.ART Supports Major Art Initiatives During Baku Art Weekend 2026

Autumn, 2020 Oil on Canvas by Medina. Carpet Autumn, 2026 Warp, weft, pile- wool. At the National Carpet Museum, Baku

Interpretations of Azerbaijan’s carpet-making heritage and international artistic exchange connect cultural heritage, contemporary art, and emerging tech

BAKU, AZERBAIJAN, October 29, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- .ART Registry, the global domain zone dedicated to the art and creative community, is proud to support three major cultural initiatives during "Fly to Baku. Art Weekend. Sense the Future NOW," taking place from October 30 to November 1, 2026.

Organized by IDEA Public Association in partnership with the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Baku Art Weekend brings together contemporary art, cultural heritage, environmental awareness, and emerging technologies under the theme "The Big Five of the Caucasus: Art, Conservation, and Future Generations."

Through partnerships with leading Azerbaijani cultural institutions, international artists, and digital art platforms, .ART contributes to a diverse program spanning public art, museum exhibitions, digital art, and international artistic collaboration. The initiatives reflect .ART’s commitment to supporting artistic production, creating new opportunities for artists and building connections between cultural traditions and contemporary creative practices.

"I’ve always believed that the best way to preserve our cultural heritage is to keep it alive and open to new interpretations. These projects bring together heritage, contemporary art and new technologies in ways that feel both meaningful and exciting. I’m proud that .ART can support the artists and ideas making this possible," stated Ulvi Kasimov, Founder and CEO of .ART.

Fire in Stone: Launching a Public Art Program in Baku’s Old City

One of the central initiatives supported by .ART is the upcoming launch of a new Public Art Program developed in partnership with the Administration of the State Historical-Architectural Reserve “Icherisheher.” The program introduces contemporary artistic practices into the historic environment of Baku’s Old City, creating opportunities for artists to engage with its architectural heritage, cultural memory, and public spaces.

The program’s inaugural commission, "Fire in Stone," is a site-specific public artwork by multidisciplinary artist Medina. Located beside the iconic Maiden Tower, the work draws inspiration from fire, one of the most enduring symbols of Azerbaijani cultural identity. Embedded directly into the pavement, Fire in Stone takes the form of a luminous fissure shaped like a buta, a traditional motif found throughout Azerbaijani carpets, textiles, and decorative arts. The installation also incorporates an augmented reality dimension, accessible through a QR code, allowing visitors to discover a digital extension of the artwork.

Land of Carpet: Connecting Artistic Heritage and Contemporary Practice

At the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, .ART supports Land of Carpet, an exhibition opening on October 29, 2026, that brings together the legacy of Latif Karimov, multidisciplinary artist Medina, artist-weaver Yashar Malfouzi, and a new generation of digital artists to explore the carpet as a living artistic tradition, continuously transformed through craftsmanship, interpretation, and technology.

The exhibition pays tribute to Latif Karimov, founder of the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum and a pioneering figure in modern carpet studies, whose research and artistic practice helped preserve and systematize centuries of Azerbaijani carpet-making traditions. Highlights include newly woven carpets based on Karimov’s original sketches, presented alongside the historical drawings to show how artistic designs became material form. The production of these carpets was generously funded and supported by Ulvi Kasimov, the founder of .ART, whose contribution made their realization possible.

Four newly handwoven carpets based on paintings by multidisciplinary artist Medina will be presented alongside the original works, exploring the translation of contemporary painting into traditional textile craftsmanship and the dialogue between the artist’s vision and the expertise of master weavers.

The exhibition also features a contemporary interpretation of the museum’s historical nineteenth-century Quşlu carpet by Tabriz-born artist-weaver Yashar Malfouzi, whose practice draws on generations of carpet-making knowledge.

Extending this dialogue into the digital realm, the international open call REMIX A LEGEND: Reimagine the Legacy of Latif Karimov, launched on Hug.art, invited digital artists to reinterpret Karimov’s visual language through contemporary technologies. Selected works will be presented on screens within the exhibition, exploring how traditional ornaments and compositions can acquire new forms through animation, movement, and the digital realm.

.ART supported the creation of www.latifkarimov.art in collaboration with the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, bringing the artistic and scholarly legacy of Latif Karimov to a wider international audience. The website celebrates his remarkable contributions to Azerbaijani carpet art through his works, research, and an interactive carpet classification atlas.

The Big Five: Digital Art and Environmental Awareness

.ART and the festival organizers have arranged a presentation of digital artworks at the Heydar Aliyev Center on October 30 and 31, bringing together works by Medina and two international artists selected through The Big Five open call. Medina’s digital works explore themes of nature, ecological awareness and humanity’s relationship with the environment, with some previously presented during COP29 in Baku.

Launched by .ART on the digital art platform HUG.art, The Big Five open call invited artists from Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia to explore biodiversity and the future of endangered species. Inspired by five emblematic species identified by IDEA Public Association in 2012 — the goitered gazelle, Caucasian leopard, brown bear, gray wolf and imperial eagle — the initiative resulted in the selection of two finalists, Muriel Lherm and Mazin. With the support of .ART, one of the selected artists will also attend Baku Art Weekend in person, participating in its VIP Program and connecting with an international community of artists, curators, collectors and cultural professionals.

ABOUT .ART REGISTRY

Launched in 2016 through an exclusive agreement with UK Creative Ideas Ltd and ICANN, .ART began as a pioneering domain registry and is evolving its mission to become the definitive digital archive for all art and cultural objects. With over 700,000 domains registered in 170+ countries, .ART serves a diverse community of creatives, artists, museums, businesses, and brands passionate about the arts.

Operating from international offices in London, Beijing, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C., and supported by a robust network of global Ambassadors, .ART is steadfast in its commitment to merge technology and art on a global scale. A portion of .ART's revenue actively supports philanthropic initiatives, including the Healing Power of Art Initiative, to promote the therapeutic benefits of art. Learn more at www.art.art.

Register .ART domains at www.get.art or through domain registrars such as GoDaddy, Namecheap, WordPress, and others.

Daria Kravchuk
.ART Registry
media@art.art
Visit us on social media:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
TikTok
X
Other