Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 20 April 2024, the 60th Venice Biennale of Contemporary Art will open to the general public in Venice (Italy). “Foreigners Everywhere” is the theme announced by the curator of the 60th Venice Biennale, Adriano Pedrosa.
 
Today the official opening of the National Pavilion of Uzbekistan took place, which presents the exhibition “Don’t Miss the Cue”. The concept of the pavilion was created under the supervision of the Center for Contemporary Art in Tashkent. 

The project was created by Uzbek artist Aziza Kadiri, and the Tashkent group of artists Qizlar Collective is working with her to create an exhibition for the pavilion. The exhibition presents works made by hand by suzane master Madina Kasymbaeva based on Kadyri’s sketches. The central work is a theater curtain, also performed by Madina.
 
The exhibition Don’t Miss Your Exit explores themes of belonging and identity through the experiences of Central Asian women, exploring how they navigate and redefine themselves through the process of migration.

The concept of the exhibition project “Don’t miss your exit” is directly related to the stated theme of the biennale. Entering the pavilion, visitors go through a complex path of migration and transformation, rethinking their personal experience in the process of interacting with the installations. The exhibition creates a backstage theater atmosphere, inspired by the Houses of Culture that were located throughout Eurasia at the beginning of the 20th century.

The theatrical setting comes to life through installations based on designs for traditional costumes, complemented by audiovisual materials from the Qizlar Collective. The project focuses on women’s stories, collective practices and the complex relationship between the physical body and the world around it.

The exhibition also explores the interaction between technology and tradition. The hand embroidery “suzane”, characteristic of Uzbekistan, is reinterpreted using artificial technology. Recognizable suzani patterns in artificial intelligence processing completely lose their original appearance and are virtually impossible to identify. This combination not only reinterprets traditional patterns, but also highlights cultural changes in the modern world. Through this, visitors will be able to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of technology on culture and identity as they move through each installation, redefining their personal experiences in the process.
 
In 2024, for the first time, the Center for Contemporary Art in Tashkent acts as a curator.
 
Special support: Saida Mirziyoyeva, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan
 
Project manager: Gayane Umerova, Chairman of the Art and Culture Development Foundation of Uzbekistan
 
Curator: Center for Contemporary Art in Tashkent
 
Artist: Aziza Kadiri
 
Creative team: Qizlar Collective