Uzbekistan Presents The Aural Sea at Venice Biennale

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan has announced the opening of its national pavilion at the 61st International Art Exhibition — the Venice Biennale.

The exhibition, titled “The Aural Sea” (“Navo dengiz”), is presented on the initiative of the Uzbekistan Culture and Arts Development Foundation and serves as an artistic exploration of the ecological and cultural transformations of the Aral Sea region.

The project is dedicated to interpreting the fate of the Aral Sea through the lens of mythology, memory, and artistic narrative. Its concept addresses issues of environmental change, collective memory, and the search for alternative visions of the future.

The curatorial team was formed from participants of the first program of the Bukhara Biennale Curatorial School, initiated by the Culture and Arts Development Foundation of Uzbekistan under the mentorship of Diana Campbell and the Delfina Foundation. The curatorial group includes Aziza Izamova, Sophie Mayuko Arni, Kamila Mukhitdinova, Nico San, and Thai Ha.

The exhibition features works by artists from Uzbekistan, Karakalpakstan, China, Vietnam, the United Kingdom, and Japan. The participants employ a wide range of artistic practices, from scientific modeling and textile art to craft traditions and folkloric interpretations.

The pavilion concept is inspired by the work of Karakalpak artist Allayar Dermenov, whose art focuses on the restoration of the Aral Sea and the relationship between humans and a changing natural landscape.

Organizers emphasize that the project views the Aral Sea region not only as an environmental disaster zone but also as a space of cultural memory, artistic reflection, and the formation of new visions of the future.

The scenography and architectural design of the pavilion are being developed by young architects and students from leading institutions, including the Tashkent Institute of Architecture and Civil Engineering and Ajou University in Tashkent, in collaboration with the international architectural group GRACE.

Uzbekistan’s participation in the Venice Biennale marks its sixth appearance and continues a long-term program by the Culture and Arts Development Foundation to support cultural initiatives in the Aral Sea region. This includes projects such as the Aral Culture Summit and Aral School, aimed at fostering interdisciplinary dialogue, educational programs, and sustainable cultural infrastructure.

It is noted that the pavilion concept reflects the strategic direction promoted under the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, aimed at supporting culture and the arts, preserving national heritage, and expanding international cultural cooperation.

The “The Aural Sea” project seeks to present to the international community an artistic interpretation of ecological and cultural processes in the Aral region and draw attention to the issue of a sustainable future for the area.