Shahnaz AghayevaReflection (2023)

In this composition, the cow – a recurring figure central to the visual dialogue of the series – commands the scene with a dominant presence. Her gaze is steady and direct, meeting the viewer with silent wisdom, a kind of innate knowledge of being. Framing her head is a handcrafted decoration, a subtle emblem of Aysel’s love and care. It stands as a silent marker of the woman’s off-frame presence, her enduring engagement in the life of the animal. This portrait becomes a metaphor for a woman’s unfading longing to feel needed, to feel seen. The cow for Aysel is a spiritual companion – profoundly close to the woman’s sense of self and her understanding of existence.