The Exhibition Second Life is now open at the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum

On April 17, the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum has opened the exhibition Second Life, featuring paintings on carpet.

Amina Melikova, the Director of the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum and Dadash Mammadov, Head of the Arts Council Azerbaijan delivered speeches at the opening ceremony where they told about objectives of the exhibition and underlined its significance. They also noted, that the exhibition showcases over 30 paintings of various genres on damaged or unusable carpets that do not have any artistic, historical or scientific significance from different regions of Azerbaijan created by professional artists. In these works, traditional carpets woven from 1980 to 2000s have been enriched due to the synthesis with new artistic styles based on the artists' unique approach. In these artworks by Huseyn Kangarli, Maryam Kiblayeva, Nargiz Guliyeva, Rashada Aliyeva, Eldar Babazade, Banuchichak Ahmadzade, Roya Hasan, Samira Mukhtarova, Sevinj Ganjaliyeva, Leyla Aghazade, Aydan Mammadli, Tarana Aliyeva, Aynura Mustafayeva, Fakhriyya Hajiyeva, Nigar Aliyeva, Vusala Sharifova, Naila Maharramova, Ruslan Rustamov, Eldar Hajiyev, Sevda Rustamova, Leyla Orujova, Nargiz Guliyeva, Oksana Kazimova, Naila Aslanova, Narmina Ulukhanova, Leyla Museyibova, Intigam Aghayev and Dadash Mammadov, the Karabakh motifs and pomegranate elements, which are considered a symbol of our country, are presented in a contemporary interpretation. The project aims to preserve Azerbaijani carpet art, express it in a new way within the context of contemporary art, foster ecological thinking and promote recycling through art. The key objective is to involve local artists as well as the international artistic community in this creative process and promote globally the carpet weaving art, which is an integral part of culture and household of the Azerbaijani people.

The Arts Council Azerbaijan donated to the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum an artwork by Dadash Mammadov, which also is on display at the exhibition Second Life.

The artistic part of the event included the mugham composition Karabakh Shikastasi performed by singer Nisbat Sadrayeva, the winner of the Mugham television contest and accompanied by tar player Rustam Muslumov, kamancheh player Elnur Salahov, balaban player Rafail Asgarov and nagara player Sayyar Teymurov. Orkhan Huseynli, the winner of the International Mugham Contest performed the folk songs Azerbaijani Deer and I Have Sprinkled Water onto the Streets, accompanied by the pianist Parviz Mammadov. The Gavaldash rhythm group of the Republican Children and Youth Development Center also delighted the guests with their performance.

The author of the project, organised by Arts Council Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum and supported by the European Crafts Alliance and ICOM Azerbaijan National Committee is Sona Guliyeva.

The project is realized within the framework of UN Sustainable Development Goals in accordance with Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12) and Climate Action (SDG 13) principles.

The exhibition is on until April 27.