When Apricots Blossom: Uzbekistan at Milan Design Week 2026

As part of Milan Design Week, When Apricots Blossom is presented at Palazzo Citterio, focusing on the cultural practices of the Aral Sea region. The project is built around material and memory — not as decoration, but through form, texture, and structure.

The exhibition is curated by Gayane Umerova, Chairperson of the Art and Culture Development Foundation of Uzbekistan. It brings together 12 installations created by international designers in collaboration with Uzbek artisans. At its core is craft as a system of knowledge passed through generations, and as a tool shaping a contemporary visual language.

Here, tradition is not treated as a reference. Ikat, suzani, ceramics and other practices are approached as a medium for expression, where precision matters more than stylisation. Each work holds a distinct state — through density of fabric, line, rhythm, and the interaction of light and surface.

The space of Palazzo Citterio provides a restrained, almost neutral framework, allowing the focus to remain on the works and their internal logic. The exhibition unfolds in a measured sequence, without excess, leaving room for observation.

The exhibition runs from April 20 to 25.

Photo: Milan Design Week / ACDF / Uzbekistan MDW