Faig Ahmed's Immersive Carpet Installation at Venice Biennale

At the 61st Venice Biennale, Azerbaijani artist Faig Ahmed presents 'The Attention,' a monumental installation in Azerbaijan's national pavilion. Born in Sumqayit and based in Baku, Ahmed transforms traditional Azerbaijani carpets into sprawling, dreamlike forms that spill through rooms, twist into sculptural shapes, and glow under black light. Works include 'Ancestors,' which glows with psychedelic intensity, and 'Entropy Altar,' which uses a quantum random number generator to turn visitor presence into shifting language. Curated by Gwendolyn Collaço, the exhibition draws on Hurufism—a mystical tradition interpreting letters as cosmic carriers—and contemporary theories of quantum physics and information systems. Carpets appear to melt, pixelate, and dissolve, merging centuries-old craftsmanship with digital-age aesthetics. The installation invites contemplation on memory, perception, and consciousness amid information overload.