German photographer Helga Paris' exhibition opens in Baku
By Nigar Orujova
An exhibition of German photographer Helga Paris opened at the Museum of Modern Art in Azerbaijan's capital, Baku, on Friday, April 12.
The exhibition, which will last until May 3, is organized by the Museum, German Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations (IFA) and the German Goethe Cultural Center with the assistance of Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the German Embassy in Azerbaijan.
The event was attended by Rector of Moscow State Lomonosov University's Baku branch, art director of the UNS creative scene, professor Nargiz Pashayeva, Aida Makhmudova, founder of YARAT Contemporary Art Space, an organization promoting Azerbaijani contemporary art worldwide, prominent public figures, well-known men of art and culture, and representatives of diplomatic missions.
Opening the exhibition, Aida Makhmudova welcomed attendees, including visitors from Germany, stressing the importance of the event in terms of further development of cultural relations between the two countries.
Cultural Attache of the German Embassy in Azerbaijan Wolfgang Mesinger said that holding such exhibitions contributes to further enhancing of inter-cultural dialogue.
"The creative work of 75-year old Helga Paris holds a special place in Germany`s photo art. In her works spanning a period of more than 30 years, Paris has reflected the history of the German people, their hopes and aspirations," Mesinger said.
Some 140 photos of the artist which are presented at the exhibition in Baku reflect the people and cities of Germany in various challenging periods of the country's history, including the end of World War II, the subdivision of Germany into two states in 1949, and the life of the Germans in the German Democratic Republic.
According to IFA representative Lutz Birkholz, the photo artist draws special attention to facial expressions, gestures and emotions of a person, his or her views and place in the outside world.
"She shows ordinary people in ruined houses, old cafes or dirty streets, and yet the characters of her works are very interesting. She also draws special attention to the surrounding things," Birkholz said.
He noted that unfortunately Helga Paris was unable to visit Baku and personally present her work for health-related reasons. "But on her behalf we are grateful for the opportunity provided [to present her creations]," he said.
Curator of the exhibition, representative of cultural projects at the German Goethe Cultural Center, artist Sabina Shikhlinskaya, stressed that the exhibition is displayed around the world and is a great example of German photography.
Shikhlinskaya pointed out that the main feature of this exhibition is its venue, the Museum of Modern Art.
"I would like to express my gratitude to the directorate of the museum. And, of course, to Aida Makhmudova, who saw the harmony between the works of Helga Paris and a collection of works displayed at this museum. In other words, a kind of dialogue of cultures has occurred," she said.
Shikhlinskaya said that Paris' works were created in the 1970s and 1980s, and the pearl of the Museum of Modern Art - the masterpieces of Azerbaijani artists such as Ashraf Murad, Rasim Babayev, Kamal Ahmed, Javad Mirjavadov and others - were created in the same period.
"Therefore, I consider the idea of the directorate of the Museum of Modern Art to combine the art history of Azerbaijan and Germany a splendid one," Shikhlinskaya added.
Helga Paris was born in Gollnow in 1938 and currently lives in Berlin. She became a photographer known for her everyday and socially critical photographs in East Germany. In 1972-1990s, Paris was a member of the Association of Visual Arts of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), and in 1996 she became a member of the Berlin Academy of Arts.