ARTIM FLUX: PERIPHERAL EXPANSION

08 Oct - 29 Nov 19

YARAT Contemporary Art Space is pleased to announce the group exhibition “Peripheral Expansion” with works by Aydan Ismayilova, “Calembour” Collective, Javid Gurbanov, Emin Mathers, Luciana Ohira & Sergio Bonilha, Sabina Aliyeva, “Kekalove” Collective, Tural Rahmanli, Vusal Rzasoy and “22” in the frame of ARTIM Flux project.

“Peripheral Expansion” brings together a group of artists exploring the paradox of the core/periphery dichotomy through a series of works enlightening those facets of life, which are given least attention to, neglected or overlooked. “Peripheral Expansion” investigates a complex hybrid system where center and periphery interaction advocating as a living organism tackling the blurred line between the questions what exactly can be considered as a core and periphery and whether it can be perceived as an interchangeable process. The exhibition explores how the subjective perception of central and peripheral reflects the cognition processes within the individuals, as well as, a society trapped in the hands of globalization. Manifesting itself throughout the dynamic exhibition space design, the show invites the viewers to explore through which senses they resonate with the topic gaining viewer’s attention to what is lagging behind the surface within the peripheries of human existence and perception.

The installation “Diffusion” by Aydan Ismayilova tries to explore links between the biological and the technological growth. The work is a based on “Diffusions of innovations” theory (Everett Rogers), which represents the spatial distribution of new ideas and technology. Diffusion itself, as a physical term, describes the process of mutual penetration of molecules or atoms of one substance between molecules or atoms of another substance and their interaction, resembles a special pattern that is well reflected in the domino pattern.

“POP UP” is a short video by the Italy based artist duo “Calembour”, Laura Migliano and Giorgia Petri, that remixes contents of the web in the form of animated gifs with some warning messages and redraws them in a popup form, as a new form of narration, no longer linear, but “hyper-textual”; what turns out is a well recognizable poetic, reworked in the form of films, as if it were a screenplay, a storyboard, with characters, texts, environments, ellipses, beginning and end.

“Dungeon of life” is a narrative like dialogue of photography series by Javid Gurbanov displaying other – dark side of the dandy life. Darkness in which every detail is illuminated. The series of works talk about homeless and people in need, which do not lose hope and seek it in the darkness. Photoworks describe children who carry enormous loads to their small worlds, homeless people who see the clouds over their heads as the roof of their home, and people who want to carry the shades around them.

They say, “The macrocosm of the universe is mirrored in the microcosm of the mind” which can be applied to “NOVA III”, the immersive installation by Emin Mathers raising the question around the place of the human energy and its potential of materializing imagination in the macrocosm which can refer both to the whole universal system and the society. The photo installation creates an experience of high perception of limitless eternity.

The project “Damarlar” by two Brazilian artists Luciana Ohira & Sergio Bonilha aims to create an interactive device which merges visible and invisible layers from the Old City of Baku. A transparent plexiglass box, internally covered with aluminum powder, will support a drawing machine, much like the classic "Etch a Sketch". The system will be activated by a small computer connected to a custom plotter that receives data from registered users running a tracking application at their phones (Android and IOS), especially programmed for this project. Each user's displacement will produce lines in real time, turning into a visible map from the streets and some inner spaces of the Old City buildings. It can be said that this project a metaphor from the city as a living organism, showing its vessels and cells.

“Awakening” by Sabina Aliyeva explores the subject of the transformation of the identity by the consequences of life hardships faced by many. It is an emotional dialogue between the viewer and the work itself. Awakening as a moment of epiphany, exposes different aspects of identical issues and the existential question of desolation and alienation (Karl Marx) the condition of which estranges a person from their humanity, reflecting up to date social problems of the individuals.

For the exhibition the fashion design start-up Kekalove created a sample piece for inclusive clothing that seeks ways to help its targeted group with more adaptive, flexible and accessible clothing to make the process of wearing easier for everyone including persons with special needs, disabilities, elderly and in general, everyone with nontraditional body types.

The photo series “Ukraine” by Tural Rahmanli creates not only a connection between reportage and art, but also different people and timelines. The author represents the journey in a foreign country and its darkness as a poetry-like language. He addresses to Ukraine’s social crisis and society affected by this. “Ukraine” is another look to the present day’s society tested by many occasions through the windows of the past. He substitutes coldness of photos with people portraits from the close-up plans inviting the viewer to comprehend social problems.

In his sound installation “Indigenous Conversation, let them speak, baby”, Vusal Rzasoy gives voice to apparent irrelevant cross talks, that usually is not paid much attention to, discussed in the shadow zones such as taxis or chaikhanas. The work consists of a sequence of sounds and music, which describes conversations of various local people with different social status in chaotic chronology, especially focusing on gender problems within the society. It is a random like narrativless satire which through the conversations echoes the mentality of indigenous people.

22, (Ivan Susarin and Anna She) explores the anthropocentric paradigm of humanity and its direct impact to the assignment out of or opposing to the nature. Interactive installation, titled “Liquor” challenges the place of humanity in the nature, which is according to the anthropocentric paradigm, is central. It is a straightforward comprehension of whether outer ecology/ nature exists and is the nature we are. “Liquor” installation based on multimedia exploration of CSF creates the situation for embodiment contact.

ARTIM Flux invites creative individuals to apply with a specific project with a collaborative and participatory approach that challenge the concept of a static exhibition by exploring moments of change and transformation. The format aims open up the space for process-based experiments, becoming a living organism connecting and growing through creativity.

Opening: October 8, 2019

Time: 7 p.m.

Exhibition dates: 8 October – 29 November 2019

Working hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 12:00 – 20:00

Address: Icherisheher, Kichik Qala Street, 5

Free admission

More information: +994125051414