MAMA "Mother Nature" international art exhibition opens in Madrid

The international MAMA “Mother Nature” art exhibition has opened at the Pons Foundation in Madrid, bringing together contemporary artists from Azerbaijan, Spain, Italy, Latvia, Ukraine, Georgia, the United Kingdom, Germany and other countries.

The opening ceremony was attended by Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and founder of the IDEA Public Association; Arzu Aliyeva; members of the diplomatic corps accredited in Spain; representatives of the arts community; and local residents, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

Conceived by Leyla Aliyeva, the MAMA “Mother Nature” project brings together artists from different countries and cultures to highlight the connection between people and nature and raise awareness of environmental protection.

The project was first presented in 2024 at the Heydar Aliyev Centre in Baku as part of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29). It later became an international exhibition and was presented in Manama, Rome, London, Tbilisi, Berlin, Tirana, Geneva and Riga.

The Madrid exhibition is being organised jointly by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Azerbaijani Embassy in Spain.

Speaking at the opening, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Spain Ramiz Hasanov described MAMA “Mother Nature” as an international artistic initiative exploring the connection between art and humanity and drawing attention to contemporary environmental challenges.

Hasanov thanked Leyla Aliyeva for bringing the exhibition to Madrid and expressed hope that it would not only generate greater interest in art but also encourage visitors to take greater responsibility for protecting the environment.

Luis Fonseca Sánchez, Head of the Directorate-General for North America, Eastern Europe, Asia and the Pacific at Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Union and Cooperation, highlighted Spain’s traditions in art, creativity and culture, saying these provide opportunities for dialogue and cooperation with partners such as Azerbaijan.

He also noted that Spain has some of the most extensive protected natural areas in Europe, which are accessible to thousands of visitors and reflect growing public awareness of the importance of protecting ecosystems and biodiversity.

Speaking about the project, Leyla Aliyeva recalled that MAMA was first showcased in Baku during COP29 and has since been presented in countries around the world, carrying a message about nature, the environment and the shared future of humanity.

“Nature is our mother. She provides us with earth, water and air. However, despite all this, we humans continue to harm these gifts bestowed by nature. This exhibition is another step towards a better future,” Aliyeva said.

The exhibition will be open to visitors from September 9 to 18.

By Sabina Mammadli