The capital of Uzbekistan has involved into one of the key centers in implementing arts projects that gained international recognition owing to the organization of a wide-scale event in the format of most prestigious art projects such as Venetian (Italy) and Kwangju (South Korea) Biennales, as was remarked by Tashkent’s guests.

Twenty seven countries sent to the biennale over a hundred representatives of who demonstrated the latest achievements in modern arts, its varieties and bold ideas. An academic conference that took place within the international biennale was convened to address “Modern Arts, Strategy of Choice”.

“Few countries can afford to organize such exhibitions, concerts, show-presentations, master classes and extensive academic conferences,” stressed Masut Fatkulin of Russia, head of jury of the 5th Tashkent Biennale and head of executive committee of International Confederation of Unions of Artists. “Attendees of the conference discussed issues concerning biennales taking place around the world, reviewed events in arts sphere abroad and worked out ways for creating incentives and mechanisms of addressing pressing issues of modernity.”

“Tashkent Biennale expands its format and bounds of interaction in sphere of art. Thus, its experience in expanding international cooperation in the arts arena could serve as a good example for imitation,” noted Maria Teresa Beguiristain of Spain, a well-known art critic, expressing impressions similar to those voiced by many foreign guests at the Biennale. “Participation of representatives of arts sphere from countries of Asia, Europe, Africa and America adds to Uzbekistan’s growing global prestige. We are highly impressed of the ministration the Uzbek government places on the development of culture, as well as the conditions created for implementation of such projects that foster the young generation’s spiritual growth. We can observe the Uzbek youth’s keen interest in arts.”

The jury decided to award the well-known Uzbek art critic Akbar Hakimov the Grand Prix of the Biennale for his original idea and the implementation of international project “A Turkestan remake”.

Highly appraising the project, specialists pointed out that exposing the exhibition abroad could successfully represent the arts of Uzbekistan in terms of new interpretation of historical stages in a certain period (late 19th century-early 20th century), uniqueness and peculiarity of features, the atmosphere of that time reflected in photos included renowned “Turkestan album” by famous photo masters. A group of artists coped with this task by using various modern esthetic and technological preferences in interpretations in their paintings, video-art, performances, installations, graphics and photos. The authors believe the execution of the project will serve as a vigorous impulse to a new reading of the history of modern art in Uzbekistan.

The German artist Akbar Bekhkalam has been awarded the first prize of the Biennale for his triptych that included three canvases: “In the Light of Fire”, “Human Landscape” and “Dazzled”.

The Polish artist I. Solarek represented his installation “Other spaces” where the idea of volatile, constantly transforming world is reflected, and the Japanese N. Nishimura displayed the project “The Play of Light and Shade” – a marquee with four fronts where a tortoise, bird, tiger and dragon are depicted symbolizing four corners of the world and place of their meeting at the center of inner space. Solarek and Nishimura shared the second place.

The Turkish artist S.P. Ozbek has been awarded the third prize for her triptych “Microspace”.

Apart from that, participants of the Tashkent Biennale were granted with honorable prizes and diplomas in various nominations.