In this three-channel video, trees are both trusted and protective protagonists. Radicals Between Trees and Dicks, the title of the installation, is the first artistic outcome of several years of research into queer cruising culture in Azerbaijan and some neighboring countries in the Caucasus region and Central Asia. The term “cruising” refers to the pursuit of sexual encounters between homosexual men in public spaces, such as parks, or discreetly designated private spaces. Over the past five years, Abdullayev has traveled and personally visited around thirty such sex spaces in the above-mentioned regions, documenting their own observations and recording the experiences of others in interviews, conversations and visual recordings. The research dealt with the various facets of cruising in profoundly repressive societies in which homosexuality is still highly taboo and people are exposed to severe discrimination and violence due to their sexual orientation.

"Voices from sexualized places" is a short film that delves into the intricate tapestry of queer cruising culture across Azerbaijan, Turkey, Georgia, and Kazakhstan. Inspired by the artist's ongoing research started in 2019, the film weaves together four unique perspectives, each offering a distinct and personal portrayal of the clandestine world of cruising.

A 14-minute short film explores the first days when the news of the 2017 anti-gay crackdown in Azerbaijan was broadcast. Through the eyes of queer couples, the film displays their struggle as stuck in the country without a chance to escape the homophobic attack of the government. They face a dark and mysterious figure clad in a striking gold cape - characterized as a guard of the queer people in Azerbaijan - who comes to guard them in their hour of vulnerability. The film employs poems as a poignant voiceover, effectively conveying the raw emotions of these individuals, their yearning for freedom, and the need for refuge from oppression.

Rewriting childhood (with Farhad Farzali)

Duo show at Gazelli Art House Baku

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Abdullayev uses the gallery’s exhibition space to create a dreamlike reimagining of his childhood bedroom. Using mythological creatures such as unicorns and mermaids, the artist plays his younger self: a young boy searching for ways to flourish in an often hostile neighbourhood and culture. Drawing from his personal experiences of growing up in a minuscule house amongst a family of five, Abdullayev will present an idyllic recreation of his actual childhood bedroom - a single bed located in their family kitchen - in which he lacked space to decorate with stickers, posters or memorabilia.

If sun sees you


Full HD, color and sound, 18 min
2021

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Inspired by Nizami's HAFT PAYKAR (7 Beauties) and set against the cultural backdrop of Azerbaijan, a poetic exploration of queerness unfolds. The film reimagines Nizami's original poem, infusing it with a modern twist that delves into the multifaceted realms of history, sexuality, architecture, and cultural commodification through a queer lens.

Allies wear a rainbow pin


Full HD, color and sound, 18 min
2021

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Examining queer allyship as a part of social responsibility and evolving into a post-discriminative future. The film reimagines azerifuturism within the dialogues of four friends, concerning a post-class privileges-based future. The film incorporates two dialogues accompanied by characters introduction in poetic language, which emphasize the concept of privilege in the first part, and discrimination in the second part attempting to find a balance in the form of allyship and refers to social and cultural codes of the local society.

PINK CITY in two parts, presents a vision of a utopian escape from societal violence and discrimination, offering a poignant commentary on the longing for a safe, inclusive world. They explore the concept of refuge as a physical space and a transformative experience that reshapes identity and community. The duology emphasizes the contrast between the cold, fear-driven environment of the outer world and the warm, nurturing embrace of the Pink City. Through powerful visual metaphors and emotional narratives, the films challenge viewers to reconsider the structures of their realities and how digital and personal spaces can be reimagined to offer true security and belonging. "Pink City I" and "Pink City II" are an evocative call to envision and create spaces where safety and freedom are aspirations and lived experiences for queer people from Azerbaijan.