The drawings and paintings of the young Azerbaijani artist Kabira Alieva have been showcased in ZANN, a landmark exhibition at the prestigious Mall Galleries in Central London. Around 250 enthusiastic viewers attended the private view on 5 September, including H.E. Fakhraddin Gurbanov, Azerbaijani Ambassador to the UK; H.E. Volodymyr Khandohiy, Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK; Lord Laird; Florian Seitz, Deputy Head of Culture and Education, German Embassy to the UK; renowned violinist Nazrin Rashidova; members of the London-based Azerbaijani diaspora; international journalists; and those involved in the artistic and creative communities, including many members of the British public. Whilst exploring the artwork, the guests also enjoyed a variety of sweets and drinks sourced from Azerbaijan. The event was sponsored by The European Azerbaijan Society (TEAS), and formed part of celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of Azerbaijani independence, regained after the fall of the Soviet Union.

Sabina Rakcheyeva, Arts and Cultural Advisor, TEAS Advisory Board, commented: “One of the main objectives of TEAS is to promote Azerbaijani culture, art and artists to a multicultural London audience. TEAS is honoured to sponsor this showcase of works by Kabira Alieva. Kabira was born in Baku, capital of Azerbaijan, and held her first exhibition at the age of six years. One of her most recent commissions was a collection of drawings inspired by the tracks on UnVeiled, the inaugural CD by my Ensemble. I am delighted that these works form part of the exhibition.”

Kabira ranks amongst the foremost Azerbaijani artists, seamlessly integrating elements of her homeland’s culture in an homogenous, sweeping and individual manner. Entitled ZANN, the exhibition unites a collection of artworks, serving to visually engage, educate, introduce and explore Azerbaijani identity.

Kabira’s work is charged with an ethnic undercurrent of stylised dynamic imagery, together with the vibrant play of line, colour and texture. Paintings breathe with soul and messages, either the artist’s, or of something bigger and more powerful. Relief surface textures tease the viewer with tactile sensations for the eyes, enhancing engagement with the energy and meaning of the work.

ZANN or ‘zənn’ is a word sometimes used in the Azerbaijani language, but is arguably derived from Arabic. Although generally used to signify ‘an inkling’, ‘guess’, or ‘presumption’, interestingly the Qu’ran describes it as a presumption of truth in a charge, although the evidence does not necessarily amount to conviction. Entitling this exhibition ZANN is a mild experiment: it is meant to evoke thought and enquiry, challenging the viewer to draw meaning from the works that they see, given enough visual evidence or not, thus sometimes resorting to their soulful inner selves. It is an experiment to see what ‘presumptions’ the British public will derive from this ‘visiting’ artwork, and how Azerbaijanis living far from their home country will reconnect with anything visually or emotionally familiar.