Faig Ahmed
b. 1982 in Baku.
He lives and works in Baku.
Faig Ahmed graduated from the Sculpture Faculty of the Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Art in Baku in 2004. Since 2003 he has been working with various media, including painting, video and installation. He is currently studying the artistic qualities of traditional Azerbaijani rugs - he disassembles their conventional structure, rearranges the resulting components and then combines these fragments with contemporary sculptural forms.
He thinks that our opinions and decisions result from the influences of our childhood. If we could know all the details of someone’s life we could easily predict their reactions and choices. Tradition is the main factor that creates society as a self-regulated system. Changes in unwritten rules happen under the influence of global modern culture. The carpet is a symbol of the invincible traditions of the East, a visualization of an indestructible icon.
But in his art he sees culture differently. It is more about the expectation of a reaction because it is precisely this change in points-of-view that changes the world. Slight alterations in the form of a carpet dramatically change its structure and maybe make it more suitable for modern life. Eastern culture is visually very rich. Ahmed covers it all in minimalistic forms, destroying the stereotypes of the tradition and redrawing new modern boundaries. People can widen borders and change them but no one has ever dared to break the local spirit.
Solo Exhibtions
2015
Omnia Mutantur, Nihil Interit, Montoro 12 Gallery, Rome, Italy
Selected Group Exhibitions
2015
Exploring Inward, Louise Blouin Foundation, London, UK
Indian Art Fair, NSIC Exhibition Grounds, New Dehli (India)
2014
Exhibit 320, Cuadro Gallery, Exhibition of artist in residency, Dubai (UAE)
Past Tradition, Exhibit 320 Gallery, curated by Diana Campbell, Delhi (India)
Threads, Museum voor Moderne Kunst, Arnhem (Holland)
Crossroads 2, Sotheby’s, London (UK)
2013
Love Me, Love Me Not: Contemporary Art from Azerbaijan and its Neighbours, Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center, Baku (Azerbaijan), 2014; Collateral Event for the 55th International Venice Biennale, Venice (Italy)
Wonder Works, Cat Street Gallery, Honk Kong (China)
At The Crossroads, Sotheby’s Auction House, London (UK)
Home Sweet Home, Azerbaijan Cultural Center, Paris (France)
2012-2013
Fly to Baku: Contemporary Art from Azerbaijan, Multimedia Art Museum, Moscow (Russia); Spazio D, Maxxi building, National Museum of XXI Century Arts, Rome (Italy), 2013; me Collectors Room, Berlin (Germany), Hotel Salomon de Rothschild, Paris (France); Phillips de Pury & Company, London (UK), 2012
2012
Next Level, YAY Gallery, Baku (Azerbaijan)
Commonist, Yarat Contemporary Art Space, Baku (Azerbaijan)
Merging Bridges, Yarat Contemporary Art Space, Baku (Azerbaijan)
012 Public Art Festival, Yarat Contemporary Art Space, Baku (Azerbaijan)
2011
Foreword, Yarat Contemporary Art Space, Baku (Azerbaijan)
Fabulous Four, Kicik QalArt Gallery, Baku (Azerbaijan)
2008
Steps of Time, Kunsthalle im Lipsiusbau, Dresden (Germany)
2007
Aluminum 3, International Biennale of Contemporary Art, Baku (Azerbaijan)
Omnia Mea, 52nd Venice Biennale, Azerbaijan Pavilion, Venice (Italy)
2006
Caucasus, National Center for Contemporary Art, Moscow (Russia)
