INTERNATIONAL CARPET FEST

Faig Ahmed Faig Ahmed is an internationally recognized artist from Baku, Azerbaijan, who represented his country at the Venice Biennale in 2007. He is renowned for his conceptual works that incorporate traditional decorative crafts and the visual language of carpets into contemporary sculptural art. His work reimagines ancient techniques, pushing visual boundaries by deconstructing traditions and challenging stereotypes.

Eldar Mikayilzade Eldar Mikayilzade is a distinguished Azerbaijani master carpet designer, visual artist, and graphic designer. His career, which encompasses several decades, has been marked by the creation of innovative carpets that integrate traditional Azerbaijani motifs with contemporary artistic expressions. His approach has played a pivotal role in elevating carpet weaving from a mere utilitarian craft to a recognized form of fine art, thereby challenging long-standing stereotypes that classify carpets solely as household items. In addition to his achievements in carpet design, Mikayilzade has made significant contributions to graphic design, notably by producing the initial sketches of the Azerbaijani manat currency. His works have been showcased and collected on an international scale, with carpets residing in private collections throughout Russia, Europe, and the Middle East. In acknowledgment of his substantial contributions to Azerbaijani art, he was awarded the esteemed title of People’s Artist of Azerbaijan in 2018.

Collaboration of Aidan Salahova and Azerkhalcha The renewed collaboration between Azerkhalcha and Aidan Salahova marks a new chapter in the fusion of tradition and contemporary artistic vision. Their latest creation, Architecture of Memory, is more than a carpet—it is a meditation on time, heritage, and spiritual continuity. At the heart of the composition lies a single step, a powerful symbol of transition, ascent, and the passage between past and future. In Eastern philosophy and sacred architecture, a step represents both movement and reflection, urging one to pause and acknowledge the journey before proceeding. Woven with masterful craftsmanship, the carpet bridges the tactile heritage of Azerbaijani weaving with Salahova’s profound artistic language. Through this work, Azerkhalcha and Salahova invite us to step into memory, reinterpreting tradition through the lens of the present.

Aidan Salahova Aidan Salakhova, born on March 25, 1964, in Moscow, is an outstanding worldwide recognized Azerbaijani artist. She graduated from the Moscow State Surikov Institute of Fine Arts in 1987 and has been a professor there since 2000. Salakhova's expertise and influence in the art world are unparalleled. She is an Academician of the Russian Academy of Fine Arts. Her work explores gender themes, women's sexuality in Islam, and the contrasts between East and West, captivating audiences and collectors worldwide. Salakhova's pieces are featured in both private and state collections internationally. Her exhibitions at prestigious events like the Venice Biennale in 1991 and 2011 continue to attract significant attention and acclaim.

Collaboration of Samira Allahverdiyeva and Azerkhalcha Inspired by vivid childhood memories of fruit gardens, the "Symphony of Pomegranate and Fig" collection beautifully captures the essence of sunlit pomegranates and figs spread atop carpets beneath the trees. This collection marries the deep reds and earthy tones of its namesake fruits with the artisanal craftsmanship of traditional weaving. Each piece evokes a sense of nostalgia and natural abundance, transforming any space with its vibrant colors and dynamic textures.

Samira Allahverdiyeva Samira Allahverdiyeva, originally from Zangilan, was born in Astrakhan. She earned her bachelor's degree in painting and her master's degree in graphic design from the Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts between 2007 and 2014. She is a member of the Young Artists Union. Samira has showcased her works in exhibitions across countries such as Azerbaijan, Türkiye, the United States, Belgium, and Russia, with her pieces being part of private collections.

Conceptual video installations dedicated to the ancient tradition of carpet weaving will be presented by digital artists Nargiz Asgarova and Shelale Salamzade. The music arrangement for the digital performance is by Azer Hajiasgarli.

"Invisible Threads" – Nano Video Art

Nargiz Asgarova

In the "Invisible Threads" nano video-art performance, the nano artist brings to life a popular folk belief: "If two people are meant for each other, they are connected by an invisible thread. Life may place difficult and challenging obstacles between them in an attempt to separate them, but although the thread may thin over time, the invisible bonds only grow stronger and never break. This journey continues until the two are reunited." The artist presents an audiovisual installation based on nano-images of red threads-commonly used in Azerbaijani carpet weaving-captured with an electron microscope, revealing details invisible to the naked eye.

"Main line" – Video Art

Shalala Salamzadeh

Known for her synthesis of digital aesthetics and cultural narratives, multidisciplinary artist constructs a new memory map in her "Main Line" video installation by paralleling the visual and semantic system of ancient Azerbaijani carpets with the structure of a modern motherboard. This black-and-white video installation visualizes a transformation at the delicate boundary between imagination and code: knots become cables, and patterns turn into circuit diagrams. Carpet technology and digital mechanics merge into a single system, presenting the motherboard as the new-era carpet.

Digital and artificial intelligence artist: Aisha Hajiyeva

Music: Azer Asgarov

The "Time" digital exhibition, presented by the Administration of State Historical-Architectural Reserve "Icherisheher", is planned to be displayed in the form of an unusual installation with an LED screen in the square around the ancient symbol of Baku - the Maiden Tower.

The digital exhibition is dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the inscription of the Walled City of Baku with the Palace of Shirvanshahs and Maident Tower on the UNESCO World Heritage List and the 15th anniversary of the inscription of the Traditional art of Azerbaijani carpet weaving on the UNESCO on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The digital installation will promote our culture in a modern style, by bringing to life the architecture of the ancient Icherisheher and the rich ornamental motifs of the Baku-Shirvan and Karabakh carpets.

The "Pileless carpets" exhibition, organized by the Administration of State Historical-Architectural Reserve "Icherisheher", is scheduled to be held outdoors in the first courtyard of the Shirvanshahs Palace Complex.

The first simple examples of carpet art – “khasir”, “chatan”, “buriya”, and later pileless carpets such as “palaz”, “jesim”, “ladi”, “kilim”, “shadda”, “varni”, “zili”, “sumakh” - have historically become the decoration of our homes.

The exhibition will feature six large-sized pileless carpets from the collection of the "Icherisheher" Museum Centre, which differ from each other in their weaving method, compositional structure, richness of ornamentation, and colour palette.

The "Three Prophets" carpet by People's Artist Eldar Mikayilzada will be exhibited at the House of Tolerance, located in Icherisheher and known for its rich examples reflecting Azerbaijan's traditions of tolerance.

This carpet is one of the rare works that expresses the idea of tolerance, dialogue, and coexistence between religions through the art of carpet. The "Three Prophets" carpet brings together the diverse beliefs and cultures of Azerbaijan, presenting the common spiritual values of humanity, the common values that transcend heavenly religions, through the language of art.

The carpet depicts the prophets of Islam (Muhammad), Christianity (Jesus), and Judaism (Moses). This approach draws attention to the common roots and values of different religions, and at the same time is a protest against radical ideas voiced through the language of art: different religions are presented side by side and in unity on the same carpet.

The main idea of the exhibition is aimed at promoting the principles of peace, unity and mutual respect.

The "Dastan" brand of the Centre for Traditional Arts will present a new collection rich in carpet motifs. The exhibition will feature more than 30 decorative paintings, jewellery, ceramic, batik and wood products inspired by the patterns of pile and pileless carpets.

Visitors will be able to familiarize themselves with literature related to carpet weaving from the Centre’s library, watch promotional videos, and observe the process of design creation by masters live in the exhibition hall.

The main goal of the exhibition is to promote the ancient and rich historical and cultural heritage of Azerbaijan, as well as to present examples of art that meet the requirements of modern taste.