Office of Western Azerbaijan Community now on street named after artistic icon Mirza Gadim Irevani

A street in the heart of Baku, home to the Western Azerbaijan Community (WAC) office, has been named in honor of Mirza Gadim Irevani, the renowned 19th-century master of ornamentation and portraiture, and the pioneering force behind easel painting in Azerbaijan.

This honor was revealed by the WAC, highlighting the significance of the city’s decision to immortalize the name of this extraordinary artist, Caliber.Az reports citing the community.

By naming this central street after Irevani, Baku has not only paid tribute to the man whose art captured the essence of Azerbaijani culture but also underscored his connection to Irevan, a city once at the heart of Western Azerbaijan’s rich cultural landscape. Irevan, now part of Armenia, was historically one of the key artistic centers for the Azerbaijani people, and this street renaming serves as a bridge to that lost heritage.

The WAC pointed out that, much like many other cultural treasures from Western Azerbaijan, Irevani’s masterpieces were tragically destroyed during the violence and looting committed by Armenia in the years 1918-1920, further erasing the region’s rich history.

The Western Azerbaijan Community expressed profound gratitude to Azerbaijan’s President, Ilham Aliyev, for his steadfast commitment to preserving the legacy of Mirza Gadim Irevani and for championing the cultural heritage of Western Azerbaijan. His unwavering support continues to fuel efforts to keep this artistic legacy alive for future generations.

By Tamilla Hasanova