At YARAT Contemporary Art Space, Rasulov takes Qurban Bayram as the departure point for his show – a major Islamic holiday that entails the slaughter of an animal in a ‘festival of sacrifice’. Symbolic of Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience of God, the animal was traditionally shared between relatives, the home, and those in need. However, in recent times this offering has developed into an indicator of status and wealth. In his new film Yuxularin Yuxusu (Dream of Dreams), Rasulov creates a dramatic, comedic narrative set within a hospital room. Two doctors can be seen talking whilst dissecting a clothed sheep for the festival, in which they intermingle an abundance of jewellery with its entrails; at once darkly humorous and ironic, the scene highlights the absurd materiality that has come to be associated with the event.

Rasulov further expands upon this film in the form of an installation. Various props, such as clothing, gold trinkets and medical equipment, are positioned on and around an operating table. Here, the viewer is once again confronted with this surreal and grotesque scenario. Other works also see the artist dissect typical customs from a subversive, witty viewpoint; for example, taking a style of kebab-skewer that is common in Baku, Rasulov forms a large-scale, geometric installation which occupies one of the gallery walls. In repurposing common objects and narratives, the artist encourages the re-evaluation of tradition in light of contemporary realities.

Completing the exhibition, Rasulov presents a selection of new, large-scale paintings. Taking an illustrative approach, the works depict a carnivalesque Qurban Bayram. A crowd can be seen gathered around the sacrificial sheep during the traditional ceremony, as suited figures behead the animal; satirizing the scene by caricaturising each person, the artist highlights the surrealist elements of this sacred festival.