Leyla Aliyeva views "The plant" exhibition
By Nigar Orujova
Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva viewed the exhibition "Zavod" ("The plant"), presented on October 5 by YARAT Contemporary Art Space, an organization promoting Azerbaijani modern art worldwide.
The exhibition featuring 26 young artists, which is being held within the ARTIM project, will take place at Alesker Gaibov Street 10, near Bakmil subway station, until November 15.
Head of the YARAT contemporary art organization, Aida Mahmudova, provided an insight into the project, saying that it resulted in the restoration of the operation of Baku Domestic Air Conditioners Plant, which had been at standstill for several years.
Mahmudova said, "Today, the YARAT Contemporary Art Organization marks its second anniversary. I express my gratitude to supporters, young painters and all participants of the event for their support."
Painter, curator Faig Ahmed stressed the importance of the exhibition.
This project, which presents works by 29 emerging Azerbaijani artists, will take place at the abandoned air conditioner plant.
YARAT, a non-commercial organization, has already used experimental and alternative spaces for its cultural activities, including a dockyard, a platform in front of the central bus station and a building under construction.
The air conditioners that were produced at this once famous plant back in the Soviet times helped to cool and freshen up the air essentially in every apartment in Azerbaijan and the neighboring countries.
Unfortunately, as a result of the collapse of the Soviet Union the production ground to a halt. However, in the frame of the project and with the artists' enthusiasm this empty production facility, workshops and plants will be reanimated. They will be given new colors and dynamics as the memory of the glorious past is revived.
The project was conceived and produced by YARAT, is sponsored by Bank Technique and curated by artist Faig Ahmed, who previously represented his country at the international Biennale of contemporary art in Venice and an Islamic art festival in Sharjah.
YARAT aims to provide educational initiatives including lectures, seminars and master classes on a variety of related topics of contemporary art.