Baku:The 'Fly to Baku. Art Weekend. Sense the Future NOW' festival, from October 30 to November 1, will feature a diverse range of international and Azerbaijani contemporary art projects across various venues in the city. This marks the second time the festival is taking place in Baku.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, one of the festival's highlights is the solo exhibition by Chinese artist Zhang Ji at the Heydar Aliyev Center. His series, The Skin of Truth, explores religious architecture as a remnant of ancient truths resonating in today's scientific and technological era. Zhang Ji's work reinterprets patterns from mosques, synagogues, and cathedrals through contemporary painting.
The creation of these artworks is labor-intensive, requiring precision and patience. Zhang Ji uses a syringe to apply paint to the canvas, crafting each piece with meticulous care. Some artworks necessitate up to 120 tubes of paint, each containing 170 milliliters. The resulting patterns resemble bas-relief sculptures and create a visual tension between solidity and transience, structure and disintegration.
In an interview with AZERTAC, Zhang Ji discussed the influences and inspirations behind his work. He noted that the decorative patterns of mosque architecture sparked artistic associations for him. His series title, "The Skin of Truth," was inspired by his experiences at historical sites in southern Spain, such as the Alhambra and the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba.
Zhang Ji elaborated on his interest in recontextualizing sacred architectural elements through contemporary painting, stating it connects to his curiosity about ancient human behavior. He views history as a methodology rather than a collection of stories. The concepts of repetition and infinity are central to his work, representing cycles and the universe.
Presenting his exhibition in Baku, a cultural crossroads, is a significant milestone for Zhang Ji. He expressed excitement about showcasing his work amidst Azerbaijan's rich architectural heritage and cultural diversity.