The Embassy of Latvia in Azerbaijan, in cooperation with the United Nations in Azerbaijan and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway in Ankara, organized the International Contemporary Art Project “O” on gender equality, as the continuation of the project “Maiden Tower. To be a woman.”

This year, the Project was dedicated to the UNSC Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, underlining women’s role for sustainable future. It brought together the international participants from different fields of culture to share their experiences on gender equality as well as to reflect on the pandemic and post conflict situations influencing on women lives through the contemporary art.

The concept of the Project is dedicated to Women — their lives, roles in society, entertainments and problems. In the Azerbaijani language, the definition of HE and SHE do not have a difference and are represented as “O”. Only in the context one can see which gender is meant. And this is very symbolic, since the essence of the topic of gender equality is based on gender unity and equality.

Each element of Project program “O” can be considered as a milestone of a new strategy to support and strengthen social integration through the arts and culture.

The Project program included the presentation “Queens without Kingdoms” by the international journalist and photographer Reza Deghati, screening of “Bille” movie with the participation of the film Director Ināra Kolmane, “Open doors” event for the public by the Honored Artist of Azerbaijan Irina Eldarova, first night of the performance “A drop of Sun, breath of Wind and a little bit love” by Director Tarlan Rasulov and a playwright Ismayil Iman at the Maksud Ibrahimbekov’s Creativity Centre; within the framework of the Public Diplomacy under the curatorship of the Honored Artist of Azerbaijan Sabina Shikhlinskaya International exhibition “O” was opened at the Modern Art Museum where participated the artists: Shahnaz Aghayeva (Azerbaijan/Turkey), Leyli Alekperova (Azerbaijan), Irina Eldarova (Azerbaijan), Farhad Nikfam (Azerbaijan), Teresa Puig (Norway), Vusal Rahim (Azerbaijan), Nils Skapāns (Latvia), Kārlis Vītols (Latvia); the International Conference “Women for sustainable tomorrow” was organized by the embassy of Latvia in the capacity of NATO CPE in Azerbaijan; meeting and discussion with Culturologist, PhD Rakhman Badalov, author of the the Book in 3 volumes: “Men and Women — endless transformation” (2019) was held.

The Embassy of Latvia is a leading Partner of the Project "O" in cooperation with the UN institutions-UN Women, UNDP, Modern Art Museum, TheLandmark Complex, Maksud Ibrahimayov Creativity Centre, Nizami Cinema and PlatformArt.