Mirror – the power of the female gaze

An exhibition of women artists changing the world

16 Dec 2024
Tamilla Sultanova "Delicate Ties"

The period from late November to early December was marked by a vibrant cultural program that captivated art enthusiasts. Among these significant events was the exhibition “Mirror,” which carried substantial social resonance beyond its artistic merit, drawing wide public attention.

Ediye Yagli «Eva of a new day»

The exhibition was organized by artist and curator Nigina Denizart, who holds a master’s degree in “Cultural Project Management, Exhibitions, and Artist Promotion” from a French institution. Previously, Nigina founded the “Exponaut” gallery in Tashkent, which focused on promoting Uzbek art and culture through various art events.

Zulfiya Spovart «Trickster»

Currently residing in the south of France and working in the beauty industry, Nigina was inspired to host this exhibition upon returning to her hometown of Tashkent. Her goal was to support women artists.

Odina Kudratova «Reflection»

ELLE  O‘zbekiston spoke with Nigina Denizart, who generously shared the concept behind this project.

Shahodat Rahmatbayeva «Connection of Life»

“The exhibition titled ‘Mirror’ is a non-commercial initiative driven entirely by women. The participants were selected without an open competition. The showcase features works by fifteen artists of varying levels of mastery, including professional artists who are members of the Union of Artists.

Sharifa Sharafkhodjayeva and Daniyar Sharafkhodjayeva «Black gold»

The exhibition raised important questions about women's role in society throughout history. Just as nature follows its cycle, a woman’s life is intrinsically tied to the selfless and nurturing process of childbirth and raising children.

The displayed works explore various topics, from ecology to politics and economics, illustrating that women have always played an active role in societal life.

A recurring theme throughout the exhibition is the dual symbolism embodied by women, representing nature and the earth. This key motif is consistently present in all the showcased works.

Sitora Brejneva «Love - Forgiveness»

As one of the exhibition's curators, I would like to highlight the contribution of Shakhnoza Karimbabaeva, founder of the Bonum Factum Gallery, who played an active role in organizing this project.

Special thanks go to the pianist Bibinur Muhammadieva, who, on her own initiative, performed live music during the opening ceremony. Her performance significantly enriched the event, creating an unforgettable atmosphere.

Sharifa Sharafkhodjayeva, «Desert flower»

We were pleasantly surprised by the sheer number of visitors to our exhibition – it exceeded all our expectations. Among the attendees was even a guest from Kazakhstan, a musician visiting Uzbekistan for the first time. This exhibition has been an invaluable experience for both us and the participating artists. We are also deeply grateful to Masterskaya.uz for generously providing us with a free venue to host this event.”

Farangis Aliyeva, tryptych «Big little women»

The exhibition featured works by Madina Khodjaeva, Farangis Alieva, Shirin Islamkbekova, Edie Yagli, Sharifa Sharafkhodjaeva, Rushana Alimova, Alexandra Romanova, Elnora Ibragimova, Tamilla Sultanova, Seviliya Akramova, Shahodat Rakhmatbaeva, Sitora Brejneva, Odina Kudratova, Zulfiya Spowart and Darya Novikova.

Photos provided by Nigina Denizart.

16 Dec 2024
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