Sisyphus, Aesop and Oedipus ... Which Islam Karimov will stand in Tashkent centre?

27.04.2017 16:21 msk Politics Arts Uzbekistan

‘The main paradox of official monuments: pompously performed in granite and erected in the main squares they are less durable than ordinary decorative plastics in the depths of the park, which is destroyed by a sluggish time and not by impatient decisions of the milieu of the patriarchs.’ Art critic and expert of Central Asia Boris Chukhovich tells four paradoxical stories related to the competition on the monument to the first president of the country Islam Karimov that just ended in Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan: Events in Nukus or Celebrations behind Fences (+photo)

04.09.2015 11:18 msk Arts Russia Uzbekistan

The city of Nukus, Karakalpakstan, will host a centennial anniversary of late Igor Savitsky, the founder of the Karakalpak Museum of Arts on September 4. The event, however, could be marred with the presence of only half of the invitees: nearly all of the foreign diplomats accredited in Uzbekistan turned down the invitation to participate in the celebrations. While diplomats cite schedules and prior commitments, the well-known museum’s employees seem to know the real reason: the recent unexpected dismissal of Curator Marinika Babanazarova.

Uzbekistan: Museum director’s removal unwarranted and sinister!

02.09.2015 00:59 msk Analytics Human Rights Arts Central Asia Russia Uzbekistan

The director of the legendary Savitsky Art Museum in Nukus, Karakalpakstan, Marinika Babanazarova, was recently fired; no new director has been appointed yet. Ms Babanazarova’s colleagues and friends are collecting signatures and writing letters in protest to the government and president of Uzbekistan, demanding to resolve the problem and recall the order of her dismissal. Meanwhile, experts abroad are seriously concerned about the fate of a rich collection at the museum, which is now left exposed without that one person who has at the helms for 30 years and secured a globally renowned status for the museum.

Uzbek State Museum removes «Soviet Era» department

07.07.2015 12:00 msk Politics Arts Uzbekistan

There is a building in central Tashkent is known to every local and guest as well as other historical buildings around it: Navoi Theatre, Tashkent Hotel, the former Palace of Pioneers, the puppet theatre and the Sharq publishing house. The delicate concrete cube-shaped building is built on a higher location than adjacent buildings and features wide stairs. The Soviet authorities used the building as the centre for forced pilgrimage of middle and high school children as well as foreign delegations because this is where the memory of the chief of the global proletariat was honoured in those days. The Lenin Museum—the building in question—was constructed in 1970 to commemorate the centennial of the communist chief and existed under this name for just over 20 years before it was handed over to the State Museum of History of Uzbekistan after independence in 1991.

Uzbekistan: Non Format club photos censored (photo, video)

28.01.2014 10:18 msk Human Rights Arts Uzbekistan

The Non Format photographers club launched the Odno Prostranstvo (One Space) exhibition at the House of Photography in Tashkent on 25 Jan 2014. Initially, 12 photo-artists were to participate, but the works of two were prohibited from being displayed at the very last moment; a number of other artists’ works were partially covered with blank sheets of paper. Chairman of the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan Akmal Nur and Deputy Chairman Ravshan Mirtajiyev have personally censored said works.

Uzbek prisoned writers’ books issued in UK

17.01.2014 23:48 msk Arts Uzbekistan

Dance of devils – a new novel by Hamid Ismailov

10.07.2012 12:02 msk Arts Uzbekistan

A new novel by the contemporary Uzbek writer and poet Hamid Ismailov who lives in London today, is entitled “Zhinlar Basmi” (Dance of devils). It is a story of life of a prominent Uzbek writer Abdulla Qadyri, the author of historical novels "Days Bygone" and "Scorpion from the altar”, who was arrested and executed in October 1938. In the short interview for Fergana.ru, Hamid Ismailov talks about his new novel and shares details of its writing process.

“Oriental bazaar”: Rays of Eastern sun in cold Moscow

13.04.2011 11:38 msk Arts Russia

The first international exhibition and fair “Oriental bazaar” has brought together some of the most versatile handcrafts from the Central Asia, China, India, Japan, Northern Africa, south-East Asia, Turkey and Middle East at the “Flakon” design factory between the 8th and 10th of April.

