Uzbekistan is participating in the fourth edition of Homo Faber 2026: An Island of Light, one of the leading international exhibitions of contemporary artistic craftsmanship. The exhibition is traditionally held on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice. Curated by the Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship, the event brings together over 700 works of art created by 500 master artisans from more than 70 countries in a single exhibition. The opening ceremony will take place on September 1 at the Fondazione Giorgio Cini cultural foundation.
The country's representation at the exhibition is overseen by the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation. Cooperation between the organization and the Michelangelo Foundation began with the signing of an agreement in Geneva in October 2022. Thanks to this document, Uzbekistan became the first country in Central Asia to join the Homo Faber Guide, an international online platform and guide created to support and promote masters of contemporary artistic craftsmanship, decorative and applied arts, and design. In 2023, 11 Uzbek masters were first included in this guide, and today their number has reached 15.
The exhibition organized by the Foundation within the framework of Homo Faber 2026 introduces the international audience to the continuity of Uzbekistan's craft schools, the diversity of local traditions, and their development in a contemporary artistic context.
"Craftsmanship in Uzbekistan is not a memory kept behind glass. It is a living and tangible language that speaks through the hands of masters who have inherited it from their mentors and continues to be rewritten by each new generation. When we opened our representation within Homo Faber in 2023, we sought to preserve this continuity, and today we proudly watch how it evolves with each new edition. We are not just showcasing craftsmanship. Our goal is for Uzbek masters to take their place in an equal dialogue with the world's finest artisans, not as an exotic curiosity, but as recognized authors and creators," said Gayane Umerova, Chairperson of the Art and Culture Development Foundation.
The exhibition features works by four masters working in various directions of traditional applied art of Uzbekistan. These include two large-scale ceramic compositions titled "Moonjars" by Sanjar Kubboev and Alisher Nazirov, as well as five artistic scissors created by Bukhara blacksmiths from the Kamolov dynasty. Each item is handmade using traditional techniques and references bird motifs deeply rooted in the centuries-old traditions of Bukhara blacksmithing art.
As part of the educational program, Madina Kasymbayeva will conduct a series of open demonstrations on the art of suzani embroidery, introducing visitors to traditional embroidery techniques and cultural practices associated with this craft.
In the Homo Faber 2026 program, representatives of the new generation of creative youth from Uzbekistan occupy a special place. Diyorbek Abdullayev and Sabina Juraeva were selected among 90 Young Ambassadors chosen from 62 schools of applied arts and design in 23 countries. Over the course of a month, they will guide visitors through the exhibition as part of a program implemented in collaboration with the Fondazione Giorgio Cini.
Diyorbek Abdullayev graduated from the Tashkent Institute of Architecture and Civil Engineering and works as an architect and artist. Sabina Juraeva graduated from the Faculty of Architecture at Puchon University in Tashkent and is the founder of the Chronos.Arc studio. As part of this program dedicated to art, craftsmanship, and cultural exchange, they will spend a month and a half in Italy. The selection process for participants from Uzbekistan was conducted online with the support of the Art and Culture Development Foundation. The final selection of participants was carried out by the Michelangelo Foundation.
The exhibition runs until September 30.
Source: www.gazeta.uz