Biennale Architettura 2023, Blending Past and Future at the Uzbekistan Pavilion
Standing as a bridge between past and contemporary, the Uzbekistan Pavilion pays tribute to the national architectural heritage of the country. Launched under the title “Unbuilding Together: Archaism vs. Modernity”, this project took off thanks to the support of by Gayane Umerova, Executive Director of the Art and Culture Development Foundation of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and curated by Studio Ko, whose team includes Karl Fournier, Olivier Marty, Jean-Baptiste Carisé and Sophia Bengebara. Undoubtedly one of the most evocative constructions of the Biennale Architettura 2023, the pavilion highlights, through its singular design, the ruins of the qalas, ancient fortresses in the Karakalpakstan region and heritage of the Khorezm civilisation. From it we can admire the masterful employment of brick, an archaic yet universal and highly versatile material, representative of Uzbek architecture. “Looking to the future,” says Gayane Umerova, “our ancient heritage can help us reconsider the path of humanity and the role architecture plays in shaping our collective destiny.” To investigate the materiality of bricks, earth, clay and, above all, to challenge the concept of modernity, Studio KO worked alongside architecture students and lecturers from Ajou University in Tashkent. At the official opening, held in the spaces of the Arsenal right in front of the Tese we ran into Saida Mirziyoyeva, daughter of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev and other representatives of Uzbek and international figures from cultural institutions such as Abdulvahid Bukhoriy, Nathalie Franck, Fayçal Tiaïba, Emine Gozde Sevim, El Mehdi Azzam, Tatjana Sprick, Annya Sand, AlBara Saimaldahar, Miza Mucciarelli and Victoria Easton.
Photos: Ludovica Arcero
Text: Germano D’Acquisto
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