KARACHI: One of the regular features of the 38-day World Culture Festival is the art exhibitions that run alongside theatrical performances, talks and music concerts. But they were hitherto confined to local art.

An exhibition titled Second Life: The Art of Revival from Azerbaijan that opened on Wednesday evening concluded on Saturday at the council’s Ahmed Pervez Gallery.

The exhibition’s concept author is Sona Guliyevat.

Talking to Dawn about the genesis of the show, the council’s President Ahmed Shah said, “In 2018, I met head of the Azerbaijan Arts Council, Dadash Mammadov at a summit. We became very good friends. We discussed various aspects of collaboration between the artists and artworks of our two countries. As you know, he sent a group of musicians to take part in the initial phase of the ongoing World Culture Festival, and now this exhibition is being held. We are also in talks for a festival in Baku in collaboration between the two councils [Pakistan and Azerbaijan].”

Mr Shah added, “Pakistan and Azerbaijan enjoy cordial relations. The current efforts are part of our outreach programmes. In this exhibition you will get to see carpets signifying the traditional art of Azerbaijan.”

In order to elucidate the idea, a look at the note provided by the curator of the show, Dadash Mammadov, will suffice: “The project is a unique initiative focused on transforming old, damaged and unused carpets into art pieces through paintings. Artists partially point at these carpets, preserving original elements of their patterns, thereby breathing a new life into them.”

Breathing a new life may be the right claim, but even a cursory glance at the exhibits will inform the viewer on how rich and beautiful the traditional aspect of Azerbaijani art is. There are some remarkable pieces on view and they are inextricably linked to nature and land. Musical instruments, pots and pans, landscapes, animals and their relationship with humans… all are depicted in a manner that highlights the soulfulness with which they’re made.

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2024