Elvin Nabizadeh on Azerbaijani Art at Venice Biennale

The Azerbaijani Pavilion at the 2017 Venice Biennale, titled 'Under One Sun: The Art of Living Together,' curated by Martin Roth and Emin Mammadov at Palazzo Lezze, explores linguistic, ethnic, and religious diversity. The exhibition features works by the Hypnotica group (multimedia and video mapping specialists) and sculptor Elvin Nabizadeh. In an interview, Nabizadeh discusses his career trajectory: trained in classical art, his breakthrough came in 2011 at the Zavot contemporary art space in Baku, where he began using waste materials in his work. He emphasizes the influence of Azerbaijan's multiculturalism—born in Georgia, he now works in Baku alongside Orthodox, Muslim, and Jewish colleagues. For the Biennale, he received support from Emil Mammadov and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. His installation incorporates musical instruments, a sentimental subject tied to his father, and explores fragility. He notes that Azerbaijani contemporary art is growing, though the audience remains small.