View of Baku from Kalemegdan

As we previously mentioned, our exceptionally talented scholarship holder, Marta Petrović, who is studying Concept and Character Design, has been provided with the necessary funds to acquire equipment and materials to create four paintings on the theme of friendship between Serbia, Azerbaijan, and our peoples. It is with great pleasure that we now share the result of Marta’s work, as well as her insights and reflections gained during the painting process.

We should note that Marta has never visited Azerbaijan, but upon coming to the premises of Azvirt in Belgrade, she had the opportunity to see images of Baku, which she then translated onto her canvas. We wish our dear Marta the best of luck and hope that Azerbaijan continues to inspire her in her artistic endeavors.

Below, we present Marta’s paintings and her thoughts.

“I would like to begin by saying that these works would not have come to life without the immense support of Mrs. Biserka and Esma. Their kind words encouraged me to believe more in myself and my talent. Throughout this project, I have learned a lot about myself and my process. This was my first time working on canvas. I was told that these paintings would be a gift to the association and to Mr. Kamil Aliyev, the Director General of Azvirt and a great supporter of all of SAKOM’s humanitarian initiatives. I took this task very seriously. I wanted the paintings to be worthy of such a purpose, so I started the first painting – View of Baku from Kalemegdan.

That’s why, in my opinion, it came out a bit rigid. I wasn’t as free with my brushstrokes because I was striving for perfection, which I still can’t achieve due to my inexperience. I expected too much of myself and was dissatisfied with my progress. However, when I began the second painting, I let go of the expectations and the idea of how the painting should look. I was able to free myself, and everything flowed much more easily. The colors are livelier, the strokes broader, and the overall impression is stronger. In the end, looking at both paintings, I realized that both are good because I gave my all. The feeling I had when I saw them framed was indescribable – I can’t even begin to express how happy I am that people like my work, let alone that they will be displayed. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and look forward to future collaborations. :)”