Bjorn Geldhof, a key figure at the Pinchuk Art Centre in Kiev, has been appointed as the artistic and strategic director of Yarat Contemporary Art Space, a non-profit organisation based in Baku, Azerbaijan. Geldhof, who is now based in Baku, will juggle his current role of deputy artistic director in Kiev with his new post until the end of the year.
A spokesman for the Pinchuk Art Centre, which was founded by the Ukrainian billionaire Victor Pinchuk in 2006, says: “Geldhof has been part of the Pinchuk Art Centre team for almost six years. He will combine both positions in Baku and Kiev until the end of 2015. He remains responsible for the exhibition and educational programmes at the Pinchuk Art Centre.” Meanwhile, he will oversee the future development of Yarat, a press statement says.
Geldhof organised a group exhibition of emerging artists for the Pinchuk-backed Ukrainian pavilion at the 2015 Venice Biennale. He was also instrumental in developing the Future Generation Art Prize, established by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation in 2009.
Yarat Contemporary Art Space opened its first permanent space in March in a former Soviet-era naval building in Baku, the capital of oil-rich Azerbaijan. The inaugural show, Making Histories (until 1 October), features works by more than 20 artists.
Aida Mahmudova, an artist, arts patron and niece of the country’s first lady, Mehriban Aliyeva, established Yarat in 2011. The non-profit space is making its presence felt at contemporary art events worldwide. It launched a collateral exhibition at this year’s Venice Biennale at the Palazzo Barbaro (until 22 November), entitled The Union of Fire and Water, with works by Almagul Menlibayeva and Rashad Alakbarov.
A portion of Yarat’s annual budget funds acquisitions and commissions. Its main funding comes from corporate sponsors, individual donors and part of the proceeds from works sold by the Yay Gallery in Baku, which is run as a social enterprise.
