'Where the East Meets the West' Exhibition

Ambassador
Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen:


It is a great pleasure to welcome you to the Palais des Nations this evening on the occasion of the opening of the exhibition entitled “Where the East meets the West”. May I take this opportunity to thank Ambassador Amirbayov and the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Azerbaijan for their continued contribution to the cultural activities programme at the United Nations Office at Geneva. We also appreciate the presence of the artist himself, Mr. Ashraf Heybatov amongst us this evening.

Ladies and Gentlemen

As one of the oldest spots of civilization and with its rich history spanning over thousands of years, Azerbaijan has its roots in both Asian and European cultures – in east and west – which has contributed to the richness and diversity of Azerbaijani cultural heritage. The beautiful paintings this evening pay homage to this rich cultural legacy.

For me the title of this exhibition depicts the confluence of continents, peoples, cultures and traditions. This does not mean giving up one’s own cultural legacy but rather recognizing and respecting the richness of those that are different from ours. It may be between east and west or north and south, which in themselves consist of countries with a multitude of cultural backgrounds and identities. However, more importantly, it represents the meeting of the minds, a common vision and shared objectives, which require – despite differences or initial pre-conceptions – learning to respect and appreciate each other regardless of where one is from. The United Nations encompasses diverse cultures represented by 191 Member States, which can lead to sometimes differing views and opinions in deliberations. However, by recognizing that our shared challenges require common responses and that collectively we are stronger than we are individually, we can tear down the curtain of misconception and misinterpretation and act in unison to achieve global objectives.

Ladies and Gentlemen

The universal language of the arts is an indispensable instrument in bridging the divide that may exist between countries, continents or peoples. The richness and colorful exuberance of Ashraf Heybatov’s paintings embody the multitude of cultures and traditions that exemplify both east and west. Some believe that art imitates life and others that life imitates art. Despite the contrast and contradictions that may exist in Heybatov’s subject matters, they are able to cohabit on the same canvas and produce something beautiful as well as complex and thought provoking. For this reason, this evening I choose to belong to the latter school of thought with a view that life can imitate art and that we can cohabit by building a culture of peace and mutual respect. I wish you an enjoyable evening.

Thank you very much.