Ceremony of the Avant-garde Painting Exhibition of Works from the National State Museum of Arts of Karakalpakistan, Uzbekistan

Ambassador Shadiev,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a pleasure to address you today at the opening ceremony of this exciting avant-garde exhibition from the Savitsky collection of the State Museum of Arts of Karakalpakistan in Uzbekistan.

As you may know, the works displayed here are just a small selection of what is a vast and unique collection of Central Asian avant-garde art, collected on the initiative of the great artist Igor Vitalievich Savitsky. Moreover, the museum from which these works originate is home to one of the largest general art and artefact collections in Central Asia, with approximately 100,000 items spanning more than four millennia of human history.

We are very fortunate to see it displayed here in Paris at UNESCO Headquarters. I think today, contemporary artists and art enthusiasts alike continue to draw considerable creative inspiration from the avant-garde movement of the 20^th century and especially the avant-garde of the 1920s and 30s.   

I think this collection also represents the rich culture and heritage of Central Asia that has been forged and developed through the centuries of dialogue and encounters along the Silk Roads. It testifies also the long-lasting important role that Central Asia has played in cultural, scientific and commercial exchanges between the East and the West.

Thus, it is a pleasure for me that the Social and Human Sciences Sector has contributed to the promotion of the rich heritage and historic importance of the region through two major initiatives: the ‘History of Civilizations of Central Asia’; and the Silk Roads Programme.

Dear friends,

I am also delighted that this exhibition commemorates the first anniversary of the Khiva Declaration – developed during the international forum ‘Central Asia, Crossroad of the Worlds Civilization’ in September 2021, held in Khiva, Uzbekistan.

As you might be aware, this declaration paved the way for the launch of the Khiva Process, which aims to facilitate policy dialogue for equitable and inclusive societies in Central Asia. I am very pleased that the Social and Human Sciences Sector is the leading sector for assisting the Government of Uzbekistan in the implementation of this initiative, through a number of programmes including the Silk Roads, Intercultural Dialogue, Anti-Racism, Youth and Sports.

I would like to extend my gratitude to the Government of Uzbekistan and to my colleagues in the UNESCO Office in Tashkent for organising this wonderful exhibition.

I look forward to extending our collaboration with them within the context of the Khiva Process.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I hope you enjoy this wonderful collection of avant-garde art and thank you for your attention.