Over 700 movies are prohibited in Uzbekistan

13.12.2010 19:08 msk Arts Uzbekistan

Ferghana learned that Uzbek film fans have no official opportunity to see many masterpieces of the world film art. The list of movies, prohibited by Uzbek state censorship, includes 740 films of local and foreign production, including "300 Spartans", "From Dusk till Dawn", "Borat", "Sex, Lies, and Videotape", "Antichrist"… "Policemen" popular Russian TV series and American "X Files" are also banned. "The black list" is published at the official website of Uzbekkino National agency; it is being frequently updated and reviewed. By the request of Ferghana the document was analyzed by Tashkent-based expert.

Come out of the shade. The photographers from Central Asia and Southern Caucasus are invited to participate in "Documentary photography"

03.11.2010 15:16 msk Arts Central Asia

Open Society Institute announced new project for the photographers from Central Asia, Afghanistan, Mongolia, Pakistan and South Caucasus. The photographers, selected as program finalists, will receive the grant in the amount of 3.5 thousand US dollars; in addition, they will be presented the equipment and software for creation of multimedia projects, led by worldwide known mentors (professional photographers). "Documentary photography" is interested in the projects, covering the rights and life conditions of people from Central Asia and South Caucasus. The details are available in Ferghana.Ru article as well as interview with Valery Kaliev, the funding recipient (2009) and photo correspondent of Karaganda-based Novyi Vestnik.

BBC World Service appoints Hamid Ismailov as Writer in Residence

30.04.2010 22:44 msk Arts Uzbekistan

Gwyneth Williams, Director BBC World Service English, today (April 30, 2010) announces the appointment of critically acclaimed Uzbek novelist and poet, Hamid Ismailov, as BBC World Service’s Writer in Residence. Over the course of the next two years, Hamid will be writing creatively about the news, issues that have dominated the world’s media and, occasionally, about day-to-day life at BBC World Service. Hamid, who now lives and works in London, is Head of the BBC World Service’s Central Asian Service, and will undertake the Writer in Residence duties alongside this position. Gwyneth says: «Hamid will make us laugh and sigh. His observations will surely reflect the unique perspective of the World Service, highlighting our shared humanity as we seek to understand unfolding global events.»

Uzbekistan: The criminal case has been filed against the photographer and documentary film maker Umida Akhmedova

17.12.2009 15:38 msk Arts Uzbekistan

The criminal case has been filed against prominent photographer and documentary film maker Umida Akhmedova in Tashkent. She is accused of slander and insult of Uzbek people. The reason for accusation became "Men and women: from dawn to dusk" album, produced in 2007 under the support of Swiss Embassy Gender Program. The album consists of over 100 pictures, reflecting various aspects of people’s lifestyle in Uzbekistan. "Where is the slander?" question, asked by Akhmedova, remained unanswered.

Uzbekistan: Film Industry Flourishes After a Decade of Post-Soviet Decline

12.10.2009 16:59 msk Arts Uzbekistan

Film industry is flourishing in Uzbekistan as low-budget movies starring famous singers and utilizing heart-wrenching plots are gaining popularity with the Uzbek audiences. However, widespread copyright piracy and shortage of investment remain major roadblocks for the industry’s development.

The Moon-Faced, a film by Nazym Abbasov, is conquering the world

23.06.2009 10:38 msk Arts Uzbekistan

The XVIII Asian, African, and Latin American Film Festival took place between June 9 and 16 in Innsbruck, Austria. Prominent Uzbek film director Nazym Abbasov presented his "Oidinoi" or "The Moon-Faced" there. The film won two awards. Abbasov himself was rewarded "For Contribution to the Festival". Marjona Shavkatova, 8, who starred in "Oidinoi" received a Special Prize. Here is an interview with Abbasov about the festival, his film, and his plans for the future.

Art photo in Uzbekistan: Negative outweighs positive

02.06.2009 10:02 msk Arts Uzbekistan

Photo festival "Edge of Ages" took place at the Metenkov's House (Museum of Photography) in Yekaterinburg on the eve of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit slated for June 15-16. Photos on display picture nature, culture, and everyday life in Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Russia, China). Five photographers form Tashkent and Bukhara represented Uzbekistan - Umida Akhmedova, Ernest Kurtveliyev, Leonid Kudreiko, Shavkat Boltayev, and Zilola Saidova. Ferghana.Ru correspondent approached them for comments on the state of affairs with photography in Uzbekistan.