From September 17 to 19, the remote Borsakelmas salt flat in Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan, will host the second edition of the Yonar art installation exhibition. The event is organized with the support of Uzbekistan's Tourism Committee by Otabek Sulaymonov and Odil Muhamedov, founders of the 'Stihiya' festival of electronic music, art, and science. This year's central theme is dreams.
'We are interested in dreams, surrealism, strange imagery, absurdity, and, in general, anything that lies between reality and imagination. In our opinion, Borsakelmas itself is perfectly suited for this,' emphasized Otabek Sulaymonov.
Around 40 participants from Tashkent, Nukus, Muynak, Berlin, Vienna, London, Moscow, Almaty, Bishkek, and other cities will establish a creative settlement called White Salt City in this desolate area. Over three days, participants will live there, cook meals, perform music, hold various workshops, and create installations based on the given theme.
After the exhibition concludes, as in the previous year, all art objects will be completely dismantled. This approach echoes the Burning Man festival held annually in the Black Rock Desert of the United States, which inspired the organizers to create their own project in Uzbekistan.
This year, more than 70 applications were submitted for participation. 'We don't have a jury. We review applications as a team and try to accept almost everyone. We noticed an interesting aspect: random people don't apply to Yonar — usually, a person clearly understands where and why they are going. This year, many applications were very thoroughly developed,' said Odil Muhamedov.
According to him, the decisive factor in the selection process was the individual's contribution to the overall camp. 'It could be creating an installation, performing music, helping with construction, cooking, conducting a workshop, or any idea one wants to realize together with others,' explained Otabek Sulaymonov.
As last year, there will be no spectators at Yonar. Each participant is responsible for a specific part of the settlement's life and comes on the condition of full self-sufficiency: they independently arrange travel expenses, accommodation, and meals, and bring all necessary items and working tools. At the same time, the organizers take responsibility for logistics and the creation of basic infrastructure.
'We take on the transfer along the Nukus-Borsakelmas-Nukus route, accommodation in yurts with blankets, pillows, and bedding. We will build temporary toilets, hand-washing stations, and a common kitchen, purchase food for joint cooking, drinking and technical water, and also provide the camp with electricity,' continued Otabek Sulaymonov.
The authors' expenses for creating art installations will also be reimbursed. 'Yonar's main principle remains unchanged: it is not a festival with spectators or where organizers prepare everything for you. The city is created by the participants themselves, and each is responsible for a certain part of it,' said Odil Muhamedov.
Commercial trade and brand advertising are prohibited on the Yonar territory. After the festival ends, participants dismantle the camp and art objects, collect and remove all waste, adhering to the 'leave no trace' rule. The salt flat area must remain exactly as it was before their arrival. When asked what they expect from this year's festival, the organizers expressed their intention to 'leave and come back again.'
Source: www.gazeta.uz