Don't Miss the Cue

The Republic of Uzbekistan participates in the 60th International Art Exhibition — La Biennale di Venezia with the pavilion entitled Don’t Miss the Cue, curated for the first time by the Centre for Contemporary Art Tashkent, presenting the Uzbek artist Aziza Kadyri. The exhibition Don’t Miss the Cue also features a collaboration with Qizlar Collective, a Tashkent based female artists group (the word "qizlar" means "girls" in Uzbek). Resonating with the theme of the 60th International Art Exhibition — La Biennale di Venezia Stranieri Ovunque - Foreigners Everywhere, set forth by the curator Adriano Pedrosa, the exhibition "Don’t Miss the Cue" addresses issues of belonging and identity through the experiences of women from Central Asia, offering insight into how they navigate and redefine themselves in the migration process. The concept of the exhibition project Don’t Miss the Cue is directly related to the theme of the Biennale Arte 2024: entering the Pavilion in the Arsenale, visitors embark on a metaphorical journey that involves elements of participation and interaction with the installation. The project draws visitors into the deconstructed backstage of a theatre, reminiscent of the Houses of Culture that were located throughout Eurasia in the early 20th century. The theatrical setting comes to life through sculptures that take inspiration from traditional costumes and textiles, complemented by audiovisual materials by Qizlar Collective. The project focuses on women's stories, collective practices, and the complex relationships between the physical body and the surrounding world. The exhibition also explores the interaction between technology and tradition. The characteristic Uzbek hand embroidery "suzani" is reinterpreted through artificial intelligence technology. Aziza Kadyri collaborated with suzani master Madina Kasimbaeva who transformed Aziza’s designs into textile art found in the curtains and embroideries. The recognisable patterns of "suzani" processed by artificial intelligence undergo a virtual transformation and embody new meanings. This combination not only reinterprets traditional patterns but also highlights cultural changes in the modern world. As a result, visitors can better understand the impact of technology on culture and identity by going through all installations, rethinking their personal experience in the process. Commissioner: Gayane Umerova, Art and Culture Development Foundation Curator: Center for Contemporary Art Tashkent

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Arsenale

Venice, NY