Azernews.Az

By Nazrin Gadimova

A press conference dedicated to the opening ceremony of the famous late American artist Andy Warhol's exhibition was held at the Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku on June 21.

The exhibition curator Gianni Mercurio thanked the head of the Heydar Aliyev Center Anar Alekberov for the opportunity of organizing the exhibition and all those who facilitated the realization of the project.

"The holding of this exhibition is very important for me both professionally and personally, as it provided an opportunity to get familiar with such a beautiful city as Baku and make new friends - it's a big honor for me. I have the most wonderful feeling from my visit to Baku," he said.

Mercurio emphasized the magnificent architecture of the Heydar Aliyev Center, which he considers one of the best in the world.

"This center is a graphic example of world architecture, which will allow the world to know even more about Azerbaijan," he said.

Also, he spoke about Andy Warhol's life and creative work.

Heydar Aliyev Center head Anar Alekberov expressed his gratitude to the exhibition curator for his assistance in arranging the exhibition and briefed participants about the Center's activity.

"Over the short time of the Heydar Aliyev Center's activity we have conducted several significant events which were joined by a great number of guests who could familiarize themselves with the work of the Center," Alekberov said.

He said that further events will seek to familiarize visitors of the Center with Azerbaijani history and culture.

On June 22 the Heydar Aliyev Center will be opened for the public, and sale of tickets will begin for visitors who will be able to see both Andy Warhol's exhibition and the exhibits available at the Center, according to Alekberov.

The international exhibition titled "Life, Death and Beauty", which is expected to continue until September 9, will feature up to 100 creations of the artist, including photos, portraits of renowned cinema, music and fashion stars, and other works.

The exhibition is part of the Heydar Aliyev Center's support for the development of culture, efforts to introduce world culture to Azerbaijan and to further expand the relations between countries and peoples through such projects.

The famous 20th century photographer, artist and stage manager Andy Warhol, who was born in 1928, passed away in 1987.

The pop-art Andy Warhol Museum, located in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, was established in 1994. The single-artist museum exhibits 900 paintings, 100 statues, 400 photos, 60 feature films as well as other works of the artist.

The Heydar Aliyev Center was established on December 26, 2006. The complex is designed by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid.

The Center houses a conference hall, a gallery hall and a museum. The project is intended to play an integral role in the intellectual life of the city. Located close to the city center, the site plays a pivotal role in the redevelopment of Baku.