Aidan Salakhova Maiden Tower Azerbaijan National Museum of Art October 30, 2026 – January 30, 2027 The opening ceremony of the solo exhibition Maiden Tower by renowned artist Aidan Salakhova will take place at the Azerbaijan National Museum of Art on October 30, 2026 at 18:00. It will be presented within the framework of the cultural festival Fly to Baku. Art Weekend. Sense the Future NOW, jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, and the Azerbaijan National Museum of Art. In Aidan Salakhova’s work, sculpture and painting stand out as the primary artistic disciplines. In the Maiden Tower project, linking these two art forms with the space, shapes the conceptual integrity of the exhibition. Together, the artworks and the exhibition space offer the viewer the opportunity to perceive the familiar cultural image on a different emotional and visual level. The project turns to the Maiden Tower - one of the key symbols of Azerbaijani culture - not only as an architectural monument but also as an icon associated with numerous legends and tales. The stories formed around this monument with a constant presence in the urban landscape of Baku, have been passed down from generation to generation, becoming an integral part of the collective memory and the city’s identity over time. The predetermined tragic ending of the legend of the Maiden Tower serves as the starting point for the artist’s project. Approaching a famous narrative from a different perspective, Aidan Salakhova poses a question: must this story necessarily end the way we know it? The artist presents a unique, personal interpretation of the legend through space, sculpture and painting. The Maiden Tower is transformed not only into an example of historical and architectural heritage but also into an artistic space where events can unfold in other ways. This approach makes it possible to look at the fate of the hero of the legend from a different perspective. The exhibition establishes a connection between the story inherited from the past and the perspective of the present.The artistic interpretation presented by the artist prompts the viewer not only to reflect on an alternative ending to the familiar legend, but also to reconsider our attitude to the stories preserved in our memories. Maiden Tower presents a reimagination of a figure that holds a special place in the memory of Azerbaijani culture in the context of contemporary art. The project focuses on the relationship between history, myth, memory, and modernity, showing us that the stories we inherit are not incapable of change, but can gain new perspectives and meanings over time. The exhibition will be open to visitors until January 30, 2027.