Young artists to share views on gender relations at Baku exhibition
By Nigar Orujova
An exhibition devoted to gender issues will open in the Azerbaijani capital Baku on Wednesday, January 16.
The event was previously presented at the third Moscow International Biennale for Young Art.
The Stalemate exhibition, which takes place at the Yay! Gallery, touches on gender relations issues in the context of the changing coexistence conditions that appear to be ever more relevant in the modern world. After decades of socio-cultural research in the field of gender studies one might say that the picture of gender relations has not emerged clearer, but on the contrary, it has become even more complicated.
The increase in complexity can be attributed to the ongoing transition of the contemporary world from postmodernism to a new period. This time contains within it different modes including the time, in which traditional communities live.
However, most of countries today find themselves in the mixed time modes zone, which not only radicalizes the gender issues, but also provides interesting material for artistic creation.
Young Azerbaijani artists including an Afghan origin painter living in Azerbaijan and three Azerbaijani female artists are presenting their view on the issue at the exhibition.
Afghan artist Reza comes from an Islamic country to secular Azerbaijan and needs to adapt. Reza's art has strong patriarchal character as he uses old-fashioned materials - pencil and paper. There is a struggle in his soul between East/South and West/North, unlike his girl colleagues.
On the contrary, the girls were born into a secular environment. Their works demonstrate a self-sufficient worldview and wide horizons. Moreover, their choices of media for realizing their projects - sculptural installations and video - are more sophisticated.
The very collision of two worldviews and gender positions within one group promises a curious outcome. It is still under a question mark whose vision will prove itself to be more original and relevant to the audience - the specifically male traditional optics, refracting contemporary light onto its uncompromising look, or the female view of the problem, eroding the patriarchal "phallocentricity".
The first Azerbaijani contemporary art gallery, YAY! Gallery, opened its doors on October 10 in Icherisheher (Old City), a historic architectural monument in the center of the capital Baku.
The YAY! Gallery, like YARAT! Art Space, was established by Mrs. Aida Makhmudova and pursues the purpose of presenting contemporary Azerbaijani art entirely and in an interesting way as well as putting the exhibition participants next to trendy names in world art.
Founded in 2011, YARAT! is dedicated to the promotion and nurturing of Azerbaijani contemporary art locally and worldwide. A key objective of YARAT! is to promote dialogue and exchanges with non-commercial art foundations both in Azerbaijan and abroad.