Opening Performance directed by Katja Verheul (Performers: Quliyeva Aydan, Quliyeva Ismat, Liel Djalilova)

The performance is inspired by the magic of the public cleaning ladies who fearlessly cleanse the streets of the city with their brooms. They are equated with white witches who use their spells to keep the city from dark devastation. As if from another time, these enigmatic women stand in sharp contrast with the modern appearance of the city. They are sweeping the way with delicate but also determined movements, which in a few seconds becomes dusty again, reminding of poetic Sisyphus workers who have vainly committed themselves to social cleansing in a capitalist world.

July 18, 19:00
Performance “Awakening” by Rumiya Agayeva

The artist is interested in the universalistic tendencies of shamanism, she seeks commonalities in local culture with spiritual orientations such as the rituals of Sufi dervishes, Neopaganism and a modern revival of ancient religions of indigenous people of the Caucasus. The performance enacts the traditional practices of local people reflected in their folklore related to shamanism.

July 25, 19:00
Screening of the video “Origin” by Shalala Salamzadeh

The video work “Origin” reflects on the absence of bright female characters in Azerbaijani fairy tales telling the story of the goddess Humai. In ancient Azerbaijani mythology there is a legend about the world consisted only of endless seas and the goddess Humai in the form of a half-woman, half-bird. Contrary to the widespread beliefs of the anthropomorphic male creator, it was in Azerbaijani mythology that Humai was the creator of the earth, the world of flora and fauna. Another tradition glorifies the proud and strong spirit of the goddess, who, having flown around the entire globe, hiding her exhaustion, returns to the Supreme God, which strikes him with her steadfastness of spirit. References to the goddess Humai are also found in the works of the poet Nizami.

August 1, 19:00
Performance “Я у мамы мамочка“ (“My mother is the mother in me“) by Shahnas Aghayeva

Women pass genealogical information from each generation to the other generation, however, non-conformist behaviour of a woman in a family is absolutely not welcome and resistance is responded with aggression. The younger generation is obliged to continue the absurd comedy that has long been started. The concept of the performance “My mother is the mother in me” allegorically tries to show this absurdity with actresses who are obliged to continue to demand further in the future generation of  a stencilled behaviour.

August 8, 19:00
Performance directed by Elvin Mirzayev

The performance will enact the story of a drowned city told by the sea spirit. The spirit is represented by a woman who remembers the last day of Sabail city. While Sabail district is an ancient dwelling of Baku city, it was formed as an administrative territorial unit since 20s of the last century.  The district previously carried names such as "Bayil Bibi-Heybat", "Stalin" from 1931, "26 Baku Komissarlari" from 1960 and Sabail district since 29 April, 1992. Sabail is the name of a historical monument located 350 meter south-west of the coast of Baku bay. There are monuments dating back to the ancient age and medieval centuries in the territory of the district.

September 5, 19:00
Performance by Diana Hadjieva

Dihaj is an experimental doom pop project based in Baku, Azerbaijan. The artist associates the underwater motives with deep harmonies and mid low tempo. The performance will feature a half improvised one hour set which will combine acoustic drum sound with electronic kick, immersive guitar reefs and volumetric pads, breathy vocals would change for shamanic descants.

September 19, 19:00
Performance by Dance Ability Azerbaijan-Inclusive Dance Company

The performance explores how grand mothers behaviour and her story telling affects the life of her daughter as well as their mutual approaches to live. Some of the stories passed from one generation to the other might create fears, shaping the collective consciousness and creating new stories and lives of anxiety. The performance aims to visualize these stories that affect culture both in a negative and positive way.

September 26, 19:00
Videoscreening and Soundperformance of “Runanshah” by Farhad Farzaliyev

The artist will screen his work Runanshah which is a presentation of the results obtained so far in the author’s on-going investigation into the Runanshah – a fish-tailed being that, according to eyewitness reports, lives in the Caspian Sea. The roots of this story go back into mythology – to the bewitching images of mermaids in the fairy tales and myths of the Eastern Slays, as well as to the amphibious creatures of Mesopotamian folklore which were simultaneously akin to both people and fish. According to legend, these latter emerged from the waters to teach their skills and knowledge to the inhabitants of the land. After the presentation the artist will perform a sound set with  music related to the topic in a dolphin costume representing the figure of Runanshah.

September 29, 19:00
Closing performance “That's why I don't hang with cool kids” directed by Agil Abdullayev

That's why I don't hang with cool kids - is both sound and performance work that attempt to examine the relationship between local ravers and old traditional Karabakh sounds that always had an important place in local culture and stood out by its antiquity and originality. Since ancient times these sounds were used in public celebration and spiritual processions. Starting from the first half of the 19th century the performing artists evolved rapidly becoming famous whole Transcaucasia forming its inexhaustible school of folk and music talents. Agil has created a contemporary interpretation of the antique sounds, and constructs atmospheric sound environments with inhabited by groups of friends where they will take over space with performances that combine music, antiquity, westernized club scenes and choreographed gestures.