The International Carpet Forum, held at the Baku Business Center, brought together around 200 distinguished professionals, experts, designers, manufacturers, and researchers from 11 countries to discuss both the enduring traditions and emerging innovations in the global carpet industry, Azernews reports.
As part of the International Carpet Festival, the event was co-organized by Azerkhalcha OJSC and the Administration of the Icherisheher State Historical-Architectural Reserve, with support from the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan and AZPROMO (Export and Investment Promotion Agency of Azerbaijan).
Participants and speakers hailed from Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tatarstan, Romania, Latvia, Iran, Japan, and the UK—underlining the global importance of carpet weaving as both an art form and an industry.
The forum was structured into five key sessions:
1. International Cooperation and Global Practices in Carpet Weaving
Speakers included Irina Koshoridze (Tbilisi State University, Georgia), Inese Baranovska (Museum of Decorative Arts and Design, Latvia), Linda Rosenthal-Rose (Liepaja Museum, Latvia), and Dr. Ajap Bayriyeva (Turkmenistan). Discussions focused on how nations collaborate and share best practices in the preservation and advancement of traditional carpet-making.
2. Cultural Connections and Evolving Traditions
This session featured insights from Sumiyo Okumura (Japan), Chinara Beksultanova (Kyrgyzstan), Stefano Ionescu (Romania), Lucy Upward (UK), and Karim Mirza (Iran). Speakers explored how cultural heritage and societal shifts have influenced design and production methods in carpet weaving.
3. Carpet Weaving and Contemporary Art
Panelists such as Olga Selezneva (Faig Ahmed Studio), artist Aydan Salahova, Alsu Miftakhova (Tatarstan’s Innovation Resource Center), and Saadat Alakbarova (Icherisheher Museum Center) examined the dynamic intersection between traditional craftsmanship and modern artistic expression.
4. The Relevance of Handwoven Carpets Today
Ayjan Bekkulova (Kazakhstan’s Artisans Union), Amina Malikova (Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum), Rena Nasirova-Mustafayeva (Icherisheher Reserve), and Professor Elmira Gül (Uzbekistan) addressed the value of handwoven carpets in contemporary settings and their cultural significance.
5. Innovative Approaches to Carpet Weaving
The final session focused on forward-looking practices in carpet production, featuring Azerbaijani artist Rashad Alakbarov and other notable figures who are pushing the boundaries of textile art through technology and design innovation.
The forum concluded with a lively Q&A session, enabling participants to exchange ideas and deepen collaboration across borders.
This international gathering underscored the vital role of cultural preservation, creative evolution, and cross-cultural partnerships in sustaining and revitalizing the ancient art of carpet weaving in the modern world.
