On November 18, “Azerkhalcha” OJSC, the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Albania, and Tirana Art Gallery, with the support of Tirana City Municipality, held a new exhibition of Azerbaijani carpets in Europe at Tirana Art Gallery. The exhibition commemorates the 15th anniversary of the inclusion of Azerbaijan’s traditional carpet weaving art in the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, achieved with the direct initiative and support of First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva.
On November 19, students from various art faculties attended meetings and master classes with Azerbaijani artists as part of the exhibition program.
The opening of the “May your hands remain well!” exhibition was attended by Albanian state officials, members of parliament, representatives of the diplomatic corps, media, scholars, artists, cultural figures, and members of Azerbaijani, Turkish, and other communities residing in Albania.
The exhibition features traditional carpets from the Karabakh, Guba, and Shirvan weaving schools, crafted in the workshops of “Azerkhalcha” OJSC, as well as works from special collections. These include:
– One carpet from the “44” collection by “Azerkhalcha” OJSC in collaboration with Rashad Alakbarov.
– Two carpets from the “Architect of Memory” and “Woman” collections with Aydan Salahova.
– One carpet from a joint project with Faig Ahmed.
– Three exclusive carpets from the “Pomegranate Symphony” collection with young artist Samira Allahverdiyeva.
– Two carpets, “Nakhchivan” and “Qarabagh”, by Rufat Ismayil in collaboration with “AFFFAIR.”
– Two carpets by Albanian artist Xhevahir Kolgji, whose works blend Eastern and Western styles.
The exhibition was officially opened by Azerbaijani Ambassador to Albania Anar Huseynov, who highlighted the historical significance of carpet weaving as a vivid example of Azerbaijan’s rich cultural heritage and the state’s ongoing support for its development. The ambassador emphasized that the exhibition aims to convey Azerbaijani culture and heritage to local residents through art. The two-month exhibition will foster cultural ties between Azerbaijan and Albania, and he thanked the Tirana Municipality for facilitating the event.
Emin Mammadov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of “Azerkhalcha” OJSC and Honored Artist, congratulated attendees on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of Victory Day on November 8 and spoke about the organization’s history. He underscored that the main goal of “Azerkhalcha” OJSC is to preserve and further develop the tradition of carpet weaving, a key branch of Azerbaijani folk-applied art. He also presented details about the history of the carpets on display and the future plans of the organization.
The event continued with speeches by Edith Pula, Director of Tirana Art Gallery, and Besart Kadia, Ambassador Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Albania to Azerbaijan, who had returned to Albania for the exhibition.
To promote Azerbaijani carpet art globally and preserve the national spiritual heritage while adapting it to the modern era, the “Qarabakh” and “Nakhchivan” carpets from the joint “A New Look at Cultural Heritage” collection by “Azerkhalcha” OJSC and “AFFFAIR” were donated to Tirana Art Gallery by PASHA Holding and PASHA Bank. These carpets will remain part of the gallery’s permanent collection. Additionally, another “Nakhchivan” carpet was presented by PASHA Holding to the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a gift.
Visitors to the exhibition also experienced live carpet weaving demonstrations and master classes, allowing them to create their own loops. Participants received a special certificate from “Azerkhalcha” OJSC recognizing their involvement in the weaving process.
The exhibition will run until January 20, 2026.