Re/Generation - Uzbekistan’s First Art Festival for Young Artists
September 2024 saw Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan in Central Asia, vibrate with a new creative pulse. For 8 days, people flocked from all corners of the country to participate in the region’s first major art fest celebrating young creatives, Re/Generation. A unique event, the fest aimed at bringing together young Uzbek artists in creative dialogue to showcase their diverse talent and breathe new inspiration into the nation’s art scene.
Instigated by Lola Tillyaeva, art connoisseur and founder of multiple non-profit organisations, Re/Generation was curated by renowned Uzbek artist Bobur Ismailov and orchestrated in conjunction with You Are Not Alone.
The Art Fest proved hugely successful. As well as works by over 70 young talents from across the country covering a range of mediums, Re/Generation also hosted lectures, panel discussions and workshops with leading art critics and experts in the field. Highlights included dialogues with Anastasia Mityushina, Mikhail Slobodinsky, Rustam Suleymanov, Natalia Musina, Nigora Akhmedova, Dr. Aura Seikkula, Aigerim Kapar and Kamilla Ahmed.
Inspiration for Everyone
For over a week, the Arena Axelon Karting Club was transformed into an inspiring creative dimension festooned with intriguing installations, over 200 fascinating photographs, over 300 wall pieces, and over 50 graphics.
Live performances, interactive shows, digital art, black boxes, led screens as well as experimental and electronic music provided an engaging and uplifting atmosphere, with something for every visitor. From fine art to free dance, from street art to audio visual displays, the impressive creative talent of Uzbekistan’s new generation of artists, still firmly rooted in a rich cultural heritage, now embraces all forms of contemporary art, spanning painting, graphics, photography, installations, performance, interactive shows, street art, video and digital art, audio visual displays and experimental and electronic music.
The special Polygon Open Space Lab was a particularly lively area, with a rolling programme of innovative events, including masterclasses on street art and special activities for children.
Space for Children
A special space was set aside for children to explore their creative potential. Marked by a fluttering 40m-long banner, this unique zone was home to specially-tailored painting classes run by Daria Morozova, with hyper-allergenic paints and brushes freely available. It was a sheer delight to see these young creatives revelling in the artistic vibe of the Fest.
Food Court
The Re/Generation organisers had thought of everything. A well-planned food court offered both visitors and exhibitors the chance to sample traditional Uzbek cuisine in a relaxed setting ideal for forging new connections. Vegetarian options were also available.
Moving Forward
The First Art Fest welcomed over 8000 visitors and was so popular that the organisers have pledged to continue promoting Uzbekistan’s young talents through a range of ongoing projects. The first is the opening of the Regeneration Art Gallery, a new permanent exhibition space in the capital which will showcase contemporary works and stimulate creative dialogue through art brunches, master classes and more. Other plans include the publication of an exhibition catalogue, and a film about this ground-breaking event. Together, these ambitious projects ensure that Re/Generation's dual focus of preserving cultural heritage while embracing innovation and renewal in art is set to support, inspire and engage young Uzbek artists going forward.
You can follow the project on Instagram @regeneration_art_tashkent_ • Instagram photos and videos
Photographs by Sergei Pogosyan.
Video by Nalan Mechetner.