“In Uzbekistan, a country that lies at the Silk Road connecting East and West, I want to create a unique museum, something that I have never done before, either in Asia or Europe, not in the East and not in the West.” - Tadao Ando. Internationally acclaimed Japanese architect Tadao Ando is working on the concept of the renewal and extension of the National Museum of Arts of Uzbekistan.The purpose of Tadao Ando is to recreate an architectural monument embodying the elements of the past while boldly moving into the future, contributing to a global understanding of the unique history of Uzbekistan and its unique potential.

State Museum of Arts of Uzbekistan (2020) by Tadao AndoArts & Culture Development Foundation under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan

The reconstruction project involves a significant expansion of the museum - the total area of the museum will double and amount to 20,000 square meters, with a total built exhibition area of 7,000 square meters. This will allow you to rethink the museum’s exposition and expand the museum’s storage, as well as accommodate the entire collection, which is more than 100,000 exhibits. The museum will include a public space, library and temporary exhibition halls.

State Museum of Arts of Uzbekistan (1918/1974) by I.Abdulov A.K. Nikiforov S.A. RosenblumArts & Culture Development Foundation under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan

More than 100 years of History of the State Museum of Arts of Uzbekistan

The State Museum of Arts of Uzbekistan was founded in 1918 as the People's University Museum. Until 1935, the museum was located in the palace of Prince Romanov in Tashkent. During 1935-1966  in the building of the People's House. In 1974 in this place, a group of young architects built a new building of the Museum.

State Museum of Arts of Uzbekistan, I.Abdulov A.K. Nikiforov S.A. Rosenblum, 1918/1974, From the collection of: Arts & Culture Development Foundation under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan
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The museum building has a simple cubic volume. The facades are divided into square elements by the construction of a metal frame, lined with stamped aluminum sheets on the outside.

State Museum of Arts of Uzbekistan, I.Abdulov A.K. Nikiforov S.A. Rosenblum, 1918/1974, From the collection of: Arts & Culture Development Foundation under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan
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The building is glazed with stevite from 4 sides, which creates matte lighting in the halls.

State Museum of Arts of Uzbekistan, I.AbdulovA. K. Nikiforov S.A. Rosenblum, 1918/1974, From the collection of: Arts & Culture Development Foundation under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan
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The museum building is one of the monuments of Soviet modernism.

State Museum of Arts of Uzbekistan, I.Abdulov A.K. Nikiforov S.A. Rosenblum, 1918/1974, From the collection of: Arts & Culture Development Foundation under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan
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And located in the center of Tashkent.

State Museum of Arts of Uzbekistan, I.Abdulov A.K. Nikiforov S.A. Rosenblum, 1918/1974, From the collection of: Arts & Culture Development Foundation under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan
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The ground floor of the museum was occupied by a lecture hall and an art salon. From the lobby, spectators enter the patio with the upper light, where samples of the architectural decoration of Uzbekistan were placed.

State Museum of Arts of Uzbekistan, I.Abdulov A.K. Nikiforov S.A. Rosenblum, 1918/1974, From the collection of: Arts & Culture Development Foundation under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan
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From here, visitors can climb the marble steps to the second, third and fourth floors, where 56 halls with the main expositions are located.

State Museum of Arts of Uzbekistan, I.Abdulov A.K. Nikiforov S.A. Rosenblum, 1918/1974, From the collection of: Arts & Culture Development Foundation under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan
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The basis for the creation of the museum was the collection of Prince Nikolai Romanov, which included paintings, drawings and sculptures by Russian and Western European masters, furniture, porcelain, bronze and other objects of applied art.

State Museum of Arts of Uzbekistan, I.Abdulov A.K. Nikiforov S.A. Rosenblum, 1918/1974, From the collection of: Arts & Culture Development Foundation under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan
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The most ancient exhibits of the museum are works of ancient culture and archaeological artifacts of ancient settlements. In the section of arts and crafts of Uzbekistan are exhibited ceramics, carvings and ganch, art embroidery and fabrics, embossing, jewelry, carpet weaving, reflecting ancient cultural traditions of Uzbekistan.

State Museum of Arts of Uzbekistan, I.Abdulov A.K. Nikiforov S.A. Rosenblum, 1918/1974, From the collection of: Arts & Culture Development Foundation under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan
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The art of Western Europe XV-XIX centuries. represented by works of fine and decorative art from Italy, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, France and England.

State Museum of Arts of Uzbekistan, I.Abdulov A.K. Nikiforov S.A. Rosenblum, 1918/1974, From the collection of: Arts & Culture Development Foundation under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan
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The modern Museum of Arts of Uzbekistan has more than 100 years of history. During its existence, repeatedly changed its name:

Museum of the People's University;
Central Museum of Art;
Tashkent Museum of Art;
State Museum of Art of Uzbekistan.

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