Delving into Azerbaijani Weaving by Unraveling, Melting, and Glitching Carpets
A carpet, for Azerbaijani artist Faig Ahmed, transcends its typical shape of a rectangle, square, or circle. It can overflow beyond those classic boundaries, pooling into thick puddles; it can unfurl into numerous layers of tufted threads; it can be disrupted with glitches, cascading like waves; and it can even form into a recycling symbol. Regardless of their shape, Ahmed’s carpets unmistakably reflect both creativity and ambition.
Most importantly, Ahmed’s work mirrors his cultural heritage. Azerbaijan is rich in its history of traditional carpets, which were recognized as a “Masterpiece of Intangible Heritage” by UNESCO in 2010. These carpets serve multiple purposes, from adorning homes to being crafted for medical reasons, weddings, childbirth, mourning ceremonies, and prayer, woven practices being deeply ingrained in community life and traditions. Baku, the capital, proudly hosts the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, showcasing carpets that date back to the 17th century. This profound heritage is what inspires Ahmed, who reinvents it through the stunning carpets he is recognized for.
In the past year, Ahmed has presented numerous rugs in galleries and museums globally. In January 2025, for instance, Sapar Contemporary in New York held The Knot, marking its third solo exhibition featuring the artist. Significantly, Black Knot was the centerpiece of the exhibition, showcasing a traditional wool and silk carpet that morphs into an enormous knot at its midpoint. In stark contrast to the vibrant colors and designs of the rest of the carpet, this knot is completely black. Its monumental presence appears to burden the remaining carpet, hinting at a tension between traditional and contemporary expressions of craft, effort, and history. This struggle between the past and the present is, predictably, another driving element behind Ahmed’s artistry.
Last year, at the Maraya Art Center in Sharjah, UAE, Ahmed explored further, examining the interplay of neuroscience and art. The exhibition titled Consciousness in Flux showcased a variety of carpets, including his 2024 creation Shirvanshah. The title evokes an ancient essence, referencing Shirvan, a historical region in Azerbaijan known for its famous poets such as Nizami Ganjavi in the 12th century. The carpet draws upon traditional regional patterns, yet, similar to Black Knot, its design rapidly dissolves at its midpoint. Here, the pattern appears to melt and drop tiny beads along the wall, which, although interrupted, brings forth a lyrical sense of continuity.
“Interestingly, despite the advancements in computer technology and modern abstract visuals, my carpets are crafted the same way as they were thousands of years ago,” Ahmed remarked in an interview with Metal Magazine. “The carpet is a language, a local traditional language.”
To discover more about the artist, visit Faig Ahmed’s website.