Alexey Morosov's BELEK Installation for Kyrgyzstan at Venice Biennale

Kyrgyzstan will be represented by Alexey Morosov at the 61st Venice Biennale, showcasing a site-specific installation named BELEK in the Santa Catarina Church. This piece merges sculpture, painting, and video, utilizing terra cruda (unfired clay, referred to as saman in Central Asia) and poplar wood. An impressive 8K video fresco juxtaposes scenes from the equestrian sport kok-boru with stark images of brutalist dams. Additionally, a painting at the church's altar reflects on the work of Paolo Veronese. Morosov highlights water resource challenges in Central Asia, illustrating the reliance of clay on water and the significance of dams. He perceives the national pavilion as a space for connection, acknowledging Chinghiz Aitmatov and Dinara Asanova as key Kyrgyz figures. The Biennale is scheduled from 9 May to 22 November 2026.