30 September – 1 December, Exhibition Hall, Nukus City
Solo exhibition of artist Bazarbai Serekeev, laureate of the Berdakh State Award, Honored Artist of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, holder of the Friendship Order state award and the Gold and Silver medals of the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan, and member of the Artists Union of Uzbekistan, marking his 70th anniversary displayed more than 80 of his works created in different years, on different themes and subjects and in different genres.
The works by Serekeev show pictures of his homeland, the Aral Sea, good and noble people, the rich culture of the Karakalpak people, and generous gifts of nature. The artist is a master of still-life; “Still-life with Milk”, “Sunflowers”, “Still-life with Pumpkins”, and “Still-life with Jugs” reflect the richness of his native country. The artist’s landscapes are filled with elation about surrounding nature: “Mountain Landscape”, “Muinak”, “River Banks”, “In the Field”, “Evening on the Amu-Darya”, etc. Thematic compositions displayed at the exhibition reflect the artist’s winged sentiments and his philosophical conceptualization of events: “Telling the Tale”, “Humans and Birds”, “Young Family”, “Shepherd and Springtime”, etc.
4 October, the Ikuo Hirayama International Caravanserai of Culture of the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan
Supported by the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan, the International Caravanserai of Culture, and a Tashkent-based “Great Silk Road Tourism” company, eleven members of Korea’s Professional Artists Association presented over 60 works to the Tashkent audiences. Themes of their paintings were very different: realistic natural landscapes of Korea, still-life, animals of Asia, and compositions with dominating bright, saturated colour palette.
25 October, ã. Riga (Latvia)
“Uzbekistan, My Homeland” exhibition organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan with support from the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan, running during the Uzbekistan Culture Days in the Latvian capital, displayed works of art which reflected a broad spectrum of creative aspirations of Uzbek artists and continuously renewing artistic process in contemporary fine art and traditional arts and crafts of the country.
Painting of Uzbekistan was represented by the works of renowned artists such as A. Nur, F. Ahmadaliev, B. Jalalov, B. Ismailov, I. Shin, et al.; different kinds of applied arts and crafts based on centuries-old traditions were demonstrated by contemporary Tashkent masters of carving and painting on wood; suzane embroidery was presented by women-masters from Tashkent and Bukhara; ceramics – by masters from Rishtan and Gijduvan; adras textiles and handmade silk – by experts from Marghilan. The arts and crafts section was supplemented by colourful scrolls with photo-collages telling about different applied art forms in Uzbekistan, also showing portraits of traditional craftsmen.
6-20 November, Central Exhibition Hall of the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan
Solo exhibition of sculptor and ceramicist Ludwiga Nesterovich featured more than 70 items created over several decades. Range of material she uses is great: clay, chamotte, semi-precious stones. “Material created by nature is a piece of art by itself, for it has beautifully and naturally chosen colours and textures”, the master says.
The art of Nesterovich has several thematic areas. The first is animalistic genre as an inexhaustible source of inspiration and imagination; secondly, there are portraits created in different styles. Particularly interesting is her composition called “Socium” reflecting different human characters. The author also turns to nature and environment. And finally, the area of experiment, emotion and contemplation of line, shape and texture. Creating her works and highlighting the key idea, the author turns the cold and hard stone into characters with humour, irony and kindness.
8-20 November, Central Exhibition Hall of the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan
Svetlana Tsoi exhibited her 40 works created over the past few years. Easel paintings such as portraits, landscapes and still-life compositions, decorative collages, elegant floral designs are filled with romanticism and lyrical sentiments. Her quiet and tender love of nature is combined with powerful inner energy and radiance.
11-18 November, the Tashkent House of Photography
Photo exhibition marking the 20th anniversary since the founding of the Slovak Republic and the 20th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and Slovakia, was organized by the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan with support from the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Photographs displayed on the fifteen stands in the THP introduced the audience to the attainments made during the country’s modern history, and to its national traditions and rich cultural and historical heritage. Visitors could see the pictures of natural scenery, ancient castles, and Christian temples, some of them being the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
12 November, the Behzad Memorial Garden-Museum
The exhibition of Abdukhakim Karimov and his students presented more than 100 paintings and miniatures, demonstrating a synthesis of tradition and new means of artistic expression characteristic of contemporary miniature painting. Karimov’s works are known for their distinct elegance of drawing and attention to the smallest detail in the ornament and background. Human and animal shapes show plasticity and expression. The master sourced his subjects from the works of the great poets of the past, such as Navoi, Jami, Nizami, and Omar Khayyam, as well as of contemporary authors. Karimov’s followers are his daughter Nozima, son Qayum Mukhiddin, and student Rikhsillah Rakhmonov.
15 November, the Ikuo Hirayama International Caravanserai of Culture of the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan
Presentation of a book by N. Normatov and M. Bobokulov, “Spiritual Origins of Pashkurd”, and a demonstration of the eponymous documentary film directed by Avaz Bokiev based on Normatov’s screenplay that first took place in Pashkurd village, and an exhibition of 80 photographs taken by Normatov aroused great interest among the Tashkent audiences.
Normatov is known as an art critic, writer and photo artists. His essay-novel “The Last Will of Ruzy Charyev”, novel “Barigal”, “The Stories of Kuhitang”, short stories “Blue Nuts”, “Birds over a Ravine”, and “A House Where Rainbow Lives” have already gained readers’ recognition. Normatov’s screenplay for the “Mirror of Love” film in the “Full Text” nomination was rated by an international jury as the best scenario inspired by myths, fairy tales and heroic epics of Central Asia and the Republic of Korea.
23 November, Central Exhibition Hall of the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan
Republican art exhibition called “Sarchashma”, the product of a ten-year work of a team of Uzbek open air artists, was dedicated to the Constitution Day of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The name “Sarchashma” (water spring) reveals the essence of the group’s art: the source of searching, inspiration, and discoveries. The group comprises artists of different generations and different pursuits: Kudrat Azhimetov, Akmal Nur, Faizulla Ahmadaliev, Hikmat Jalilov, Nuriddin Kalanov, Nabi Mamadiev, Hakim Mirzakhmedov, Anvar Mirsoatov, Abdusamat Saidberdiev, Muhammadiyor Tashmuradov, Dilyor Imamov, Lyubov Semizorova, Obid Bkirov, Sobir Rakhmetov, Makhsud Kosimov, Alijon Rakhimov, and Nodir Abdullaev. The group is united by in-depth creative quest and aspiration for excellence. Besides, during every open air visit, the team is joined by artists from the provinces. The exhibition was visited by the residents of the Sarchashma mountain village, who arrived specifically to attend its opening ceremony.
28 November – 28 December, Fine Arts Gallery of Uzbekistan
Solo exhibition of Alisher Mirzaev (Mirzo), famous Uzbek artist, Academician of the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan and of the Russian Academy of Arts, People’s Artist of Uzbekistan, and the winner of the State Award of the Republic of Uzbekistan, displayed more than 100 works: paintings, drawings, pastels. It was pastel that exposed new dimensions in Mirzaev’s art and prompted him to create a somewhat different artistic representation of the world. Portraits, landscapes, still-life and genre paintings are created by the master on the basis of processing specific material drawn from the life of the people.
Enthusiasm for traditional ornamental art that contains not only profound philosophy, but also a fusion of rationality and poeticism, precise geometry and picturesqueness, is reflected in a peculiar combination of girikh mesh designs with islimi motives. Based on these principles Alisher Mirzaev, creator and experimenter, structures his compositions. And this is probably the most important thing in the work of a true artist.