Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Today, on “International Museum Day” the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Uzbekistan has launched a unique digital art project – a virtual exhibition “Connections: 12 Symbols and Meanings” on www.12symbols.uz, as part of series of Europe Day events.

The Exhibition is organised in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan with support of the Museum of Arts of Uzbekistan, the Karakalpakstan State Museum of Art named after I.V. Savitsky and the National Gallery of Fine Arts of Uzbekistan, as well as prominent Uzbekistan artists. The exhibition is curated by Shakhnoza Karimbabaeva, founder and Director of Bonum Factum Art Gallery.

By showcasing the paintings, photography and video art, the Exhibition invites the visitors to explore the linkages between European and Uzbekistan artists under aegis of 12 universal symbols. The exhibition features over 60 remarkable artworks including contemporary Uzbekistan artworks, by Bobur Ismailov, Vyacheslav Useinov, Bobur Mukhamedov among others, selected from artists’ private collections and collection of the National Gallery of Fine Arts of Uzbekistan; It showcases recognized European masterpieces by Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Rene Magritte and others, solicited from different museums world-wide; Finally, the Exhibition includes historical artworks of Alexander Nikolaev (Usto Mumin), Viktor An, Wassily Kandinsky among others, contributed by the the Museum of Art of Uzbekistan and the Karakalpakstan State Museum of Art named after I.V. Savitsky.

“In honor of the “Europe Day” widely celebrated in May, this special art project is a tribute to founding values of European Union - respect for human dignity and human rights, equality, the rule of law, as well as freedom of artistic expression and creativity. The virtual format of Exhibition is our response to current extraordinary circumstances. In times, when museums and galleries are closed, we transformed the original idea of physical exhibition to a digital one. By launching the Exhibition on “International Museum Day”, we would like to show our respect and appreciation of the art community in Uzbekistan. By communicating the message of solidarity and unity throughout May, we extend the celebration of “Europe Day” into “Europe Month”” points out Eduards Stiprais, Ambassador of the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Uzbekistan. 

“This unique, rich and symbolic exhibition invites, for the first time, to look at the contemporary and historic Uzbek art in the context of European masterpieces, which, as we will witness, is very valid and well-weighted proposition. The historic avant-garde artworks from the state collection of Uzbekistan, as well as, the vibrant and rich art of contemporary Uzbek artists do deserve equally prominent position among the world-known European artists,” notes Kamola Akilova, Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan. 

“I believe artists act like divine filters working with symbolic consciousness and distilling the meaning of our existence represented by symbols. By bringing together more than 60 fascinating European and Uzbekistan avant-garde and contemporary artworks, I invite the visitor to embark on the digital journey exploring 12 universal symbols and meanings in art, drawing parallels with their own lives. The number twelve represents perfection, unity and cosmic order. The art journey starts with the symbol of point, which stands for the consciousness of divine and human. Come along, dear visitor, and you will be surprised about symbolic linkages you will discover between the Uzbek and European art,” explains Shakhnoza Karimbabaeva, Art Curator of the exhibition “Connections: 12 Symbols and Meanings”. 

To stimulate the interest and curiosity in the Exhibition concept, the organizers of the Exhibition will roll out contests on social media and will give away more than 160 specially designed and produced Exhibition gifts in the course of 12 days, from 18 until 29 May.