Azernews.Az

By Laman Ismayilova

Azerbaijan Carpet Museum celebrated the International Museum Day on May 18.

An interactive installation called "Weave your thread" was presented to museum visitors, Trend Life reported.

The event was attended by prominent public figures, representatives of culture and science, diplomatic missions, etc.

Addressing the event, museum director, Chairman of ICOM National Committee Azerbaijan, Ph.D. in art criticism Shirin Melikova said every visitor have a chance to weave a carpet as part of the project.

Three frame-machines for weaving the pile-less carpet "zili" were set in the foyer.

The coils of multi-colored threads are strengthened on the frames. Each visitor can weave one or more thread-rows into a future lint-free carpet, choosing the colors. The museum workers are always ready to assist and visually show the way in which carpets of the "zili" type are woven. Thus, this installation is not only a constantly changing art object, but also a tool for a master class designed for a very wide audience.

"Training of visitors to carpet weaving on the example of this complex and beautiful technique of a lint-free carpet is the first interactive experience of this kind in the museum sphere of Azerbaijan. Installation "Wrap your thread" helps the visitor to be not only a spectator, but also a participant in the process of creating a carpet in co-authorship with others. Unlike the work on the finished sketch, here the result of the work is unpredictable - it depends on the imagination of many people," said Shirin Melikova.

Minister of Culture of Azerbaijan Abulfas Garayev congratulated the museum community on this remarkable day and stressed that the state pays special attention and care to the development of the museum sphere, important national and international projects are being implemented.

National museums, reflecting the history of Azerbaijan people from ancient times to the present and the way of development of its culture, play an important role in protecting and propagating the rich cultural heritage in country. Today a wide network of national museums covers all country's regions.

The director of the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan, academician Naila Velihanli and the Head of the Department of Icherisheher the State Historical and Architectural Reserve Asgar Alakbarov congratulated the museum community.

ICOM Council Azerbaijan members, Naila Velikhanli, the director of the National Art Museum,Honored Artist, Professor Chingiz Farzaliyev, the member of the council of two international committees, the director of the State Museum of Musical Culture, Alla Bayramova were awarded with diplomas for their activities in the committee.

Every year since 1977 the worldwide community of museums has celebrated the International Museum Day on May 18. Participation in International Museum Day is growing among museums all over the world. In 2017, more than 36,000 museums participated in the event in some 157 countries.

The theme chosen for 2018 is "Hyperconnected museums: New approaches, new publics".

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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