“Pistachio: Living Heritage” Presented in Baku as Part of “Fly to Baku. Art Weekend. Sense the Future NOW” Project
Baku, The Gulf Observer: Another event within the framework of the cultural project “Fly to Baku. Art Weekend. Sense the Future NOW” took place on October 31 at the Maqsud Ibrahimbeyov Creativity Center, featuring the presentation titled “Pistachio: Living Heritage.”
The event opened with a monodrama based on Maqsud Ibrahimbeyov’s story “The Pistachio Tree.” Centered around the pistachio tree — a timeless symbol of the bond between past and present — the performance invited the audience into a deeply emotional and nostalgic journey.
The story, one of Ibrahimbeyov’s most poignant literary works, recounts wartime experiences through the eyes of a child. In this monodrama, the role of the grown man recalling his childhood was performed by Shovgi Huseynov, Honored Artist of Azerbaijan. The performance transported audiences to the intimate courtyards of old Baku, where the pistachio tree stands as a living witness to memory, resilience, and continuity.
Following the theatrical performance, a triptych of three carpets, woven by “Azarxalcha” LLC, was unveiled. The composition was viewed by Leyla Aliyeva, Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and founder and head of the IDEA Public Association.
The carpet artwork reflects the theme of renewal and endurance amid challenges. Water, as a central symbolic motif, links the three parts of the triptych, representing the essence of life, growth, and regeneration.
As part of the event, a pistachio tree was planted on the terrace of the Creativity Center with the participation of Leyla Aliyeva. This act served as a symbolic gesture emphasizing care for nature, water, and life — values deeply intertwined with the cultural and ecological spirit of the initiative. The pistachio tree, in this context, stands as an emblem of unity — bridging past and future, art and ecology, people and the land.
Later in the day, Leyla Aliyeva visited the Olive Festival held in Baku’s Old City (Icherisheher), where she explored a variety of olives and olive-based products from different regions of Azerbaijan. The visit took place in a warm and welcoming atmosphere, with heartfelt exchanges between guests and tourists and several commemorative photographs marking the occasion.
The “Pistachio: Living Heritage” presentation and related activities highlighted the enduring relationship between Azerbaijani cultural heritage, artistic expression, and environmental consciousness — key themes of the ongoing “Fly to Baku. Art Weekend” series.
