An Uzbek Debut at the 2025 London Design Biennale

An evocative installation showcasing Uzbekistan’s vibrant artistic talent will debut at this summer’s London Design Biennale—marking the country’s first appearance at the prestigious international event.

Set within the grandeur of Somerset House, a historic building in central London, the fifth edition of the biennale runs from 5 to 29 June and will feature over 40 international exhibitors. This year’s theme, ‘Surface Reflections,’ chosen by Artistic Director Dr Samuel Ross MBE, invites designers to explore personal histories and reveal the “multifaceted hues of human experience.”

The pavilion dedicated to Uzbek Design, titled ‘The Once and Future Garden,’ honours the country’s rich past, present, and future by transporting attendees to the gardens of the late medieval Timurid Empire founded by Amir Timur. The empire’s gardens, as historically depicted in literature and art, embodied Islamic visions of paradise. Landscaped in the elaborate chahar-bagh style, these spaces were adorned with colourful flowers, fruit-laden trees, and lush plants, all centred around an open-air pavilion 

A contemporary interpretation of these ornate Timurid structures, represented by an octagonal pavilion, stands at the heart of the space. The room’s pale green hues and geometric shadows manipulate light and colour to suggest a memory of the now-lost gardens. Through mihrab-shaped windows made of translucent textile, the works of four designers and their unique crafts are exhibited—all of which draw from Uzbekistan’s past to create something new, just as the pavilion itself reimagines the old gardens in a fresh light.

Who’s Who: Featured Artists

The Uzbek designers featured—Nigora Hashimova, Tigran Erdman and Timur Parvanov, and Madina Kasimbaeva—are indispensable contributors to Uzbekistan’s rich artistic heritage. Their work reflects a continuous dialogue between time-honoured traditions, evident in their use of form, materials, and techniques, and innovations that place their creations firmly in the present day. 

Фото: Re_Production

Fashion Designer Nigora Hashimova reimagines traditional Uzbek ikat textiles, transforming the material into standout pieces in “a unique symbiosis with modern trends.” Rooted in craftsmanship and cultural pride, her label adapts ikat to the global fashion stage whilst recognising the value of its artistry. Hashimova highlights the meticulous manual labour behind her designs, celebrating their bold colours and striking silhouettes. Her work offers a refreshed and of-the-moment vision of Uzbek style. 

Tigran Erdman, working in partnership with business manager Timur Parmanov, draws inspiration from Uzbekistan’s reverence for its crafts, traditions, and cultural heritage. While his works are rooted in this legacy, he is adroit at experimentation—particularly in the realm of furniture design. His studio integrates aged materials, including bekasam, into sleek contemporary forms, carefully wrapping them around the wooden frames of his pieces. By fusing vintage textiles with modern structures, Erdman reinterprets tradition through a sculptural lens, creating functional furniture that feels both timeless and inventive.

Madina Kasimbaeva is a world-renowned embroiderer, keeping her ancestral craft of suzani alive. Her contributions to the practice of suzani have been recognised by the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation, which has exhibited her work in leading museums and institutions worldwide. Kasimbaeva relies exclusively on high-quality silk threads dyed with natural pigments, sourced from Margilan, a city renowned for its silk production since the 10th century. Reflecting on what led her on this creative path, Kasimbaeva describes her work as “something alive—something that draws you in…when I speak about my craft specifically, I can say it has a kind of pull.” 

Фото: Azalea Djuraeva

Also featured in the pavilion is acclaimed glass artist Ruth Shelley. Shelley travelled from her native United Kingdom to Uzbekistan in 2023, meeting artisans from Nukus to Margilan. Her trip inspired a collection of glass vessels based on Uzbek textiles, specifically carpets produced in Khiva which draw their designs from Timurid-era miniature paintings. By featuring Shelley’s work, the pavilion demonstrates how dialogue between makers from different traditions can encourage new avenues of expression, and how Uzbek design influences creatives around the globe.

Visitors to the biennale will be invited to pause and find a moment of calm while reflecting on the craftsmanship and vibrant creativity on display. Through their diverse practices, these artists provide a collective vision of Uzbek design with each piece carefully selected to embody the artist’s values—many of which are overlapping and steeped in national pride. The collection of these works contributes to a cultural landscape in motion, where tradition and custom serve as the foundation for innovation.

Фото: Re_Production

The exhibition is a collaborative effort, led by Curator Phoebe Tronzo and Assistant Curator Alsu Akhmetzyanova. "The London Design Biennale brings together original perspectives from around the globe, and is a fantastic opportunity to showcase Uzbek design to an international audience. It is an honour to work collaboratively with such talented artists to present a story that intertwines an exploration of Uzbekistan’s past, present, and future as relates to design,” said Tronzo.

The project was organised by communications firm DNA as part of its fifth anniversary celebrations. DNA, with offices in Tashkent and London, supports the further development of British-Uzbek cultural exchange. With over 40,000 visitors and over 300 media attendees of the 2023 biennale, this year’s event is expected to grow even further  in prominence. 

Reflecting on this significant platform, Akhmetzyanova noted, “Uzbek design today is thoughtful, bold, and alive, and it deserves to be part of the global conversation.” More than a showcase, the pavilion thus serves as an opportunity to share the country’s heritage, challenge prevailing perceptions, and stake a rightful place on the world stage of contemporary design.

London Design Biennale – 05-29 June 2025

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