Abulfas Garayev, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan made a speech at the opening ceremony of the exhibition within the second Nasimi Festival of Poetry, Art and Spirituality initiated by Leyla Aliyeva, Vise President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation. Minister Abulfas Garayev said that the celebration of the 600th anniversary of Imadeddin Nasimi held on the initiative of the national leader Heydar Aliyev in 1973 at UNESCO level has become an important event in the history of Azerbaijani culture. “In recent years, the poet’s personality and creativity have gained high importance both in our country and in the international arena. Thus, in May 2017, 600 years since the death of Nasimi was commemorated at the UNESCO headquarter in Paris within the support of Mehriban Aliyeva, First Vice President of Azerbaijan. Last year, the first Nasimi Festival of Poetry, Art and Spirituality was held on the initiative of Leyla Aliyeva, Vice President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation,” Minister added. Abulfas Garayev also emphasized that the proclamation 2019 a Year of Nasimi in Azerbaijan by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the Nasimi Festival of Poetry, Art and Spirituality contributed to the study of the great philosopher’s legacy. “Participation of world-known scholars, philosophers, artists, poets, as well as music, dance and theater groups at the festival was important to promote Nasimi’s ideas and thoughts and our country in general. The international carpet sketch contest, as well as the best poetry competition among young poets announced by the Ministry of Culture’s Soz Project, are also important in terms of praising Nasimi’s poetry and his philosophical ideas within the various types of art. These contests, along with the study of Nasimi’s literary and cultural heritage, serve to reveal and present young talents to the audience,” he said.

Then, winners of the International Carpet Sketch Contest and the Nasimi Poetry Contest received their diplomas.

According to the contest’s results, Fatima Akhundzade’s “Nasim Yeli” sketch won the first place; Ruhangiz Baghirova’s “Both worlds can fit within me but in this world I cannot fit” work took the second place; and Surayya Dadashova’s “Tear” sketch got the third place. Meanwhile, Orkhan Behbid, Zaur Rakhshan, Sahib Mammadov, Gulbala Dadash, Tarlan Sadiq, Saleh Sabat, Adil Akbar, Elsar Gadri, Nijat Nasri, and Salim Nasirli won the best poetry competition.

During her speech, Shirin Melikova, Director of the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum highlighted the development of carpet weaving, which has a long history in our country, and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation’s great support in this field. She also mentioned that thirty-five creative people from Azerbaijan, France, Italy, India, Russia, Iran, and Albania participated at the contest organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum. “The winners were selected among fifty-one other sketches. The Jury determined the winners of the first and second places. And the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum announced an open vote and encouraged Facebook users to choose the third-place winner among nominated seven artists. All three winners are the students of the Azerbaijan State Academy of Arts,” Shirin Melikova said.

Following, Dr. Melikova thanked the organizers, contest participants, and the exhibition guests.

It is to be noted that Farhad Khalilov, Chairman of the Union of Artists of Azerbaijan, People’s Artist; Dr. Emin Mammadov, Art Expert of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Associate Professor, Honored Art Worker; Dr. Shirin Melikova, Director of the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, President of ICOM Azerbaijan National Committee, Honored Art Worker; Jahangir Selimkhanov, Coordinator of the Nasimi Festival of Poetry, Art and Spirituality, UNESCO National Expert on Intangible Cultural Heritage, Honored Art Worker; Eldar Mikailzada, Associate Professor of the Azerbaijan State Academy of Arts, People’s Artist; Mammadhuseyn Huseynov, Associate Professor of the Azerbaijan State Academy of Arts, Honored Art Worker are the contest’s jury members.

Three carpets woven on the basis of winners’ sketches by the staff of the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum’s Traditional Technologies Department was solemnly cut from the loom at the opening ceremony. A short movie featuring the process of these carpets’ weaving, was also presented here. The exhibition showcases the carpet sketches and Nasimi carpet created by the People’s Artist Eldar Mikailzada specifically for the commemorate date. Notably, the artist thoroughly studied history, culture, traditions, and life of Imadeddin Nasimi, as well as investigated the ethnographic features during the work process.