INFORMATION
At the 61st International Art Exhibition — La Biennale di Venezia, Azerbaijan presents the pavilion "The Attention" by Honored Artist Faig Ahmed. The exhibition is organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation supported by the Ministry of Culture and the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Italy.
Conceived as an immersive, multimodal environment, "The Attention" unfolds across a sequence of interconnected spaces. The work responds to the uncertainty, anxiety, and information overload of the contemporary era, exploring internal consciousness and reconnection to demonstrate how art can emerge from chaos.
Conceptually grounded in the legacy of Imadaddin Nasimi—a preeminent Azerbaijani poet and central figure of the Hurufi tradition—the project synthesizes heritage with innovation. Ahmed integrates advanced technologies, including quantum systems, neuro-reactivity, and data-driven processes, alongside traditional artistic methods.
The exhibition establishes a direct parallel between Hurufi philosophy and the quantum understanding of reality, positioning quantum information as the contemporary counterpart to these ancient metaphysical insights.
The Pavilion is curated by Gwendolyn Collaço whose expertise spans Islamic art, material culture, and cross-cultural exchange.
ABOUT ARTIST
FAIG AHMED (b. 1982, Sumqayit, Azerbaijan) lives and works in Baku. He graduated from the Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Art in 2OO4 and represented Azerbaijan at its inaugural national pavilion at the Venice Biennale in 2OO7. Ahmed is internationally recognized for conceptual works that transform traditional carpet-making and decorative crafts into contemporary sculptural art. By deconstructing motifs, patterns, and techniques, he challenges stereotypes of the craft and repositions it within the context of global contemporary art.
His practice draw on interests in world religions, mysticism, ancient scripture, calligraphy, science, and technology. Through them, Ahmed creates visually striking works that merge centuries-old weaving methods with digital processes, including pixilation, and three-dimensional distortion, alongside melting or fragmented patterns. His work has been exhibited widely in major museums and galleries across Europe, Asia, Australia, and the United States, and is held in prominent public and private collections worldwide.
ABOUT CURATOR
GWENDOLYN COLLAÇO (b. 1988, San Francisco, USA) lives and works in Providence, RI, USA where she is the Anne S.K. Brown Curator for Military and Society for Brown University. Her curatorial practice spans museum and library collections with a specialty in Islamic art, material culture, and transregional exchange. Gwendolyn received her joint Ph.D. from Harvard University in History of Art & Architecture and Middle Eastern Studies, her M.A. from the University of Chicago, and a B.A. from Vassar College.
Her extensive experience includes major exhibitions and permanent collection installations at institutions such as LACMA, MIT, and Brown University. Her research has been supported by numerous international fellowships, with publications in Ars Orientalis, Muqarnas, and several edited volumes. In her most recent projects, she led interdisciplinary research with MIT’s Materials Science and Engineering department and Vitrocentre (Switzerland) to better understand the composition and production of cultural heritage from the Middle East.
VENUE
Arsenale, Campo della Tana, Castello 2124/A–2125, Venezia
Being located just opposite the Biennale entrance, Arsenale, Campo della Tana, Castello 2124/A–2125, Venezia offers a huge visibility and big numbers in terms of visitors flow during the Biennale opening times.
