On 21–22 May 2026, the international SAVA conference entitled “Solidarity with Nature: Rethinking the Ecological Heritage of World Socialism” was held at the Sainsbury Centre of the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom.

The conference focused on re-examining the ecological legacy of socialism through the lenses of art, culture, and alternative modes of thought. Discussions addressed environmental movements that emerged from the 1960s onward, nature conservation initiatives, and the role of art in these processes.

Shirin Melikova, Director of the Azerbaijan National Museum of Art and PhD in Art History, delivered a presentation entitled “Nonconformist Art in Azerbaijan and the Ecological Critique of Late Socialism.”

The presentation explored the impact of Soviet-era industrialization and the oil industry on Azerbaijani art, highlighting the ecological and philosophical dimensions inspired by the industrial landscape of the Absheron Peninsula. Through the works of Javad Mirjavadov, Tofig Javadov, Rasim Babayev, Ashraf Murad, and Gorkhmaz Efendiyev, the artistic interpretation of the relationship between nature, industry, and humanity was analyzed.

The presentation also emphasized the significance of the permanent exhibition “The Generation of the Sixties: Azerbaijani Art Beyond Conformism” at the Azerbaijan National Museum of Art.

The lecture attracted considerable interest from conference participants and generated an extensive exchange of ideas and discussions on the topic.