The taste of art: a chocolate tribute to Chingiz Akhmarov

There are moments in life you simply can’t forget. Because once you lived them, they took your breath away and made your head spin.

On May 5th, the brand Qand presented its new Spring/Summer 2025 collection dedicated to Chingiz Akhmarov. The event evoked exactly those indescribable feelings that no Instagram story can truly convey. They can only be lived and deeply felt. You savor each second with the fear and thrill that it will all end at any moment. You take it in like a rich dessert—slowly, memorizing every note.Close your eyes and imagine yourself standing on the legendary stage of the State Academic Bolshoi Theatre, whose age equals that of a human life – 73 years. Many great masters have performed on this stage! And now you’re here, even though you’re not an actor, walking, sitting, listening to music, and tasting exquisite handmade chocolate. Ancient motifs in the music by Mosaiq8e merge with techno rhythms and, alongside Akhmarov’s paintings, mentally transport you to the 16th century.The presentation began with the screening of an animated film about the life and work of Chingiz Akhmarov, brought to life by a talented team led by Qand founder Saidakmal Vahobov. The creative team included screenwriter Maftuna Amilkhanova, artist Kholmurod Muzaffarov, director Abdurakhim Aslanov, and composer Mosaiq8e. More than 1,000 watercolor illustrations were seamlessly combined to tell the story of this remarkable artist.The screening ended. Everyone sat in anticipation of what would come next. And then, an unexpected twist: guests were invited onto the stage! Yes, you read that right – the actual stage. Hesitantly, but with immense curiosity, people ascended the steps to what could only be described as a fairy tale brought to life – a composition based on the legacy of Chingiz Akhmarov. His works were displayed everywhere, including four originals from a private collection.ELLE: Do you believe the atmosphere of a place affects how people experience your chocolate?

Saidakmal Vahobov – the founder of Qand: I believe many factors can influence the way we perceive taste. It’s one thing to enjoy our chocolate with a view of the Alps by Lake Geneva, and quite another if someone is working tirelessly in a field and tastes our product afterward. But I hope that in both cases, the experience of our chocolate is equally unforgettable.What emotions did you hope to evoke in the guests by inviting them directly onto the stage? – We asked Maftuna Amilkhanova, one of the organizers of the presentation.

Maftuna Amilkhanova: First and foremost, we wanted the guests to feel like the main characters in a magical world that we tried to recreate on stage. We aimed to transform spectators into participants. That’s why, at the end of the theatrical show, the ‘seven beauties’ sat in the audience looking at the guests standing on stage. Roles reversed, and the boundary between auditorium and stage disappeared.And it worked. The guests truly felt like protagonists.

But that wasn’t all. Next, we were invited to approach the orchestra pit. The same pit that normally resonates with classical music was now filled with the fusion of ancient roots and urban rhythm. Suddenly, the audience came alive: a theatrical fashion show from Nadi.uz and LA’MAISON DU TCHAPAN unfolded, crowned by the “cherry on top”: from the very top of the central balcony rang out the voice of a nightingale in human form – singer Sayyora Musaeva.Let palaces be adorned in lavish splendor,

Let colors become like rainbows in the pattern.

Inside and out – equally resplendent,

Let them blossom with vibrant, wondrous hues, – she sang. 

ELLE: What or who inspired you to present this event in such a unique way? 

Maftuna Amilkhanova: Of course, we were inspired by the paintings of Chingiz Akhmarov and the world he created, rooted in the poetry of Alisher Navoi. But the most important inspiration was the inner state of everyone involved in bringing the vision to life. We had no limits – only total freedom of thought. As for me, I wrote the lyrics for the song performed by Sayyora Musaeva during the show. The inspiration came from Navoi’s poem ‘Sab’ai Sayyor’ (Seven Planets) in old Uzbek.

When developing the script for the film about Akhmarov’s life and art, I was inspired by a simple dream: to write a fairy tale for my one-year-old nephew. It turned out that love for a little human became the starting point.

After the artistic portion concluded, the brand’s founder, Saidakmal Vahobov, presented the new Qand SS 2025 collection of gift boxes featuring original images from Akhmarov’s work.ELLE: How difficult was it to adapt a theater space for a gastronomic event? 

Maftuna Amilkhanova: Honestly, it wasn’t difficult at all. From the very beginning, we felt that the Bolshoi Theatre stage was a space where anything is possible! Especially with a fantastic team beside you, there’s no such thing as impossible.After the artistic part concluded, the presentation of the new gift box collection began. The development involved the jewelry house Faberari and the art space Masterskaya. One of the boxes included an exclusive set of ceramic tableware by ceramicist Otabek Gaybullaev, hand-painted by porcelain artist Natalia Yalisheva. The gift box, titled "Farhod va Shirin", was complemented by refined tableware from the German brand Zieher.

The presentation of Qand’s new collection is further proof that this team knows no limits. Their creative approach continues to surprise, with unexpected formats, unique locations, and the ability to transform any event into art. Thank you, Qand, for the unforgettable emotions!

Photo: Stanislav Boyko, Otabek Mirsagatov