BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. The opening
ceremony of the MAMA “Mother Nature” international art exhibition
was held in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, on October
20.
Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation;
Oguljahan Atabayeva, Vice-President for Medical Activities of the
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Assistance to
Children in Need of Guardianship; and Saida Mirziyoyeva, Head of
the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan,
attended the event, along with members of the diplomatic corps
accredited to Turkmenistan and representatives of the art
community.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Oguljahan Atabayeva emphasized
the important role of art and nature conservation in relations
between nations. She noted that art brings nations closer together,
awakens a love of beauty in people’s hearts, and helps unite them
around shared humanitarian values.
“The main theme of today’s exhibition is nature. Harmony between
humans and nature is an indispensable condition for sustainable
development. Caring for nature and conveying its beauty and
richness to future generations is an important task for every
individual and society as a whole,” Atabayeva added.
Leyla Aliyeva shared her thoughts on the artworks displayed at
the exhibition and the common environmental challenges facing the
two countries. She noted that the exhibition featured 116 works by
62 artists from 35 countries, including Turkmenistan.
Aliyeva said that each artwork offered a unique perspective on
the beauty, power and fragility of nature, reminding visitors of
the importance of protecting it. Expressing her belief that the
exhibition would evoke strong emotions and inspire visitors, she
said: “Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan are bound not only by ancient
history and culture, but also by the Caspian Sea, which is our
shared natural heritage. Unfortunately, over the last 10 years, the
water level in the Caspian Sea has dropped significantly. As a
result, rare species such as the Caspian seal and sturgeon face the
threat of extinction.”
Referring to the activities of IDEA, Leyla Aliyeva highlighted
that the organization implements numerous projects in Azerbaijan
and internationally to address environmental challenges.
Following the ceremony, the guests toured the exhibition.
The exhibits also included examples of Turkmenistan’s decorative
and applied arts, including national musical instruments, carpets,
traditional headdresses, antique jewellery and other artefacts
reflecting the tangible cultural heritage of the Turkmen
people.
The MAMA “Mother Nature” international art exhibition brings
together artists from numerous countries, including Azerbaijan, to
promote the protection of the planet for future generations.
Through installations, paintings, textiles, and multimedia works,
the exhibition explores contemporary environmental and social
issues.
