Central Asian culture and arts, and the region’s historical relationship with the Soviet Union, showcased in Hong Kong exhibition
- Clouds, Power and Ornament – Roving Central Asia features works by 26 artists and creators from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and elsewhere
- With a wide line-up of curators, the exhibition shows the vibrant cultures of the region, much of which was under Soviet rule for most of the 20th century
To the uninitiated, the names of textiles like ikat, suzani and syrmak might prompt furrowed brows. But these traditional Central Asian materials tell a dynamic story, one that offers insights into the region’s culture, politics and people.
They form part of an exhibition at Hong Kong’s Centre for Heritage, Arts and Textile (Chat) at The Mills in Tsuen Wan, called “Clouds, Power and Ornament – Roving Central Asia”.
The exhibition is curated by Chat’s Wang Weiwei and a line-up of guest curators, and features works by 26 artists and creators from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and elsewhere in the region.
“Central Asia is such a culturally vibrant place, as all of us know – such a mixed place and [with] a multilayered political, social, cultural situation,” Wang says. “I believe learning from [Central Asia] is very necessary …”
“We should learn how the people there survived for the past 1,000 years, survived through the Soviet Union, post-Soviet Union, all these kinds of situations.”
The first part of the exhibition, titled “Clouds and Power”, was curated by arts collective Slavs and Tatars, and You Mi, a professor of art and economics. Some works highlight the role and significance of textiles in daily life, while others use the materials to express thoughts on contemporary Central Asian society and politics.
