences. Centering around solitude as its primary focus, the
exhibition brings attention to the individual's personal
experiences and observations that guide them towards the realm of
the Supernatural. It also underscores the integral aspects that
form part of this transformative Path, such as freedom, value
systems, goals and aspirations, truth and power, obedience,
instincts, and more. Through the exploration of solitude, the
exhibition delves into the notion of personal belonging,
accentuating its exceptional significance and superiority over
alternative social environments.
Curated by Farah Alakbarli, the exhibition will last until
October 22, 2023.
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