About this Event
Tashkent is a rare jewel of modernist Soviet architecture, rediscovered here in photographs by Karel Balas. Author Béatrice Grenier will be in conversation with Abraham Thomas and Gayane Umerova, followed by a signing.
PLEASE NOTE: RSVPs are encouraged but not required. Seating is limited and will be first come, first served. Doors open at 5:30 pm.
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A shrine to Soviet modernist architecture, Tashkent is a rare jewel of modernism rediscovered in this book.
Established sometime around the 1st or 2nd century BCE, Tashkent is the capital city of Uzbekistan and the largest metropolis in Central Asia benefiting from its historical role as geographic crossroads, its developed resources, and its thriving multiculturalism. Previous Soviet rule was established in 1917--which over six decades heralded transformations in Tashkent's culture, identity, and, of course, its landscape and architecture.
In this extraordinary volume, realized in collaboration with the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation, photographer Karel Balas reveals the modernist architecture of Tashkent through a collection of never-before-seen photographs. Constructed between the 1960s and early '90s, these buildings stand as powerful metaphors vis-à-vis Tashkent's past and present, painting a picture of its rich cultural heritage. Part of the overlooked Soviet modernism movement, the expression of this new architectural style represents a vision and social function for the city as a whole--all the while connoting the specific character and modernization of Central Asia. Whether a 1964 cinema, the State Museum of the Arts, the 1970 Lenin Museum, or the striking Hotel Uzbekistan dated 1976, each structure tells a captivating story about one of the most enthralling cities on the Asian continent.
Béatrice Grenier is a writer and curator based in Paris. She is Director of Curatorial Affairs at Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain in Paris.
Abraham Thomas is the Daniel Brodsky Curator of Modern Architecture, Design, and Decorative Arts at the MET. Thomas joined the department in 2020. Previously, he worked at the Smithsonian Institution (2016–20) where he was curator-in-charge of the Renwick Gallery, and then senior curator at the Arts and Industries Building. Prior to this—based in London—he was a curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum (2005–13), and the director of Sir John Soane’s Museum (2013–15).
Gayane Umerova is a curator and public figure in the field of culture of Uzbekistan. She is the Deputy Head of the Department of Social Development of the Presidential Administration, Chairperson of the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation under the Cabinet of Ministers (ACDF) and the Chairperson of the National Commission of Uzbekistan on UNESCO Affairs under the Cabinet of Ministers (since 2020). In these positions, Umerova plays a key role in promoting Uzbek historical and contemporary art internationally.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Rizzoli Bookstore, 1133 Broadway, New York, United States
USD 0.00
