Der Tagesspiegel. Translated by Orkhan Sattarov
Oil is everywhere. It is pouring from lining oil derricks on people, on neo-gothic and classic buildings of oil tycoons of the past, and on modern gigantic buildings from steal and glass constructed by the new authorities of Baku. Pictures by Altai Sadykhzade are a central element of the exhibition Fly to Baku opened in “me Collectors Room” in Berlin and devoted to Azerbaijani modern art.
People from Sadykhzade’s pictures look like shadows. They give you a grim impression and symbolize an ambiguous character of the economic growth in the country. Azerbaijan is a politically difficult, small country with huge oil resources – a Caucasian Dubai. Its society undergoes the process of historic development. The country wants to stress its roots, but also wants to be rediscovered. The construction boom of Azerbaijan confirms this. Altai Sadykhzade took part in designing the new modern art museum in Baku. Azerbaijani art is steadily improving at the international market.
Azerbaijan began to seek the way to Europe in 2007 when it presented its pavilion at Venice Biennale. In 2008 Azerbaijani masterpieces were presented in Dresden and Berlin. However, Fly to Baku is the first and the only “full-scaled presentation” of the young Azerbaijani art in the West, the curator of the exhibition Herv Mikaeloff stressed. The exhibition Fly to Baku has already been presented in London and Paris, the last stop after Berlin is Moscow in spring 2013. “We present an interesting mixture of secular traditions, historic bonds, and peculiar passion to intensive colors,” Mikaeloff says. He spent several week travelling across the country situated between Iran, Russia, and the Caspian Sea. “I didn’t experience any restrictions or censorship,” he emphasized. The fact that the exhibition is sponsored by Heydar Aliyev Fund headed by Mrs. President didn’t influence his work. “Of course, I probably didn’t see all artists of the country, but I was free in my work,” Mikaeloff said.
At the same time, President’s family is involved into the exhibition not only from the organizational point of view. Pictures by President’s daughter, Leila Aliyeva, are hanging at the entrance to the hall. They depict black mermaids, odd creatures, beating hearts breaking through bodies, mad women. Other artists depicted oil in tea cups, presented sophisticated metal sculptures, photographs of Baku household. The exhibition is multisided from thematic and stylistic points of view, but it cannot be called facultative. “Time when Azerbaijani artists tried to copy the West has gone,” Mikaeloff stated.
Farid Rasulov is one of representatives of the young generation. He combines surgery equipment with rotten fruits in his pictures. The professional doctor decided to learn a profession which would let him feel free and independent. Rasul who is 27 describes his country as a place “of infinite opportunities”: “A lot is doing there today.” Rasul has almost nothing in common with politics. Somwbody may find it surprising, as artists have to deal with the socio-political situation in the country.
Fly to Baku is a multiperspective exhibition which is a scene of Azerbaijani art in Europe. Those who try to find savage exotics will be disappointed – as well as appearance of Baku streets, Azerbaijani artists’ views are close to the European prospect.
