CHINGIZ: INSAN
March 17–October 4, 2022
YARAT Contemporary Art Space
Bayil District, National Flag Square
AZ AZ1003 Baku
Azerbaijan
Hours: Tuesday–Sunday 12–8pm
T +994 12 505 14 14
info@yarat.az
YARAT Contemporary Art Space presents two personal exhibitions: Panopticon by Belgian conceptual artist Michel François and INSAN (HUMAN) by Azerbaijani multidisciplinary artist CHINGIZ.
Panopticon: Frozen Moments Under A Cyclopic Gaze
Panopticon is constructed as a dialogue between a restrictive, human-made device and the natural elements surrounding it, symbolising our desire for freedom. The immersive installation is the result of the artist’s research residency in Baku and consists of a central piece of a surveillance tower that overlooks its surroundings with its cyclopic eye. The Panopticon observes everything and also reflects our presence as curious intruders or witnesses. François’ construction takes its inspiration from the architectural model of an institutional prison control system invented by social theorist and philosopher Jeremy Bentham in the 18th century. By replacing the round control room’s windows with mirrors, the artist reverses the strategic purpose of the tower. In this way, François’ work can be understood as a cynical critique of today’s society, contaminated by the abuse of controlling devices that steal and rob images of our private lives. The tower also reflects the objects that fill the setting around it. The rest of the sculptural interventions are presented as frozen moments on an abandoned filmset.
The exhibition is curated by Erich Weiss, a Belgian born artist/curator, based in Barcelona. At the moment he works as venue coordinator for documenta fifteen in Kassel.
INSAN (HUMAN) is an immersive project by CHINGIZ that shows different aspects of society through the prism of personal experience. A prototype artist’s studio and a live and continuously developing organism, the project represents an interactive exhibition interrogating the process of work. The main protagonist of the exhibition is the Individual that both lives and changes in tune with the times and their actions.
The artist uses sculptures and installations that serve as indicators of various situations to uncover this idea and show transformations, influences and side effects of the time. The exhibition focuses on the Individual and their surroundings, feelings, emotions, contrasts, and alternatives, highlighting the Individual’s core nature as a principal party to, and the driving force behind, all processes.
The exhibition is dedicated to CHINGIZ’s father Tofig Babayev, who has inspired the artist in the most important way.
The exhibition is curated by Farah Alakbarli.
