The setting for the biennial will be Bukhara’s restored historic centre, which is currently undergoing a major conservation project and is known for its centuries-old mosques and madrasas.
The inaugural edition, titled Recipes for Broken Hearts, will be curated by Diana Campbell, a Los Angeles-based curator who also leads the Dhaka Art Summit. “For centuries, religious and cultural traditions from all corners of the world have commingled in Bukhara, resulting in a rich atmosphere of learning, craft and artistic production,” said Campbell in a statement. “It has always been a place where people came together to find togetherness in the quest for a more meaningful life through a search for spiritual, intellectual, and worldly knowledge. ‘Recipes for Broken Hearts’ will emphasise this legacy by revitalising some of the extraordinary sites that were essential to developing the culture that we celebrate today, bringing them back into the pulse of life of the city through an interdisciplinary event which goes beyond the traditional notions of an art biennial.”
The event will explore themes of healing, with a particular focus on food. The concept of Recipes for Broken Hearts derives from a local legend about the invention of palov, Uzbekistan’s signature rice dish, which was said to mend the broken heart of a prince. In line with this, chefs from Uzbekistan and beyond will prepare meals throughout the event, further intertwining culinary and artistic experiences.
The biennial will feature works from both international and local artists, including Antony Gormley (UK), Subodh Gupta (India), Bekhbaatar Enkhtur (Mongolia), and Laila Gohar (Egypt), alongside Uzbek talents such as Aziza Azim, Behzod Boltaev, Gulnoza Irgasheva, Oyjon Khayrullaeva, and Hassan Kurbanbaev. The full artist lineup is still to be announced.
Cover image: View over the Old City at Sunset - From The Ark (Original Settlement) - Bukhara - Uzbekistan.
