A Red Café: Where East Meets West

Zohrab Salam-zadeh is an artist who draws inspiration from art that has migrated from Asia to the East and reshaped itself within the cultural codes of each territory it has existed in - the miniatures. Zohrab’s works are proper artifacts of people who have faced cultural shifts in their countries with colonial backgrounds. As an Azerbaijani artist, he is deeply inspired by the historical transitions his country has undergone through the centuries. His works are reflections on heritage and personal identity, expressed through symbolic imagery and meticulously crafted details.

As Fora Gallery, we had the chance to talk with the artist and gain insight into his recent work, ‘Guests of a Red Café’.

Artist Talks:

I wanted to depict a time around the mid to late 19th century - a period of rapid industrial growth across parts of the Caucasus, when the oil industry was beginning to shape new economies. During that era, people began to accumulate wealth from oil, and European lifestyles started to influence the behavior of local people. Traditional garments were gradually replaced by Western-style suits among the upper class. However, key cultural elements - such as regional headwear like the “Bukhara” hat - remained, symbolizing a blend of heritage and modernity.

At the time, Paris was a powerful cultural magnet. The connection with the city was strong - many people traveled there for trade, education, and artistic inspiration. It was common to hear stories of individuals who returned home marrying abroad, bringing back the first automobiles, or replicating architectural styles they had seen in the French capital.

As a European hub, Paris had its own distinct lifestyle - including shared social habits like drinking alcohol, which contrasted with more conservative societies where such habits were still seen as taboo. In that sense, Paris often represented something aspirational, liberating, and modern.

To capture that moment in history, I painted a café setting. People are drinking champagne. Among them sit two figures clearly new to the scene - dressed in European manner, yet still wearing their traditional headwear. This detail was key for me: it speaks to identity, to the feeling of being somewhere new while still holding on to one’s roots.