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YAY GALLERY

5 Kichik Gala str., Icheri Sheher, 

Baku, Azerbaijan, AZ1001

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YAY GALLERY: Between the Sea and Mountains

20 Jun - 29 Sep 17

YAY Gallery is pleased to invite you to the opening of group show Between the Sea and Mountains.

In Between the Sea and Mountains is a conversation of works of two various generations of Azerbaijan artists, exploring national, cultural and personal identity. 
The exhibition comes into the picture of geographical and historical context of Azerbaijan and describes Turkish speaking nation, which can be considered both European and Asian, having formed its cultural identity under Arabic, Persian and Russian influences.

Short film Astar co-authored by young artists Zamir Suleymanov and Emin Azizbayli is about life and routine of a young boy. The film where imagination and reality get entangled, investigates concept of the imaginary environment and how such setting can affect person’s identity.
Within his Bahram Gur and the Beast installation Nadir Eminov voices his attitude towards reconstruction and renovation works carried out within Baku in recent years. According to artist, tendency to cover up public areas with irrelevant decorative stone is nothing more than Kitsch culture.
7-screen video installation Personal Conversation in the Mountains by Zamir Suleymanov shows men in suits speaking on cell phones standing on different mountain peaks of Nakhchivan. This video interprets two different views – social and mythological. In the first view the artist creates the figure of very important person, while in the mythological approach he points out the sanctity of number 7. According to legend, ship of Prophet Noah anchored on the mountains of Nakhchivan, and rested upon the area called Gemigaya, known for its petroglyphs.
In his work named Here are Your 2 Shirvans! Put Them in Your Pocket! Farhad Farzaliyev uses Cyrillic alphabet to illustrate the lost words from our childhood on material which once used to be affordable to everyone during the Soviet Union period. Thus, the artist highlights official changing of Azerbaijani alphabet three times during last 80 years.
Untitled work by Aida Mahmudova brings the viewer into the melancholic landscape on the wings of nostalgic feelings. This work is embodiment of Azerbaijan’s current position on the world map.
Azerbaijani artist Babi Badalov who lives and works in Paris, created his works by playing with phrases and word combinations, highlighting in this manner the theme of origin, heritage and values which have played significant role in formation of ideology of the region.
Untitled monument from Architectural Dichotomy series by Farid Rasulov represents two large concrete blocks, between which stands a neat shebeke ornament. Representing shebeke as a core element symbolizing Azerbaijan, the artist shows geopolitical position of the country in the region.
The installation of Elturan Mammadov named Unidentified Heights demonstrates Azerbaijan’s attitude towards complex geopolitical realities. Using well-known Google Maps software, the author shows occupied nameless heights within Nagorno-Karabakh zone, which are under constant fire, and also focuses on the problems of surrounding settlements.
Tahir Salahov’s Novkhani Sanctuary highlights the nation's religious identity. Existence of sanctuaries almost in every part of the country, which contradicts Islam religion, is a paradoxical situation. Nevertheless this fact does not diminish the belief of these people in sanctuaries. 
Besides showing the scenery of the cognominal village which situated in the heights of the Greater Caucasus in the north of Azerbaijan Mammadhuseyn Huseynov's work Khinaliq also attracts the attention to the existence of ethnic group with different language, traditions unique architecture and culture.

The exhibition is curated by Björn Geldhof and Farah Alakbarli.

Opening: June 20, 2017, 7pm 
Exhibition duration: June 20 – September 29, 2017
Working hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 12:00 – 20:00
Location: YAY Gallery, Icherisheher, Kichik Gala st. 5
Admission is free

Artists bios: 

Babi Badalov (b.1959) Azerbaijan-born artist lives and works in Paris. By creating his works with word combinations and phrases, Babi touches on variety of topics through his creation. Babi Badalov has been exhibited widely abroad. His works are in collections of the world famous museums.
Nadir Eminov (b. 1990) graduated from Sculpture faculty of Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts in 2012. He is engaged with such art forms as sculpture, video and installation. His works have a wide range of multilateral topics that include Mankind and Universe, Human Mind and Human Imagination. Nadir is a member of a number of exhibitions and projects.

Farhad Farzaliyev (b.1989) is a multidisciplinary artist devoting his practice to investigating socio-cultural reality of Azerbaijan. He obtained MFA the Azerbaijan State Architecture and Construction University in Baku in 2012. Farzaliyev held his first solo show I Am Your Only Tiger at the YAY Gallery, Baku in 2016. 

Mammadhuseyn Huseynov ...

Aida Mahmudova
(b.1982) obtained her bachelor's degree in Fine Arts from Central Saint Martins College, London. Her paintings draw inspiration mainly from landscape and architecture of Azerbaijan. She has held solo shows at the YAY Gallery, Baku; Leila Heller Gallery, New York; Barbarian Art Gallery, Zurich among others. Group shows include in 55th and 56th Venice Biennales; Louise Blouin Foundation, London; Vienna Art Fair The New Contemporary. 


Elturan Mammadov (b.1990) is a self- taught photographer who draws inspiration from peculiarities of Azerbaijani life. He has participated in exhibitions including To Be Surprised, To Surprise, Artim, Baku; Candy Mountains, Oil Shores, PERMM museum; Moscow International Biennale for Young Art and Zavod contemporary art exhibition, Baku Air-Conditioning Plant Building amongst the others.

Farid Rasulov (b.1985) lives and works in New York. A doctor by training, Farid Rasulov suddenly became involved in the visual arts after his graduation from university, to the great surprise of his friends and family and made great strides in a relatively short period of time. Rasulov is active across a wide range of artistic media – large scale paintings, installations, 3D graphics and sculpture. 

Tahir Salahov (b.1928) graduated from V.I.Surikov Art Institute in Moscow. His diploma piece won him early recognition and he was admitted in 1957 Moscow All-Union Art Exhibition. Regardless, Salahov came to be a pivotal representative of ‘Severe Style’ in Socialist Realism that aimed to subvert state-imposed clichés. The artist was granted USSR State Prize. He was the first secretary of the Artists Union of the USSR. Salahov is a member of the CIS Academy of Art, San Fernando Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Madrid and France Academy of Fine Arts.

Trained as an economist, Zamir Suleymanov (b.1987) took up photography upon graduating from the university. His photo and video works observe the artist’s minute surroundings to offer a commentary on Azerbaijan’s socio-cultural reality. Suleymanov has participated in numerous shows both in Azerbaijan and abroad including To Be Surprised, To Surprise, Artim, Baku; Sharjah Biennial of Islamic Arts, the GRID International Photography Festival, Amsterdam; IV Moscow Biennale for Young Art among others. He is a member of the Union of Photographers of Azerbaijan.

Emin Azizbeyli (b.1992, Baku) read Finances at the Azerbaijan State Economic University. He started experimenting with cinematography and photography since 2011. He has shown his debut work at the YAY! Gallery. His work was included at the GRID International Photography and Video Art Festival, Amsterdam (2014) as well as the IV Moscow Biennale of Young Art.
 

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