Bukhara at Art Basel: Uzbekistan’s biennale presented in Qatar
Uzbekistan
The model of the Bukhara Biennale, which attracted more than 1.8 million visitors in autumn 2025, was presented at the international Art Basel exhibition in Qatar. The project from Uzbekistan became part of discussions on new cultural platforms and institutional models in contemporary art.
The presentation was organized by the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation. Chairperson Gayane Umerova spoke at the panel discussion “Rubaiya, Bukhara and Djaou: New Platforms, New Opportunities,” held at the M7 — Msheireb creative hub.
Representatives of cultural institutions from Qatar, Uzbekistan, and Tunisia took part in the discussion, focusing on new biennale formats and the role of cultural platforms in shaping contemporary artistic practices.
According to Umerova, the Bukhara Biennale represents a new institutional model based on long-term development, engagement with local context, and the integration of urban space. All artworks are created specifically for the project in Uzbekistan, drawing on Bukhara’s architectural heritage, craft traditions, and contemporary social processes.
She also noted that many of today’s most innovative trends in contemporary art are emerging in the Global South, where cultural memory, craftsmanship, and collective knowledge serve as key drivers of artistic practice.
The first Bukhara Biennale was held from September to November 2025 and attracted more than 1.8 million visitors.
Art Basel Qatar is a regional platform of the global Art Basel brand, focused on the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and the Global South. In addition to the exhibition, the program included Art Basel Conversations, public lectures, panel discussions, and educational events with curators, artists, and researchers.
Representatives of cultural institutions from Qatar, Uzbekistan, and Tunisia took part in the discussion, focusing on new biennale formats and the role of cultural platforms in shaping contemporary artistic practices.
According to Umerova, the Bukhara Biennale represents a new institutional model based on long-term development, engagement with local context, and the integration of urban space. All artworks are created specifically for the project in Uzbekistan, drawing on Bukhara’s architectural heritage, craft traditions, and contemporary social processes.
She also noted that many of today’s most innovative trends in contemporary art are emerging in the Global South, where cultural memory, craftsmanship, and collective knowledge serve as key drivers of artistic practice.
The first Bukhara Biennale was held from September to November 2025 and attracted more than 1.8 million visitors.
Art Basel Qatar is a regional platform of the global Art Basel brand, focused on the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and the Global South. In addition to the exhibition, the program included Art Basel Conversations, public lectures, panel discussions, and educational events with curators, artists, and researchers.
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