International Public Art Workshop in Bishkek

The workshop took place from June 30th to July 12th, 2008 and also marked the first international public art workshop in Bishkek.

Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, artists in Central Asia have had limited opportunities to exchange information and even fewer to work together on collaborative art projects. Artists in these countries are eager to renew dialogue with their colleagues with whom they share a long history. This workshop aimed to provide these artists the opportunity to exchange information and ideas, and work together to create exciting public art works.

This project brought together artists from Russia, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkey; the artists vary in age, contemporary art styles, media and experience. The artists traveled to Bishkek for two weeks to participate in the public art workshop and create together public art works to be exhibited at the heart of Bishkek in the space in front of the State Museum of Fine Arts. In synch with Arthub’s mission to support art creation in China and the rest of Asia, the goal of this project was to both promote contemporary art in the Kyrgyz Republic and stimulate an artistic dialogue between artists from different countries in the region.

Arthub recommended Li Zhenhua from China and Hakan Topal of xurban.net as participants and presenters in this workshop. Arthub Curatorial Consultant Defne Ayas was also on site, giving feedback to the artists, as well as presenting a lecture on new media and performance in public space with examples from China and New York (PERFORMA).

Two public art experts, Kendal Henry from New York and Arseny Sergeev from Ekaterinburg led the workshop, sharing their experience in the field of public art with the participants and guiding the artists through design, fabrication and installation. They conducted introductory lectures about public art, guided discussions on issues related to the design and construction of public art, and worked with the artists to create public art objects to be exhibited in the center of Bishkek. Gulnara Kasmalieva and Muratbek Djumaliev presented a video program of young Kirgiz artists.

The majority of the program took place in Bishkek, where the public art objects were built and displayed. At the beginning of the workshop, the team spent three days at the mountain retreat in the Chon-Kemin National Park.

The project has been organized by the B’Art: Bishkek Art Center in collaboration with the international arts service organization, CEC ArtsLink. Funding was also provided by the Open Society Institute, the Kettering Family Foundation, and Arthub.