The
exhibition is presented in Centre for Contemporary Arts in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Video installations designed by Saodat Ismailova over the past
five years. The concept of the exhibition Qo'rg'on
Chiroq is based on the meanings of two words, ‘qo'rg'on’ and
‘chiroq’:‘qo'rg'on’ or ‘kurgan’ is a ‘hill’ – the author’s association with
cultural stratification. This place can serve as a buried treasure of valuable
material objects and, at the same time, a thread leading to the secrets of
ancestors. ‘Chiroq’ is light, a ritual candle used to bless AmeshaSpenta
–immortal saints in Zoroastrianism – and to exorcise the evil eye and bad
thoughts. The power of light makes any projected image live. The exhibition
depicts stratification in time and space.
Qo'rg'on Chiroq (2019) by Saodat IsmailovaArts & Culture Development Foundation under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Two horizons
Korkut, the mythic first shaman of the Great Eurasian Steppe, was doing his best to escape Death throughout his life. He believed that the only way to gain immortality was to overcome gravity.
Two Horizons (2017) by Saodat IsmailovaArts & Culture Development Foundation under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan
According to legend, the shaman became immortal in the south of the Great Steppe.
Two horizons (2017) by Saodat IsmailovaArts & Culture Development Foundation under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Since then local people worshipped that place because they believed that Korkut managed to discover the navel of the Earth.
Two Horizons (2017) by Saodat IsmailovaArts & Culture Development Foundation under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Later, in the middle of the 20th century, this spot became world-famous as Baikonur, the Soviet Space Station.
Two Horizons (2017) by Saodat IsmailovaArts & Culture Development Foundation under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan
There, the First Man defied gravity by starting a journey into space in Vostok 1 spacecraft in search of eternal life.
Stains of Oxus
Stains of Oxus is a three-screen installation dedicated to the Amu Darya (Oxus) River rising in Alichur (Pamirs) and ending in the Aral Sea. The installation represents a mystical river of dreams and collective memory filled with archetypes and totems.
Stains of Oxus (2016) by Saodat IsmailovaArts & Culture Development Foundation under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan
To whisper one’s thoughts and dreams to running water is a morning ritual and an ancient local tradition.
Stains of Oxus (2016) by Saodat IsmailovaArts & Culture Development Foundation under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Stains of Oxus (2016) by Saodat IsmailovaArts & Culture Development Foundation under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan
All visions and sounds are conveyed using rhythmic choreography, documented evidence, landscapes and images of people.
Stains of Oxus (2016) by Saodat IsmailovaArts & Culture Development Foundation under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Stains of Oxus (2016) by Saodat IsmailovaArts & Culture Development Foundation under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Travelling along the banks of the Oxus we meet people of different ages whose lives are inextricably linked with this river.
Stains of Oxus (2016) by Saodat IsmailovaArts & Culture Development Foundation under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Stains of Oxus (2016) by Saodat IsmailovaArts & Culture Development Foundation under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Stains of Oxus (2016) by Саодат ИсмаиловаArts & Culture Development Foundation under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Stains of Oxus (2016) by Saodat IsmailovaArts & Culture Development Foundation under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan
GULAIM
Gulaim is the main character of the epic Forty Girls and a short film by Saodat Ismailova based on Gulaim’s monologue addressed to her father, Bai (lord) Allayar. In her speech the girl recollects her happy childhood full of freedom, luxury and care.
Gulaim (2014) by Saodat IsmailovaArts & Culture Development Foundation under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan
She also recalls how Bai Allayar supported her in her desire to become a warrior.
Gulaim (2014) by Saosat IsmailovaArts & Culture Development Foundation under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Gradually, the happy memories of the girl darken and she disagrees with her father’s decision to marry her to a man he chose for her.
Gulaim (2014) by Saodat IsmailovaArts & Culture Development Foundation under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan
The video of the work is an offscreen text based on the girl’s narration, which presents metaphors and images from the epic and gradually forms into a specific visual language acting as a modern interpretation of the ancient oral tradition.
Zukhra
Zukhra translates from Uzbek as ‘venus’ and also means ‘bright, beautiful and shining.’ People associate Zukhra with the morning star that appears at dawn for a very short time.
In Uzbekistan, Zukhra symbolises love, passion and desire. When one has a dream, they can ask the Morning Star to make it come true. the video installation is the author’s vision of the theme
The Immortal Letters
The Immortal letters was inspired by Ancient letters (4th century) – a series of Sogdian handwritten documents discovered by Sir Aurel Stein in Dunhuang, China, in 1907.
The Immortal letters (2019) by Saodat IsmailovaArts & Culture Development Foundation under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan
The series consists of five almost whole letters that have the names of the sender and addressee inscribed on the outside.
The Immortal letters (2019) by Saodat IsmailovaArts & Culture Development Foundation under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan
They were all to be sent to Samarkand, which is situated 3,200 kilometres to the west.
The Immortal Letters (2019) by Saodat IsmailovaArts & Culture Development Foundation under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan
The Immortal Letters (2019) by Saodat IsmailovaArts & Culture Development Foundation under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan
The Immortal letters reflects the artist’s first acquaintance with the Sogdian language which became extinct in Central Asia in around the 10th century AD.
The Immortal Letters (2019) by Saodat IsmailovaArts & Culture Development Foundation under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Saodat Ismailova is an Uzbek video artist, director and scriptwriter.
Curator: Andrea Lissoni, chief curator at Tate Modern (London)
Curator: Gayane Umerova, Deputy Executive Director
at Art and Culture development Foundation under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
You're ready!
Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.