Saodat Ismailova's 2023 Retrospectives at Le Fresnoy and Eye Filmmuseum Explore Central Asian Histories
In 2023, Saodat Ismailova showcased her work in two prominent exhibitions: 'Double Horizon' at Le Fresnoy-Studio National in France from February 10 to April 30, and '18,000 Worlds' at Eye Filmmuseum in the Netherlands, running from January 21 to June 4. These events followed her involvement in the 59th Venice Biennale and documenta fifteen in 2022. Ismailova, born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in 1981, began her artistic journey with the documentary 'Aral, Fishing in an Invisible Sea' (2004) after studying film. Her artistic focus encompasses Central Asian cultures, women's narratives, and ecological themes. The exhibitions included installations such as 'Two Horizons' and 'Chilltan #1', featuring contributions from various artists. Since 2004, she has resided in Europe, and her father is the acclaimed cinematographer Adurakhim Ismailov.
Key facts
- Saodat Ismailova had two retrospective exhibitions in 2023: 'Double Horizon' at Le Fresnoy-Studio National (Feb 10–Apr 30) and '18,000 Worlds' at Eye Filmmuseum (Jan 21–Jun 4).
- She participated in the 59th Venice Biennale and documenta fifteen in Kassel, Germany in 2022.
- Ismailova was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in 1981 and studied film at the Uzbekistan State Institute of Arts.
- Her early works include the documentary 'Aral, Fishing in an Invisible Sea' (2004) with Carlos Casas and the fiction film 'Chilla, 40 Days of Silence' (2014).
- The Le Fresnoy exhibition included works by about twenty other artists, such as Chingiz Aidarov, Vyacheslav Akhunov, and Mona Hatoum.
- The Eye Filmmuseum exhibition featured 'Chilltan #1' (2020), made from forty Uzbek veils (chachvon), and the new film '18,000 Worlds' (2022).
- Ismailova's 'Stains of Oxus' (2016) films along the Amu Darya river across four Central Asian countries: Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
- Her work references the Baikonur Cosmodrome built by the Soviets in 1955 and the 10th-century shaman Korkut.
Entities
Artists
- Saodat Ismailova
- Katarzyna Ruchel-Stockmans
- Chingiz Aidarov
- Vyacheslav Akhunov
- Yelena Vorobyev
- Viktor Vorobyev
- Muratbek Djumaliev
- Gulnara Kasmalieva
- Mona Hatoum
- Fiona Tan
- Zineb Sedira
- Joseph Beuys
- Henri Michaux
- Carlos Casas
- Adurakhim Ismailov
- Donna Haraway
- Maria Sarkulova
- Roza Khassenova
- Svetlana Alexievich
- Samira Negrouche
- Deimantas Narkevicius
- Karen Barad
- Shihab al Din Shrawardi
- Marcella Lista
Institutions
- Le Fresnoy-Studio National
- Eye Filmmuseum
- School of Contemporary Art in Tourcoing
- Uzbekistan State Institute of Arts
- Fabrica art research center
- Centre Pompidou
- Davra collective
- ARTMargins Online
- Prickly Paradigm Press
- Nai010
- MNAM-CCI RMN-GP
- School of Contemporary Art
- Venice Biennale
- documenta fifteen
Locations
- Tourcoing
- France
- Amsterdam
- Netherlands
- Venice
- Italy
- Kassel
- Germany
- Tashkent
- Uzbekistan
- Central Asia
- Kazakhstan
- Baikonur Cosmodrome
- Korkut cemetery
- Kyzylorda
- Amu Darya
- Oxus
- Afghanistan
- Tajikistan
- Turkmenistan
- Aral Sea
- Pamir mountains
- Soviet Union
- Russia
- Lithuania
- Chicago
- Spain
Sources
- ARTMargins —
- ARTMargins —