http://budrooo.com https://www.facebook.com/budrooo The city of Cannes on the French Riviera has been playing host to a special kind of guest -- the republic of Azerbaijan, sometimes referred to as the pearl of the Caucasus. Among the special events on offer was a special exhibition at the Gare Maritime entitled "Azerbaijan -- a country of traditions and future". "This exhibition is divided into three different parts -- from tradition and modernity. In the first part, we have carpets, traditional objects, musical instruments and ceramics, to help visitors better understand Azerbaijan's culture," says Nathanaël Becker, Azerbaidjan's Friends' Society. "Another part of the exhibition is a retrospective of the 12th century poet and philosopher Nizami Gandjavi, who greatly influenced the whole Caucasus region as well as Islam. There are elements that illustrate his poems and enable visitors to better understand what life was like in those times," says Becker. Another section is dedicated to the works of artists Khalida Safarova and Kamil Najafzade. "Another more modern part is dedicated to two painters who managed to cross the border during Soviet times, who travelled to France and were able to offer their vision of France through Azeri eyes in paintings they did between the Sixties and the Nineties," adds Becker. The exhibition is on at the Gare Maritime until the end of July. The Days of Azerbaijani Culture in Cannes ended with a fashion show by Italian designer Renato Balestra. "It was a very ambition collection because the aim was to show, through a fashion collection, the evolution of the Azeri woman from the rural era, through the changes in her clothing, up until the modern woman, who plays an important role in the country's history," said the designer. Based on Azerbaijani national dress, the show centred on three themes: the country's famous carpets, its fruit -- the pomegranate -- and fire, Azerbaijan's emblem. The event was also an opportunity for Azerbaijan to promote the first ever European Games, which it is set to host in the capital Baku next June.

• published: 16 Jul 2014
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