All images courtesy of Sapar Contemporary, shared with permission
Azerbaijani artist () has amassed a staggering archive of sculptural carpets that blur the boundaries of digital distortion and traditional craft techniques. Often monumental in scale, his fringed rugs are woven with classic, ornate patterns on top before they billow into a pool of glitches and skewed motifs.
Ahmed weaves conceptual and historical relevances into his most recent trio, which is on view as part of his solo show PIR at New York’s through January 6, 2022. Each piece draws its name from a spiritual leader who profoundly impacted Azerbaijani culture, including Shams Tabrizi, Yahya al-Shirvani al-Bakuvi, and Nizami Ganjavi. The carpet inspired by Tabrizi, who was Rumi’s mentor, for example, “gradually dissolve(s) into a black woolen space of nothingness, much like the final stages of a mystic’s spiritual journey: annihilation (fana’) of one’s individual ego within the divine presence, like the flame of a candle in the presence of the sun.”
Visit to see behind-the-scenes photos of his process and to explore a larger collection of his fiber-based sculptures.
“Yahya al-Shirvani al-Bakuvi”
“Nizami Ganjavi” (2021), handmade wool carpet
“Shams Tabrizi”
Detail of “Nizami Ganjavi” (2021), handmade wool carpet
“Yahya al-Shirvani al-Bakuvi”