Atesh Hub SHIMMERING SYMBOLS In ancient Turkic mythological thought, the human and animal worlds were understood as integral parts of a shared worldview. Animals were perceived as ancestors, protectors, guides, and bearers of wisdom. This worldview has left its mark on Azerbaijani culture and continues to resonate through forms ranging from rock art and carpet ornaments to miniature painting and epic narratives. At the heart of the exhibition is the Caucasus Big Five - the Caucasian leopard, gazelle, grey wolf, brown bear, and golden eagle. They are not only rare representatives of the region’s biodiversity, but also archetypal and symbolic figures shaped by collective memory. Shimmering Symbols explores the transformation of these zoomorphic figures from ancient totemic beliefs into contemporary visual culture. Through new media and multidisciplinary practices, they are reconsidered in relation to contemporary ecological, cultural, and technological realities. Here, “shimmering” refers to the recurring appearance of symbols as contexts and meanings shift - revealing new interpretations and opening new paths. In this sense, animal figures are not merely traces of the past, but living and evolving cultural codes that continue to shape the present and point towards the future. The exhibition is mentored by Sabina Shikhlinskaya, founder of Atesh Hub, and curated by Mansura Mammadaliyeva. The exhibition features works by Sabir Abdullazade, Ramil Aliyev, Ilgar Aydin, Sabina Jafar, Riyad Huseynov, Emin Mathers, Maria Mozgovaya, Aliya The Mushroom, Tim Zaripov, and Alina Yusupova. Shimmering Symbols is part of Successors, a long-term art project that seeks to reinterpret cultural heritage through contemporary artistic practices, giving it new meanings and carrying it forward into new contexts and future generations. The Successors exhibition project is scheduled to be presented to the public in 2026–2027.