OMM Newsroom
Baku will host the second “Fly to Baku” art weekend from October 30 to November 1. The event will bring together Azerbaijani and international artists to focus on the wildlife and cultural heritage of the Caucasus, as well as the importance of nature conservation, AnewZ reports.
This year’s event, titled “Big Five,” draws inspiration from the Caucasus’ natural heritage. It highlights the gazelle, Caucasian leopard, brown bear, grey wolf and imperial eagle.
Through contemporary art, sculpture and interactive installations, artists explore humanity’s relationship with nature and the importance of preserving cultural and natural heritage for future generations.
Wildlife and human responsibility
Works on display at the Stone Chronicle Museum explore the links between wildlife, human behaviour and the legacy humanity will leave to future generations.
Orkhan Nabizada’s sculptural project “Ancient Stone, Modern Memory” draws inspiration from Gobustan’s ancient rock carvings. The work reimagines five figures symbolising Azerbaijan’s natural heritage through contemporary sculpture, linking ancient artistic traditions to the question of what future generations will inherit.
Nabizada said the idea of preserving traces of the past and passing them on to future generations was central to his creative work.
Elvin Nabizada presents “Radius of Responsibility,” an interactive installation featuring sculptures of a Caucasian leopard and a gazelle. The sculptures are illuminated, but disappear into darkness when visitors approach and block the light. When visitors step back, the animals become visible again. The installation highlights how people’s actions, even when unintended, can affect wildlife.
Works inspired by folklore and nature
At the Heydar Aliyev Center, the focus turns to folklore and mythology. The exhibition “Mythical Creatures – A Bestiary of Azerbaijan” features six works inspired by the role of animals in Azerbaijani cultural traditions.
Lesley Gray, one of the exhibition’s curators, said the display draws on the historical links between animals and Azerbaijani culture, as well as the tradition of medieval manuscripts combining scientific observation, allegory and mythology.
Nearby, artist Farid Rasulov presents “Kings of the Mountains,” a carpet installation dedicated to the golden eagle. The work depicts two eagles: one in its nest and the other returning home. An egg between them symbolises life, hope and the future.
Rasulov said the work serves as a reminder that even the most powerful creatures can be vulnerable and underscores the importance of protecting wildlife for future generations.
Performances, concerts and interdisciplinary projects will also take place at venues across the city as part of the “Fly to Baku” art weekend. The initiative aims to bring Azerbaijan’s cultural heritage together with contemporary art and encourage audiences to reflect on biodiversity and their responsibility towards the environment.
The three-day festival will turn Baku into a meeting point for art, history and nature conservation, highlighting how creativity can help people build a deeper connection with nature and influence its future.
