Some of the artworks displayed at the exhibition.—Fahim Siddiqi / White Star
Some of the artworks displayed at the exhibition.—Fahim Siddiqi / White Star

KARACHI: One of the regular features of the 38-day World Culture Festival is the art exhibitions that run alongside theatrical performances, talks and music concerts. But they were hitherto confined to local art.

An exhibition titled Second Life: The Art of Revival from Azerbaijan that opened on Wednesday evening concluded on Saturday at the council’s Ahmed Pervez Gallery.

The exhibition’s concept author is Sona Guliyevat.

Talking to Dawn about the genesis of the show, the council’s President Ahmed Shah said, “In 2018, I met head of the Azerbaijan Arts Council, Dadash Mammadov at a summit. We became very good friends. We discussed various aspects of collaboration between the artists and artworks of our two countries. As you know, he sent a group of musicians to take part in the initial phase of the ongoing World Culture Festival, and now this exhibition is being held. We are also in talks for a festival in Baku in collaboration between the two councils [Pakistan and Azerbaijan].”

Mr Shah added, “Pakistan and Azerbaijan enjoy cordial relations. The current efforts are part of our outreach programmes. In this exhibition you will get to see carpets signifying the traditional art of Azerbaijan.”

In order to elucidate the idea, a look at the note provided by the curator of the show, Dadash Mammadov, will suffice: “The project is a unique initiative focused on transforming old, damaged and unused carpets into art pieces through paintings. Artists partially point at these carpets, preserving original elements of their patterns, thereby breathing a new life into them.”

Breathing a new life may be the right claim, but even a cursory glance at the exhibits will inform the viewer on how rich and beautiful the traditional aspect of Azerbaijani art is. There are some remarkable pieces on view and they are inextricably linked to nature and land. Musical instruments, pots and pans, landscapes, animals and their relationship with humans… all are depicted in a manner that highlights the soulfulness with which they’re made.

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2024

Opinion

Editorial

Anti-women state
Updated 25 Nov, 2024

Anti-women state

GLOBALLY, women are tormented by the worst tools of exploitation: rape, sexual abuse, GBV, IPV, and more are among...
IT sector concerns
25 Nov, 2024

IT sector concerns

PRIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s ambitious plan to increase Pakistan’s IT exports from $3.2bn to $25bn in the ...
Israel’s war crimes
25 Nov, 2024

Israel’s war crimes

WHILE some powerful states are shielding Israel from censure, the court of global opinion is quite clear: there is...
Short-changed?
Updated 24 Nov, 2024

Short-changed?

As nations continue to argue, the international community must recognise that climate finance is not merely about numbers.
Overblown ‘threat’
24 Nov, 2024

Overblown ‘threat’

ON the eve of the PTI’s ‘do or die’ protest in the federal capital, there seemed to be little evidence of the...
Exclusive politics
24 Nov, 2024

Exclusive politics

THERE has been a gradual erasure of the voices of most marginalised groups from Pakistan’s mainstream political...