Salakhov’s art has gained recognition not only in the Russian art scene, but also internationally. Aidan is a regular participant in major international art fairs and biennials, including the Venice Biennale of Contemporary Art (1991, 2011), the 2nd Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art (2007), etc. In her works, Salahova explores gender issues, female sexuality in the context of Islam,[2] contrasts between East and West, questions of prohibition, esotericism, and beauty. She is one of the most important artists on the contemporary Russian art scene and works with various media such as photography, sculpture, painting, and installations.
Aidan Salahova combines Eastern Islamic and Western feminist influences and blends her Azerbaijani background with her Eastern European upbringing. Her series “Persian Miniatures” explores female identity in an Islamic context.
Missing elements carry just as much weight as those that are visualized. Female figures are depicted delicately, while male presence is conspicuously absent. The drawings are flat and their motifs anonymous, making them appear interchangeable and representative.
Their execution is based on Persian miniatures, from which the series takes its name. The choice of this style is fitting, as Persian miniatures were historically private books that allowed artists to express themselves more freely than in more public murals.
Although these are usually executed in vivid, bold colors, Salahova’s miniatures are rather somber, as if they carry the power and weight of their motifs within them. Between the East and the West, matters of prohibition, esotericism, and beauty. She is one of the key artists on the contemporary Russian art scene working in various mediums, such as photography, sculpture, painting, and installations.
