Muraqqa - Data Miniatures serves as a guide to the future, where history is not abandoned, but reenvisioned and given new life on displays, animated by the rhythms of silicon and code. This series ensures that miniatures, transcending temporal and geographical boundaries, continue to be celebrated across diverse civilisations, finding new relevance and meaning in our interconnected world. This project exemplifies art as a meta-disciplinea confluence of history, philosophy, nature, and science, showcasing the artists belief in the power of interdisciplinary connections. Mammadov's work, resonating with UNESCO's mission, stands as a testament to arts enduring capacity to foster cultural exchange and narrate history, inviting us to immerse ourselves in the shared heritage and enduring legacy of these miniature masterpieces.

Muraqqa: Data Miniatures

"Regal Quarters" illustrates a palace draped in twilight gold and sapphire, where discourse flows in an elegant dance of intellect and culture. Painting a digital fresco that fuses the noble architecture with the interlacing vines of human connection.

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Muraqqa - Data Miniatures is an anthology of 111 artworks, created by Orkhan Mammadov to mark his transition from computer scientist to renowned artist over a decade. Drawing from his early dreams of animating miniature characters and his pivotal role in representing Azerbaijan at the 2019 Venice Biennale, this series breathes life into ancient miniatures, re-envisioning them as living memories of humanity through the lens of advanced technology.

The collection reimagines traditional miniature painting, a genre that once offered glimpses into vast narratives within compact frames, paralleling ancient storyboards. It serves as a bridge to the digital age, transforming intricate data into visual tales that echo the miniatures' fusion of calligraphy and imagery. Mammadov's work is a testament to this synergy, melding the detail of miniatures with the clarity and insight of data visualisation.

Mammadovs foray into the realm of miniature painting reveals its 13th-century origins at the crossroads of Persian and Indian creativity, underscoring its pivotal role in cross-cultural exchange. His comprehensive analysis encompasses a vast dataset of miniatures from Azerbaijan, India, Iran, and Turkey, as well as treasures from the UNESCO-recognised St. Petersburg Muraqqa collection. These artworks, a showcase of the Mughal, Deccan, and Isfahan schools, created between the 16th and 18th centuries, intricately woven with scenes of royal life and Persian calligraphy, were once part of a looted treasure during Nadir Shahs invasion of India and later acquired for Tsar Nicholas II. This collection of 100 pieces embodies the transcultural spirit of miniature art and its enduring narrative of international exchangenow preserved at St. Petersburgs Institute of Oriental Manuscripts.

More info at https://orkhan.art