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Official inauguration of the Azerbaijani hall took place with organizational support from the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in the framework of the 55th World Fine Arts Exhibition – the Venice Biennale, May 31.

Azerbaijan’s First Lady, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva and Vice-president of the Foundation Leyla Aliyeva attended the ceremony.

Tens of countries have presented their halls at the exhibition, which will continue until November this year. The Azerbaijani hall is located at Lassay Palace related to the 14^th century in Campo Santo Stefano. The hall of this year is presented under the name of “Ornaments”.

Vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva made a speech at the opening ceremony. Noting that Azerbaijan has been famous for its rich culture and old history, Leyla Aliyeva said this spirit of Azerbaijan, which is located on the historical Silk Way and is a bridge between the East and the West, has been preserved to date: “Azerbaijan has always been a home to many religions, cultures and nations. Baku has become one of the most cosmopolitan cities of the world: from Zaha Hadid’s architectural work to the Modern Art Museum, the Carpet Museum and the Flame Flowers. I think this synthesis of the West with the East, the past with the present has sufficiently been reflected in our art. You will witness it here, as art has always been an important part of our culture. Now almost each month our country holds interesting cultural events.“

Curator of the exhibition Hervé Mikaeloff emphasized that development of modern art is being attached high significance in Azerbaijan, and thanked the Heydar Aliyev Foundation for the support provided to projects in this sphere.

Participating the forth time in the Venice Biennale, Azerbaijan is represented in this demonstration of art by six artists - Butanay Haqverdiyev, Fakhriyya Mammadova, Farid Rasulov, Rashad Alakbarov, Sanan Alasgarov and Chingiz.

At the end of the day, a dinner was given on behalf of Mehriban Aliyeva.