Magzoid Magazine - Luxury Magazine in the Creative Space | July 2023 |

Orkhan Mammadov: Pioneering
the Fusion of Media Art and
Cultural Heritage
- Exclusive to Magzoid
Orkhan Mammadov, a trailblazing
media artist hailing from Ganja,
Azerbaijan, has emerged as a
leading figure in the international
art scene. With a remarkable debut representing
his home country at the prestigious
2019 Venice Biennale, Mammadov has captivated
audiences with his groundbreaking
approach. Harnessing the power of artificial
intelligence, machine learning, and cultural
heritage, he weaves intricate patterns and
carpet illustrations into captivating data
sculptures and paintings. Through his art,
Mammadov delves into the rapid and chaotic
technological changes of our global
context, reimagining Middle Eastern art
and cultural heritage in a thought-provoking
manner.
Mammadov’s creative prowess has
earned him recognition at various international
biennales, festivals, and fairs, including
Art Basel, Art Dubai, and the Venice
Biennale. His innovative works transcend
traditional boundaries, blurring the lines between
the virtual and real worlds. By exploring
the interplay between utopia and dystopia,
the body and technology, he invites
viewers to contemplate themes of alienation,
escapism, and cultural displacement.
Mammadov’s profound cultural commentary
highlights the significance of machine intelligence
in shaping and preserving cultural
heritage, sparking engaging conversations
and narratives.
Mammadov’s passion for digitalizing and
regenerating cultural heritage stems from
a deep personal interest. His spatial juxtapositions
serve as experimental grounds,
provoking questions about the intellectual,
emotional, and aesthetic implications of artificial
visual cultural artifacts. Through exten-
sive research-based practice, Mammadov’s
works eloquently showcase the importance
of traditions and history in appreciating and
safeguarding tangible and intangible heritage
assets from Azerbaijan and the Middle
East.
Internationally acclaimed for his cultural
data sculptures and dynamic carpet
installations, Mammadov explores the multifaceted
experiences of disaffected and
displaced cultures, intertwining fiction and
physicality. His creations forge a dialogue
between machine intelligence and cultural
heritage, stimulating profound reflections
on our shared human experience. Drawing
inspiration from Girih patterns and carpet
illustrations, he breathes life into countless
official and unofficial emblems that embody
the cultural heritage of the Middle East, offering
digital alternatives that transcend time
for future generations.
Orkhan Mammadov’s visionary talent and
fearless exploration of the intersection between
media art and cultural heritage have
positioned him as a pioneering force in the
art world. His thought-provoking artworks
challenge conventional notions, opening
new avenues for understanding and interpreting
our rapidly evolving contemporary
landscape. Through his creative endeavors,
Mammadov continues to leave an indelible
mark, offering fresh perspectives and reshaping
the boundaries of artistic expression.
One of his most influential projects The
Eastern Promises: Preserving Orientalist
Painting Through Data Science invites us to
consider the role of technology in art and the
ways in which it can be utilised to engage in
new forms of artistic expression. Art as a meta-discipline
is “an umbrella encompassing
history, philosophy, nature and science.” The
AI-powered paintings presented by Mammadov
offer a fresh and innovative take on a
timeless artistic tradition, provide a glimpse
into the future of art-making in the digital
age, and raise crucial questions about polarisation,
redefining our rapidly developing
world as well as exploring and preserving
the social and cultural heritage of humanity,
with its own intricacies, in a way that has yet
to be decoded by future generations.
- feature@magzoid.com
www.magzoid.com July 2023
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