Events

Fire in Stone, public artwork

One of the central initiatives supported by .ART during Baku Art Weekend is the launch of a new Public Art Program developed in partnership with the Administration of the State Historical-Architectural Reserve “Icherisheher.” The program introduces contemporary artistic practices into the historic environment of Baku’s Old City, creating opportunities for artists to engage with its architectural heritage, cultural memory and public spaces.

The program’s inaugural commission, Fire in Stone, is a site-specific public artwork by multidisciplinary artist Medina. Located beside the iconic Maiden Tower, the work draws inspiration from fire, one of the most enduring symbols of Azerbaijani cultural identity. The site carries centuries of history and mythology, including interpretations that associate the tower with ancient fire traditions. Embedded directly into the pavement, Fire in Stone takes the form of a luminous fissure shaped like a buta, a traditional motif found throughout Azerbaijani carpets, textiles, and decorative arts. The installation also incorporates an augmented reality dimension, accessible through a QR code, allowing visitors to discover a digital extension of the artwork.

The Big Five: Digital Art and Environmental Awareness As part of Baku Art Weekend, .ART and the festival organizers have arranged a presentation of digital artworks at the Heydar Aliyev Center on 31.10.26, bringing together works by multidisciplinary artist Medina and two international artists selected through The Big Five open call.

Medina’s digital works explore themes of nature, ecological awareness and humanity’s relationship with the environment, with some previously presented during COP29 in Baku.

Launched by .ART on the digital art platform HUG.art, The Big Five open call invited artists from Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia to explore biodiversity and the future of endangered species. Inspired by five emblematic species identified by IDEA Public Association in 2012 — the goitered gazelle, Caucasian leopard, brown bear, gray wolf and imperial eagle — the initiative resulted in the selection of two finalists, Muriel Lherm and Mazin. With the support of .ART, one of the selected artists will also attend Baku Art Weekend in person, participating in its VIP Program and connecting with an international community of artists, curators, collectors and cultural professionals.

Land of Carpet: Connecting Artistic Heritage and Contemporary Practice

At the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, Land of Carpet, an exhibition opening on October 29, 2026, brings together the legacy of Latif Karimov, multidisciplinary artist Medina, artist-weaver Yashar Malfouzi and a new generation of digital artists to explore the carpet as a living artistic tradition, continuously transformed through craftsmanship, interpretation and technology.

The exhibition pays tribute to Latif Karimov, founder of the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum and a pioneering figure in modern carpet studies, whose research and artistic practice helped preserve and systematize centuries of Azerbaijani carpet-making traditions. Highlights include newly woven carpets based on Karimov’s original sketches, presented alongside the historical drawings to show how artistic designs became material form.

Four newly handwoven carpets based on paintings by multidisciplinary artist Medina — Spring, A Street in Baku, Autumn and Still Life — will be presented alongside the original works, exploring the translation of contemporary painting into traditional textile craftsmanship and the dialogue between the artist’s vision and the expertise of master weavers.