The Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku will host a series of exhibitions featuring internationally renowned artists, contemporary installations and interactive projects as part of the second edition of the "Fly to Baku. Sense the Future NOW" festival, which begins on October 30. Organised at the initiative of Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and founder of the IDEA Public Union, the festival will bring together artists from different generations, cultural backgrounds and artistic disciplines.
This year's programme explores themes ranging from cultural heritage, memory and identity to biodiversity, environmental responsibility and the relationship between humanity and emerging technologies. Alongside exhibitions at various locations across the capital, the Heydar Aliyev Center will host the festival's official opening ceremony and several major artistic presentations. One of the central themes of this year's Art Weekend is the "Big Five of the Caucasus", an artistic concept highlighting five emblematic species of the region: the Caucasian leopard, brown bear, grey wolf, imperial eagle and goitered gazelle.
The initiative explores the relationship between nature, cultural memory and collective identity, presenting wildlife not only as part of the natural environment but also as an important element of regional mythology and heritage. The exhibition "When Nature Speaks. Heirs", developed from an idea by Leyla Aliyeva, will examine humanity's responsibility towards the natural world and the legacy left for future generations.
Through installations, sculpture, ceramics, textiles and mixed-media works, participating artists will explore the interconnected themes of heritage, responsibility, memory and environmental preservation. At the heart of the exhibition is a central question: What kind of natural world will humanity leave behind? The artworks will be presented to the general public for the first time during Baku Art Weekend.
Another project, "Legendary Creatures: An Azerbaijani Bestiary", will open in the park surrounding the Heydar Aliyev Center on October 30. Connecting the Caucasus's five emblematic animals with mythological creatures from Azerbaijani folklore, the exhibition will examine how wildlife has shaped local knowledge, storytelling and artistic traditions. The outdoor presentation will feature six original works by six artists, including carpet art, sculpture, photography, metalwork and mixed-media compositions.
All six works will make their public debut during the festival. Chinese artist Zhang Ji brings architectural traditions to contemporary painting The festival will also feature "The Skin of Truth", an exhibition by Chinese artist Zhang Ji, organised by the Heydar Aliyev Center as a joint project of Baku Art Weekend and JD Malat Gallery. The exhibition will bring together works from the artist's "The Skin of Truth" and "Ultima" series, combining architectural traditions from different civilisations with contemporary painting techniques.
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