(MENAFN- AzerNews)

Laman Ismayilova read more Arts Council Azerbaijan is independent international platform
unites cultural and art figures, who aspire to enrich the art
world.
Founded in 2006, the non-governmental organization is actively
engaged in the promotion of Azerbaijani culture and art.
For many years, multiple projects have been implemented under
the auspices of the Arts Council Azerbaijan.
In an interview with azernews , acclaimed artist Dadash Mammadov spoke about
the organization's main goals and activities.
Q: How did you come up with the idea to establish Arts
Council Azerbaijan?
A: In 2002, I returned from my studies in
Germany full of creative ideas and inspiration. However, I faced
the fact that there is no opportunity for young artists to present
their art works.
To organize an exhibition, it was necessary to stand in a long
queue. And then the idea was born to create an independent art
platform, where artists could showcase their masterpieces and
promote the Azerbaijani culture and art.
I rented a site at the current Chambarakand, where I hosted a
number of exhibitions, art evenings and mini-festivals. The place
was called "Art Villa", which immediately attracted the attention
of creative community and diplomatic missions. Furthermore, I
bought up nearby garages and turned this place in art quarter.
Together with our partners, we carried many projects involving
music, fashion, fine and decorative arts, cinema. Since I studied
abroad, I have personally known many cultural and art figures from
different countries. I proposed the idea of the Arts Council to
them, and most of them supported it. Now, Arts Council Azerbaijan
is an international network, which includes Latvia, Lithuania,
Colombia, Moldova, Ukraine and other countries. We actively
cooperate and help each other. Recently, the Arts Council
Azerbaijan became a member of the World Crafts Council Europe, a
project that brings together representatives of arts and crafts
from European countries. Thanks to this, our artists have the
opportunity to exhibit their art works in Europe. Arts Council
Azerbaijan actively cooperates with government agencies, diplomatic
missions and media. The organization implements nearly 3-4 art
projects each month, which means that we have something to offer
every week and not only in Azerbaijan, but also abroad.

Q: Could you name several projects you found
particularly impressive?
A: Among the largest projects, where Arts
Council Azerbaijan acted as an organizer or partner is worth
highlighting From Waste to Art International Environmental Art
Festival (2011), Decorative Art Festival (2011), an exhibition "My
Way" (2012) dedicated to the 80th anniversary of well-known
Azerbaijani artist and cartoon director Nazim Mammadov, "From
Khojali to Srebrenica, Prevention of Genocide and Ethnic Cleaning"
International Conference and Exhibition (2013), Duet Symposium
Azerbaijan-Moldova (2016), H.E. Art project (2017), Astana Art Fest
(2017), UN's SDG Goal Promotion Water Park (2021), Water Savers
Educated Eco Comics books (2021), ArtFest Nizam (2021), "My Heart
is in Garabagh" exhibition and concert project (2022), EU's
EuroVillage (2022), FantazEU Cultural &Heritage Festival
(2022),Moldova-Azerbaijan International Dialog (2022), World Crafts
Council's European Crafts Days by World Crafts Council (2022),
"Khojali Scream" book presentation (2023), Art & Wine event within
Baku Piano Festival (2023).


Q: Arts Council Azerbaijan also raises awareness about
environmental issues. What can you tell about the Kura II project,
as well as other projects in this direction?
A: Arts Council Azerbaijan is always ready to
support the work aimed at solving urgent problems. First of all, I
would like to note my eco-art project H.E.Art (Heath Environment
and Art), focusing on greening Baku city. Metal barrels from oil
products are waste, their disposal is expensive. We came up with
the idea of painting these barrels and planting plants in them. It
turned out both artistically attractive and useful from the point
of view of ecology - small spaces can be used for landscaping. This
project creates an opportunity for their ecological use and
development of creativity. Container gardening plays an
increasingly important role in the design of public areas with
limited space and lack of extra land. The versatility of
landscaping from art barrels is determined by several factors: it
allows you to use even small spaces for landscaping, the
artistically designed barrels will attract tourists and locals
alike, it is suitable for the incubation period for trees. The
initiative can later be used for landscaping different places in
any country. The mobility of barrels allows to quickly move them to
new locations. We also stood at the origins of the festival "From
Waste to Art". Apart from that, the organization has also produced
comics that touch on current topics and their solutions in a
humorous way.
In 2021, Water Park was laid at the Gala State Historical and
Ethnographic Reserve. The opening of the park was timed to coincide
with World Earth Day. With an area of 100-150 square meters, the
park was created with the aim of educating the public on efficient
use of water resources.
The park houses art objects and metal barrels painted by
Azerbaijani artists during a workshop organized by Arts Council
Azerbaijan. All art works are devoted to efficient use of water
resources. Recall that the metal barrels perform both ecological
and design functions at the same time. So, the event participants
planted seedlings of the medlar tree in barrels.


Q: What can you say about projects organized within
Heydar Aliyev's Heritage Festival?
A: At the beginning of this year, Arts Council
Azerbaijan has launched the festival timed to the 100th anniversary
of National Leader Heydar Aliyev. Workshops for sculptors and
artists on UNESCO heritage, Nazim Mammadov's exhibition as well as
Children's exhibition "Our independence is Timeless".


In conclusion, Dadash Mammadov said that Arts Council Azerbaijan
will continue to implement numerous projects, aimed at promoting
Azerbaijani art and culture.
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