4 July – 10 August, CEH
Exhibition-performance of Normurod Negmatov, Sculpture Department graduate of the Behzad National Institute of Arts and Design, presented to the audience and the competent jury panel his graduation work titled “The Birth of the Truth”. Profoundly philosophical theme that preoccupied many generations of artists with its “anguishes and delights” appeared as an unusual ensemble of painting, sculpture, drawing, music, and pantomime theatre. The entire composition represents a kind of a symbolic image of the birth of Truth, where every element is loaded with meaning.
The one-man-show staged by the author himself, as well as music also written by him, intensify and focus the viewer’s experience. The evolution of Normurod Negmatov’s professional mastery was strongly influenced by the renowned sculptor Azamat Hatamov.
15-25 July, THP
Photo exhibition, “France through the Eyes of Uzbek Photographers”, displayed over a hundred works by Vladimir Schlosberg made in Paris in 1997-1999. His skill of a professional photographer in working with light, colour and exposure enabled the author to create a beautiful, multi-faceted and memorable image of the capital of France. The audiences could see not only romantic and somewhat sentimental Paris, a dream city, but also the city that was rapidly developing, modern and harmonious..
24 July – 18 August, THP
Exhibition of paintings by the renowned Latvian artist Valdis Bushs was organized by the Latvian Embassy in Uzbekistan, the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan, and the Tashkent House of Photography. The exhibition marking the artist’s 90th anniversary presented 30 of his paintings, the main theme of which was landscape, Bushs’ favourite genre. Nature scenery of Latvia, his homeland, provided an inexhaustible source of ideas he drew from throughout his career. Landscapes of the master are devoid of photographic accuracy; important in them is the mood and the captured emotional moment. Elements of nature are reflected in paintings filled with light and colour (“Vicinage of the Woods” (1979); “The Sun in the Sea” (2011); “The Power of the Earth” (1983), “Country Road” (2000)). Valdis Bushs paints in expressive sweeping strokes using brush and palette-knife.
8 August – 15 September, the Behzad Memorial Park Museum of the AAUz
Solo exhibition of Shahlo Kurbanova was dedicated to the Healthy Child Year. The exposition includes over 70 paintings, drawings and costumes sketches. Particularly interesting was her drawing series featuring original solution and historical authenticity of the Surkhandarya costumes. Her abstract painting communicates emotional state of the artist who looks at the world through the prism of shifted colours, while her graphic art is performed in different styles, reflecting the bright and dark sides of life.
Kurbanova was a regular participant of national and international exhibitions, including the Navkiron Uzbekiston and the 2013 Tashkent International Biennale. In 2001 Kurbanova became the winner of an art contest held at the American Embassy in Tashkent. In 2002 she placed third in a UNFPA contest; she was also a laureate of the 2003 WINROCK International. Between 2001 and 2003 Shahlo Kurbanova cooperated with the Mukimi Musical Drama and Comedy Theatre, where she designed costumes for the Ayol Kalbi, Bobur Soghinchi, Dodaghinam, and Super Kaynona 2 productions.
19 August, THP
Reporting exhibition of the 16th graduation round of the Art Photography Studio under the Tashkent House of Photography of the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan, led by professional photography masters Iskander Sadikov, Rustam Sharipov, Mikhail Levkovich, and Hassan Faiziev, was dedicated to the Healthy Child Year. The exhibition displayed 150 works by 13 authors who tried their skill in different genres: street photography, art portrait, social photography, landscape, still-life, reportage photography, etc.
Although most graduates were the first-time exhibitors, their works were of a distinctly high-quality workmanship. The authors presenting their works for the exhibition were Dilshod Nazarov, Almira Mustafina, Farhad Mustafin, Dinara Sultanov, Olga Devyatiyarova, Sabohat Tashpulatova, Diana Mindubaeva, Slava Ogai, Babur Norov, Sirajiddin Najimov, Adelia Suyunova, Vitaly Karandaev, and Olga Karandaeva.
27 August – 27 September, FAGU
“Faces of Inspiration” exhibition marked the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Fine Arts Gallery of Uzbekistan. The Gallery’s key asset is the art collection of the National Ex-Im Bank of Uzbekistan started in 1994. Presently, the Gallery keeps paintings, drawings and sculpture created in Uzbekistan during independence. At the same time, the collectors focus a lot on the heritage of the 20th century at large.
The exhibition displayed about 200 paintings, 40 drawings, 20 sculptures, 5 works of Contemporary art, and the works of young students training at the children’s studio of the NBU Gallery.
28 August, THP
The exhibition titled “Uzbekistan, My Love, My Dear Homeland” was dedicated to the 23rd anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan. It presented the works of the country’s reputable photographers and photojournalists and of their younger colleagues. They are: Abdugani Jumaev, Rustam Sharipov, Vladimir Schlossberg, Husniddin Ato, Vladimir Sokolov, Hassan Paidoev, Konstantin Minaichenko, Mikhail Levkovich, Aleksei Papov, and Madina Shukurova. The photographers captured positive changes happening in Uzbekistan, the transformed look of its cities and villages, as well as attainments in sectors such as health care, science, culture, arts and sports. The key theme of the works is peace and tranquillity in the land – a pledge of happy life of the people.
28 August, the Ikuo Hirayama International Caravanserai of Culture of the AAUz
The “Masterpieces of the Chasing Art” exhibition showing items from the unique collection of Fakhriddin Abdujabbarov was dedicated to the 23rd anniversary of the country’s independence. It displayed items made of base metals: oftoba ablution jars, choydish tea pots, different miskosa bowls for sweets and fruit juices, mislagan serving trays, kuticha jewel-boxes, siyohdon inkwells, kalamdon pencil-boxes, isrikdon incense burners, lamps, candlesticks, etc. Masters from Bukhara, Samarqand, Khiva, Kokand, Ferghana, Shakhrisabz and other cities of Uzbekistan ornamented their copper-ware with embossing, engraving and openwork designs. Beautifully ornamented late 19th century vessels feature stylistic diversity and gorgeous finishing.