In Baku will construct a museum caliber Guggenheim Bilbao

ART investment.RU – 27.12.2009,11:30

Thomas KRENS
Source: artsjournal.com

KRENS hopes to establish in Baku tourist attraction like the Open , in 1997, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, famous not only for its superb collection, but its building, which many consider a masterpiece of modern architecture. Such projects can enhance the international prestige of the regions, whose image in the world media had been formed under the influence of most other factors - in this case, Azerbaijan's oil wealth and repressive government policies.

According to Aliyev's order, issued several years ago, in addition to the Museum of Modern Art, the capital should appear Independence Museum and the Museum of oil, and the Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Carpets should be repaired. All projects are implemented with the support of First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva. The President decided to reorganize the activities of museums in accordance with international standards on the basis of modern principles of museum management, and lead exposure "in line with the ideology of Azerbaijanism».

told the coordinator of architectural and design projects GCAM Robert McGarry (Robert McGarry), last April, Thomas KRENS arrived in Baku to discuss with Aliyev plans to build a "new museum's size and caliber Guggenheim Bilbao». Shortly KRENS again visited the Azerbaijani capital, this time with Jean Nouvel. The architect presented predeskizny building design, coordinated with officials, including President of the Union of Artists of Azerbaijan.

In an interview with "snob" KRENS said that he had not contacted officials from Azerbaijan Government, he could not imagine that the new mega-museum, he will build in Baku. "[Representatives of the Government] were so persistent that I could either ask them to never bother me, or carefully consider their proposal." KRENS chose the latter, and have not regretted - in his words, Ilham Aliyev, "a very clever man", whose concept of development "is that its support».

«Y [Azerbaijan] finally have the means to enter in a number of countries with developed economies - its just a huge oil reserves ", - said the museum community. As stated by the firm of Jean Nouvel, the designs of the Museum of Modern Art includes "symbols, reminiscent of oil».

While not reported, as the Azerbaijani authorities are planning to spend on a new museum. In his exposition, are likely to be dominated by works by artists from Azerbaijan and neighboring countries. Expected to place in the building of the museum and a restaurant overlooking the historic part of town.

KRENS Thomas resigned as director of the Guggenheim Foundation in 2008. He now works there as an adviser on international projects, most of which is construction of a branch in Abu Dhabi. GCAM company registered in the UK, and her office is located in New York. The main activities of the firm, as explained in an interview with "ArtChronika" its vice-president for International Development Nicholas Ilyin, are "advising on the construction and management of museums, as well as the formation of collections and investment funds associated with the art of different countries." Ilin is also a former member of the Guggenheim Foundation - he was director of corporate development in Europe and the Middle East.

GCAM The plans can be seen in search of interns at the website of the New York Foundation of the Arts: the company needed people who own Arabian, Spanish and Russian, and Asian languages. According to Robert McGarry, GCAM recently held talks with representatives of Kazakhstan and Libya.

article prepared by Julia Maksimova, AI

Source: artnews.com , anl.az/rp3.html , agitarch.livejournal.com , snob.ru , artchronika.ru , artinvestment.ru