YARAT participates in Viennafair: The New Contemporary
02 Oct - 05 Oct 14
Poetics of the Ordinary
Part of Viennafair: The New Contemporary
YARAT, a non-profit contemporary art organisation, is delighted to participate in Viennafair: The New Contemporary at the Vienna Focus special exhibition for 2014.
YARAT brings together new work by three artists in an exhibition titled Poetics of the Ordinary, which focuses on Sovetsky, a colourful and run-down district in Baku. Orkhan Huseynov, Sanan Aleskerov and Aida Mahmudova present new works in video, photography and installation that consider community, renewal and nostalgia.
2014 marks the 10th anniversary of Viennafair, Austria’s largest contemporary art fair. The fair is a platform for contemporary art from Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe and is this year expanding its focus to include Azerbaijan. The Vienna Focus section is devoted to institutions, non-profits and cultural embassies, and will be looking exclusively to Azerbaijan through YARAT.
Cramped, low buildings and narrow roads as a result of chaotic construction characterize the district of Sovetsky, which means 'Soviet'. The quarter is renowned for its challenging living conditions as much as for its ornate architecture, elaborate window grates and old wooden doors.
Sovetsky also has an important role in the country’s history; many prominent figures from twentieth century Azerbaijani culture were born in Sovetsky and are seen as the preservers of Azerbaijani culture. Solidarity and principles united Sovetsky’s communities during the cultural changes and external pressures of that period. YARAT artists at Viennafair: The New Contemporary have created a body of work to reflect on this rich history and culture of Sovetsky.
Sanan Aleskerov (b.1956) offers a rare glimpse into Baku’s forgotten corners through his street photography of Sovetsky. Aleskerov predominantly produces work in black and white, ranging from portrait photography to photojournalism. His new series of photographs opens with a roof-top view and goes on to explore the urban landscape of the area, focusing on empty streets and their crumbling ‘monuments’ to Soviet infrastructure, such as telephone poles and old drinking fountains. The focus of Aleskerov’s series of images is the dilapidation of physical surroundings and a need for renewal.
Orkhan Huseynov (b.1978) works across different media including painting, installation and video to express his ideas. He belongs to a generation of Azerbaijani artists who have gained international recognition in recent years. His new work is concerned with the individuals who live in the district of Sovetsky. In this series of filmed vignettes he exposes the ‘underbelly’ of Baku, recreating both joyful and violent scenes from his own childhood and those of his friends and family. Through isolating vivid memories in these filmed vignettes, he sheds light on life in Azerbaijan before its independence in 1991.
An installation by Aida Mahmudova (b.1982) repurposes an ornate door fragment from the Sovetsky district. The fragment is combined with ‘shadows’ cast on the floor in polished steel, brought together to highlight the transience of this urban environment and commemorate a moment in time. This work follows on from Mahmudova’s core practice; through installation, sculpture and painting she addresses concerns with memory, nostalgia and identity, in response to Azerbaijan’s modernisation.
The project is produced by YARAT. Aida Mahmudova is both an artist and founder of YARAT, which was set up in 2011 to help nurture an understanding for contemporary art in Azerbaijan and create a platform for contemporary Azerbaijani art both nationally and internationally.
Viennafair: The New Contemporary is the most important international platform for contemporary art originating from Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe. In recent years, it has been established as an incomparable springboard for galleries and artists, with the exciting space it creates for thought-provoking dialogue and events.
With its location in Vienna, Viennafair: The New Contemporary has become an attractive meeting point for visitors, artists, curators, collectors and buyers, and it is now a fixed date in the international schedule of important art fairs. The remarkable range presented and the level of attendance at Viennafair: The New Contemporary makes it an innovative centre-point within the global art market.
With the special exhibition Vienna Focus, Viennafair: The New Contemporary augments its review of Southeastern Europe with a presentation of art institutions and artistic positions from Azerbaijan. Acting as a partner in this initiative is the YARAT Foundation, founded in 2011 by Aida Mahmudova, an organization that plays a leading role in promoting an understanding of contemporary art in Azerbaijan. To this end YARAT stimulates a dialogue between local and international networks as well as art institutions, galleries, and museums.
Information
Opening hours
Thursday, October 2, 2014, 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Friday, October 3, 2014, 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
Saturday, October 4, 2014, 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Sunday, October 5, 2014, 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Tickets
€ 12.50 Day ticket for adults
€ 9.00 Day ticket / Advance and online booking
€ 9.00 Day ticket for Erste Bank clients
€ 9.00 After-Work-Ticket (Thursday / Friday starting at 4:00 pm)
€ 9.00 Senior ticket upon presentation of a valid ID
€ 29.00 4-day ticket
Address:
Hall A, 1 Messeplatz, 1020 Vienna
