Born to Love

Are we living a real life, or is our world just a well-crafted simulation, and we are just lines in a computer code, zeros, and ones? Someone more intelligent than us, more advanced and technologically superior to our civilisation, has created this whole world, the universe - by accident, as an experiment, or perhaps for fun. This year for the 59th Biennale of contemporary art, the Azerbaijan Pavilion is proud to present Born to Love, the fascinating exhibition of works by seven Azerbaijani contemporary female artists that draws on the phenomenon of the Infinite Consciousness of the Universe. The number of participants isn’t occasional at all. Since the dawn of time, the number 7 has had a special place. It fascinates and intrigues. This number is also a powerful beneficial, and protective symbol. Its mystical aspect opened the door to many beliefs and superstitions. Often considered a sacred number, the number 7 bears something spiritual, eternal within it. And also, there is a direct line connecting the participants with the Seven Beauties by the outstanding Azerbaijani philosopher and thinker Nizami Ganjavi (the last year was declared A Year of Nizami Ganjavi in Azerbaijan). The poem's plot is based on the legend of the Sassanid Shah Bahram Ghur (420 - 439). Almost half of the entire verse consists of seven stories of Bahram’s wives - queens who live in seven palaces, each of which, according to ancient mythology, is dedicated to a planet and a day of the week and has a corresponding colour. And every “palazzo” of each participant reflects this literary masterpiece's deep philosophy. In the installation of Zhuk, the water element is used as the environment that is the basis of the birth of mankind, starting with the mother's womb. The art of Infinity immerses us into the ocean, where the pearls of perception and wisdom can be ours to hold and reclaim. Her project is driven by a need to be one with the essence of nature and the world we live in. Ramina Saadatkhan, while bringing together various aesthetics and styles, combines collage pop-art techniques with abstract expressionism elements. Fidan Kim in her project, reflects the evolution of mankind, the relationship of man with animals and the basic principle of life, which is and that is survival of the fittest. Man's struggle with himself as well as with the environment. And that at the moment protecting the environment, animals, in particular, is a top priority for all of us. The sculptured figure by Fidan Akhundova reflects the different stages of the woman's life. We don't know what awaits the woman who takes that step, the leap into the unknown. The journey ahead is full of doubts and difficulties, but it is more conscious and free. Sabiha Khankishiyeva with her project - everything around us, from our environment to the smallest cells in our body, is made up of many repeating elements. In science, this is called fractal geometry. And therefore, we cannot deny the connection between our subconsciousness, consciousness and this world. Even the human eye loves to find this symmetry in which all harmony is manifested. Through her pictures of the life around, every object or moment is not only fixed by the camera but full of hidden meaning Agdes Baghirzade tries to bring us closer to divine perfection. Man is a being constantly searching for himself and who, at every moment of his existence, tests and re-examine the conditions of his existence. In this critical attitude toward one's own life lies its actual value. The only thing that matters to man is the inner installation of the soul, the inner principle, the privilege of man and his first duty, understood in a broad sense, which has not only a moral but also a universal metaphysical basis. A man knows the world through the senses: sight, touch, hearing... But can we be sure of what we feel? Can we be sure that a dream is a dream and that upon awakening, we will find the "real" reality and not another dream? Emin Mammadov Curator of the Pavilion