Carpet Products from the Collection of the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum at the exhibition On the Way to the Summit in Latvia

On July 28th, the VI International Art Festival Divi Juliji was organized by the Museum of History and Art in Gulbene, Latvia. The traditional festival is dedicated to the memory of two well-known artists, Masters of Applied Art - Julius Madernieks (1870-1955) and Julius Straumen (1874-1970), who were born in this city.

Within the framework of the On the Way to the Summit exhibition, dedicated to the ethnographic research carried out by Julius Straumen through the Caucasus, including Azerbaijan, was opened. The exposition consisted of 16 traditional carpets of the late XIX – early XX centuries from the collection of the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum. 16 exhibits belonging to Karabakh, Baku and Shirvan are featured. Those are chul, lamagabaghi, mafrash, jahaz, jejim, duztorbasi, gashigdan, khurjun, heyba, dastarkhan, jorab, chanta, distinguished by their high artistic quality, unique composition and colour shades. A photo-slide consisting of historical architectural monuments of Shusha is also demonstrated during the exhibition. The exhibition, held with the support of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Latvia, will last until August 25.

The first day of the festival Divi Juliji. Virsotnes /Two Julius the international conference was also held. At the conference, the Head of the Department for Scientific Research and Preservation of National Heritage of the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, PhD in Art Studies Ayten Ahmadova delivered a report on Carpet Products in the Traditions and Household of the Azerbaijani People. She noted that carpet products are an integral part of the daily life of our people and considered not only utilitarian items, but also an indicator of high aesthetic taste with a beautiful artistic solution and pattern system.

At the conference, member of the Scientific Council of the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, Doctor of Art Studies, Professor Kubra Aliyeva made a speech on Straumen's Activity in Shusha, the cradle of Azerbaijan's creativity.

Karabakh carpets in the sketches of Julius Straumen, schools of weaving in the first half of the XX century, pedagogical views and principles of Julius Madernieks and other reports of experts from different countries were delivered on the topics. At the end, mutual discussions were held, where the participants ' questions were answered.