Uzbekistan Debuts at Milan Design Week with 'When Apricots Blossom' Exhibition

Uzbekistan makes its inaugural official appearance at Milan Design Week with the immersive exhibition 'When Apricots Blossom' at Palazzo Citterio. Curated by Kulapat Yantrasast of WHY Architecture, the show is promoted by Gayane Umerova, president of the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF). The exhibition presents a contemporary reinterpretation of Uzbek craftsmanship as an expression of resilience against climate change, specifically referencing the drastic shrinkage of the Aral Sea since the 1960s, which has lost over 90% of its volume. Thematic installations are organized around three pillars of Karakalpak culture: textiles, food, and dwelling. A large, colorful tapestry by British designer Bethan Laura Wood, created with Uzbek artisans, adorns the palace facade. The Garden Pavilion, a deconstructed yurt by WHY Architecture, serves as a central hub. The main gallery features twelve bread trays and decorative stamps (chekich) for traditional Uzbek non bread, created by contemporary designers in collaboration with local artisans. The exhibition is framed as an act of cultural diplomacy and part of a broader Uzbek government strategy to revitalize the region.