Sand and graffiti sculpture festival draws to a close in Baku
By Sabina Idayatova
The sand and graffiti sculptures festival, which started on Dostlug beach on the Caspian seashore of the Azerbaijani capital Baku on July 29, has drawn to a close.
The key objective of the three-day festival, oganized for the first time by the Azerbaijan Youth Foundation, was to develop arts in the country, to identify young talents, sculptors and painters, and to organize master classes with professionals.
The art of sand sculptures and graffiti is of great interest of the public and young people in particular in Azerbaijan.
The festival participants worked on their creations for three days.
The winners in sculpture and graffiti categories were determined on the last day of the festival, July 31, and awarded at a ceremony.
Speaking at the event, Azerbaijan Youth Foundation official Orkhan Arabov congratulated the project director and participants of the festival, and called on everyone to take an active part in the foundation's projects.
Project Director Ismayil Ismayilov awarded the winners with diplomas and gifts, and all participants were issued certificates. He wished further success to all the participants.
Rafael Aghazade was named the winner, while Matanat Aghayeva ranked second, and Murad Alekberzade the third, in the graffiti category.
In the sculpture category, Faraj Rahmanov took the first place, while Nazim Mammadov was the second, and Asif Jabbarov ranked third.
The art of creating sculptures from sand first appeared in the 1980s in the United States. From the early 1990s an annual international sand sculpture championship has been held in Harrison Hot Springs, Canada. From time to time sand sculpture festivals are held throughout the world.
Graffiti implies images, drawings or inscriptions scratched, painted or drawn with ink or paint on the walls and other surfaces. Graffiti can be attributed to any kind of painted walls on the street on which you can find anything -- from simple written words to exquisite drawings.