Leyla Aliyeva Attends Opening of “Art Weekend” Exhibitions in Baku

Baku, The Gulf Observer: festival, a vibrant addition to Baku’s cultural calendar, opened with two remarkable exhibitions — “Baku Steel Art 2025” and “The Last Wave” — at the Stone Chronicle Museum.

The event was attended by the initiator of the “Art Weekend” project, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and founder and head of IDEA Public Union, Leyla Aliyeva, along with Arzu Aliyeva and Alena Aliyeva, who familiarized themselves with the exhibitions and met with participating artists.

The “Baku Steel Art 2025” exhibition stands as a creative intersection of art and technology, showcasing how the rigidity of steel can be transformed into a medium of artistic expression. The works on display highlight innovative interpretations of metal sculpture, blending industrial precision with aesthetic sensibility to inspire future generations of artists.

Participating sculptors have reimagined steel through diverse artistic approaches, turning it into a symbol of resilience and creativity. Among them, Romanian sculptor Ciprian Hopirtean, author of the piece “Earth and Fire,” noted that his work tells a story of war and rebirth, inspired by his two-year involvement in the restoration of the Aghdam Juma Mosque.
“The mosque’s walls are full of bullet marks and burn stains. I witnessed firsthand what war can do there,” he remarked, reflecting on the emotional depth behind his creation.

The second exhibition, “The Last Wave,” features a kinetic installation by Azerbaijani artist Elvin Nabizade, known for his experimental sculptures and installations. The piece invites viewers into two parallel sensory worlds defined by the interplay of sound and movement.

The installation comprises percussion instruments suspended within two monumental frames across separate rooms. The instruments move rhythmically — subtle yet continuous — evoking the breathing of the sea. The contrast between the two environments deepens the immersive experience:

In the first room, bathed in blue-silver light, the scene captures the stillness of winter, where a tranquil sea whispers softly through faint echoes of waves. In the second, golden, sunlit tones reflect the vibrancy of summer, with the rhythm growing more dynamic, mirroring a sea alive with motion.

Through this juxtaposition, “The Last Wave” establishes a dialogue between two moods — the same sound in two different seasons, the same sea with two distinct breaths — symbolizing the eternal rhythm of nature and life.

The “Art Weekend” festival, initiated by Leyla Aliyeva, continues to enrich Baku’s cultural life by supporting creative innovation and promoting dialogue between contemporary art and the natural world, in line with the Heydar Aliyev Foundation’s commitment to fostering cultural and artistic development in Azerbaijan.