Vyacheslav Akhunov's Major Venice Biennale Debut
The Centre for Contemporary Arts Tashkent (CCA Tashkent) will present an exhibition titled 'Instruments of the Mind' featuring the innovative Uzbek conceptual artist Vyacheslav Akhunov. This exhibition is part of the official collateral projects for the 61st Venice Biennale. It opens to the public from May 9 to November 22, 2026, with preview days set for May 5 to 8, 2026. Gayane Umerova, the Chairperson of the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF), is overseeing the project, while Dr. Sara Raza serves as the curator. The showcase will explore more than fifty years of Akhunov's contributions, delving into concepts like language, memory, ideology, and resilience. Akhunov is celebrated as a leading figure in Central Asian conceptual art.
Key facts
- Vyacheslav Akhunov is a pioneering Uzbek conceptual artist.
- The exhibition is titled 'Instruments of the Mind'.
- It is held at Palazzo Franchetti in Venice.
- It is an official collateral project of the 61st Venice Biennale.
- Public dates: May 9–November 22, 2026.
- Preview days: May 5–8, 2026.
- Commissioned by Gayane Umerova of the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF).
- Curated by Dr. Sara Raza, Artistic Director and Chief Curator of CCA Tashkent.
Entities
Artists
- Vyacheslav Akhunov
Institutions
- Centre for Contemporary Arts Tashkent (CCA Tashkent)
- Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF)
- Palazzo Franchetti
- Venice Biennale
Locations
- Tashkent
- Venice
- Italy