Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Gayane Umerova, Chairperson of the Uzbekistan Culture and Art Development Foundation and Commissioner of the Bukhara Biennale, visited India Art Fair 2025 in New Delhi—one of South Asia’s largest art events, bringing together leading galleries, collectors, curators, and artists from around the world.

The visit was part of the Foundation’s long-term strategy to promote Uzbekistan’s national art on the international stage and develop the country’s creative economy. In recent years, the Uzbek government has been actively working to establish a sustainable cultural ecosystem, reinforcing Uzbekistan’s position as a key hub for international artistic dialogue.

Notable initiatives in this direction include the Global Conference on the Creative Economy, the launch of an art residency, and preparations for the Bukhara Biennale—a new international cultural event set to take place from 5 September to 20 November, 2025, in Bukhara. In this context, participation in India Art Fair 2025 provided an opportunity to present the Bukhara Biennale on a prestigious global platform.

India Art Fair is the largest art fair in South Asia, annually attracting leading international galleries, collectors, and experts. The 2025 edition, held from February 6 to 9 in New Delhi, was the largest in its history, featuring a record-breaking 120 galleries and institutions, including 26 first-time participants.

As part of the India Art Fair 2025 program, Gayane Umerova participated in a panel discussion titled “Creating Unity in Diversity: Central and South Asia at the Bukhara Biennale,” moderated by Diana Campbell, curator of the Bukhara Biennale.

Among the panelists were renowned artists such as Subodh Gupta (India), Munisa Kholkhujayeva (Uzbekistan), and Oyjon Khairullaev (Uzbekistan). The speakers discussed the deep-rooted cultural connections between Central Asia and India and their influence on the region’s contemporary art scene.

Bukhara has long been a major intellectual and economic center along the Silk Road, where trade and cultural exchanges flourished. The impact of Uzbek art and architecture can also be seen in India, notably in Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi, designed by Persian architect Mirza Giyas, whose work later influenced the construction of the Taj Mahal.

During the discussion, participants were introduced to the mission of the Bukhara Biennale, which will be the first large-scale cultural event hosted in the newly restored historic center of Bukhara.

Scheduled for 5 September –20 November 2025, the Bukhara Biennale will bring together over 70 participants