Exhibition of Nizami Ganjavi opens in Strasbourg
By Nigar Orujova
An exhibition devoted to the life and creativity of genius Azerbaijani poet Nizami Ganjavi opened in Strasbourg on November 19.
Held at "Rhine Palace", the exhibition enjoyed the organizational support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the assistance of Azerbaijan's Embassy in France.
Host Allen Tremoliere mentioned that the exhibition organized in Strasbourg, the symbolic capital of Europe, was devoted to the 870th anniversary of genius Azerbaijani poet and thinker Nizami Ganjavi.
He added that the poet's manuscripts are preserved at various museums and libraries of the world, including the National Library and University of Strasbourg.
Recalling that in addition to being a poet, Nizami Ganjavi had also learned astronomy, chemistry, history, medicine and other sciences, Tremoliere said that the ideas of the poet, who lived eight centuries ago, have not lost their relevance today.
Azerbaijan's Ambassador to France Elchin Amirbeyov said that the "Khamsa", which includes five poems by Nizami Ganjavi who lived in late 12th , early 13th century, has kept its relevance to date, and underlined that the poet's eternal ideas are guiding the mankind.
Amirbeyov also mentioned that the poet's universal ideas concerning secularism, equality between men and women, along with those concerning freedom, equality and brotherhood, have lived on for centuries, and the Western society has been built on those principles.
Drawing attention to the fact that the poet's manuscripts are preserved at well-known libraries of the world, he said a mausoleum had been erected for Nizami Ganjavi in his native city Ganja, the Literature Museum in Baku was named after him, President Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree to celebrate his 870th anniversary, and his memory is honored in a number of foreign countries.
Amirbeyov also emphasized the great role Mehriban Aliyeva, Azerbaijan's First Lady and the President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, has played in reprinting Nizami Ganjavi's works and translating them into different languages.
Mentioning that the project "The Universal Bridge Linking the 12th and 21st Centuries - Nizami Ganjavi's (1141-1209) work" was realized due to the joint partnership of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the Embassy of Azerbaijan in France, the Regional Directorate of Alsace for Cultural Affairs, and the Strasbourg University and National Library, Amirbeyov said the exhibition will be open for three months.
Head of Alsace Regional Directorate for Cultural Affairs Alan Hoss and administrator of the Strasbourg University and National Library Alber Puaro talked about the Azerbaijani poet's global fame and his contributions to the enrichment of human ideas.
Photos showing Nizami Ganjavi's life and creativity, the past and present of the city he was born in, and various illustrations, samples of pottery and coppersmithery, as well as garments and items of adornment are displayed at the exhibition.
A concert program, which took place after the exhibition, included romances and popular songs composed by Azerbaijani composers based on Nizami Ganjavi's lyrics, accompanied by the State Popular Music Instruments Ensemble of Azerbaijan under the direction of Professor Aghaverdi Pashayev, and couplets from the poet's poems in French.
The exhibition and concert was attended by officials of the Alsace region, representatives of the city society, heads of the permanent representatives of a number of countries under the Council of Europe, members of diplomatic corps accredited in Strasbourg, Diaspora representatives, and students.
Earlier, Paris hosted an exhibition devoted to Nizami Ganjavi at the Museum of Letters and Manuscripts.
The Foundation is also holding a number of cultural events to promote Azerbaijani culture in Germany and Italy.