Leyla Aliyeva opens Rasim Babayev’s exhibition in Saint Petersburg
By Nigar Orujova
Vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva attended the opening ceremony of an exhibition of Azerbaijani People's Artist Rasim Babayev at the Marble Palace of the Russian Museum in Saint Petersburg on October 29.
Addressing the ceremony, Leyla Aliyeva said: "Azerbaijan and Russia are tied with old and strong friendly relations in political, economic and cultural spheres. There is great love for Russian literature, Russian theatre, Russian movies and, of course, Russian painting in Azerbaijan. It is a rejoicing fact that Azerbaijani art enjoys such an interest in Russia, and our culture is so widely and worthily represented here."
She went on saying that 120 years have passed since the establishment of the Russian Museum. Rare treasures of culture - works by Alexander Ivanov, Carl Bryullov, Kazimir Malevich and Alexander Brodsky - are displayed here. The works testify to these artists' rare talent.
"Today we are presenting works by Rasim Babayev, one of the most talented and striking artists of our time. Rasim Babayev's works are preserved at art galleries and in private collections in Russia, the U.S., Germany, Turkey and Finland. Rasim Babayev had been offered to move to France and work there. But he turned down this offer, as he could not live far from Azerbaijan," Aliyeva stressed.
Patterns of Azerbaijani carpets, stained glass windows of Sheki palaces, as well as folk stories and legends were all his sources of inspiration. That is why his works are so brilliant, sincere and story-like. A year ago, Rasim Babayev's exhibition was organized at the Eastern Museum in Moscow. The fact that the exhibition was very successful once more shows that there is no religious or national border for a true art, she added.
"A true art stands beyond time and space and is accessible to everyone. I'm sure, the exhibition opened in Saint-Petersburg - one of the most beautiful cities of the world - will be successful and interesting for the fine arts amateurs," she noted.
Leyla Aliyeva thanked the organizers of the exhibition and invited the Russian Museum to hold an exhibition in Baku.
Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Russia Polad Bulbuloghlu, President of the Marjani Scientific and Cultural Programmes Support and Development Foundation Rustam Suleymanov, Chairperson of Saint-Petersburg Government's Foreign Affairs Committee Yevgeni Grigoryev, Chairperson of the Local Self-government, International and Interdenominational Committee Mikhail Lebedinski delivered a speech at the ceremony.
Up to 80 painting and graphic works taken from the artist's and the Marcani Foundation's collections are also displayed at the exhibition to run until November 24.
Leyla Aliyeva also visited several orphanages and a boarding school as part of her trip to Saint Petersburg.
Chief doctor of Orphanage 13, Natalia Nikiforova informed Aliyeva that there are more than 60 children there, and presented a book to the vice-president.
Aliyeva presented toys to the children in the orphanage. The staff thanked the foundation, especially Leyla Aliyeva.
Aliyeva then visited Orphanage 31. Director of the Center Oksana Zabelina and acting head of the Administration of the Moscow district of Saint Petersburg Vladimir Ushakov informed Aliyeva about the center's activities.
The facility was constructed in 1957. There are nearly 70 children in the orphanage.
Children presented their handiworks to Aliyeva. The foundation presented a computer to the orphanage. Zabelina thanked Aliyeva on behalf of the center's staff and children.
Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva also visited the orphanage No1 and a boarding school. Director of the facility Alexey Mukhin informed the vice president about the orphanage's works hosting 300 children.
Aliyeva listened to children's performance, and posed for photographs with them.
The orphanage was presented with gifts on behalf of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.