At the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, Shirin Malikova, director of the Azerbaijan National Art Museum, gave an interview discussing how art reflects and shapes urban development. She cited historical examples such as Bernardo Bellotto's 18th-century vedute paintings, which were used to reconstruct Warsaw's historic center after WWII, and the Eiffel Tower, originally a temporary installation that became a permanent symbol of Paris. The museum also presented an exhibition at the forum focusing on Baku's transformation across different eras, highlighting how art captures the multilayered history and cultural identity of cities.
This matters because it positions art and museums as active contributors to sustainable urban development, a topic central to global policy discussions at WUF13. By demonstrating how historical artworks can inform urban reconstruction and how cultural heritage shapes city identity, the interview underscores the need to integrate cultural perspectives into urban planning. It also elevates the role of national museums in Azerbaijan as voices in international dialogues on urbanization and climate challenges.