September 22–October 19, 2023
Locations: Oak Park Gallery (78a Pushkin Street) and the Library of Saved Books (Altyn Kazyk settlement, Bishkek)
We are pleased to invite you to the environmental art festival Interpreting the History of Pollution: Art Prospect & Trash-5. This year, the festival has brought together more than 20 artists from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, the US, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Georgia, and Czechia to collaborate on art installations and events dealing with the issue of pollution. The exhibitions will be held at two locations: Oak Park Gallery in downtown Bishkek and the non-profit Library of Saved Books in the settlement of Altyn Kazyk at the Bishkek city landfill. The festival will present a study on textile waste in Kyrgyzstan, as well as a fairy tale, The Shining Mountain, about schoolchildren from Altyn Kazyk fighting a garbage monster, a new public space in Altyn Kazyk, and a museum about trash at the city's landfill.
Situated at the intersection of science and art, the festival puts forward new strategies and tools that help make sense of the problem of pollution in Kyrgyzstan and around the world. Festival artists will share stories about pollution in their regions through contemporary artworks, archival research, statistics, interactive recycling installations, creative performances, and art-making sessions, workshops, discussions, and presentations. Interpreting the History of Pollution: Art Prospect & Trash-5 uses the lens of environmentalism to shed light on recent history, offering a new perspective on the past and the future.
Interpreting the History of Pollution: Art Prospect & Trash-5 includes a wide range of events in different locations
September 22–23 (Fri–Sat)
Textile Waste Research Presentation, Installation, and Upcycling Workshops
Authors of the study: Aimeerim Tursalieva, Tazar Kyrgyzstan and Bermet Borubaeva, Oksana Kapishnikova, Bishkek School of Contemporary Art (BiSCA)
Location: Dordoi Plaza, 115/2 Ibraimova Street
September 28 (Thu)
Hands-on Public Talk with Festival Artists on their methods and what makes public art practice unique
Location: Compass College, 41 Manas Avenue
Time: 18:00
September 25–October 4 (Mon–Wed)
Public Art Workshop for Young Artists with Kendal Henry
Location: Altyn Kazyk settlement and the Semyon Chuikov College of Art
View the sign-up form for details: docs.google.com/forms/d/...
September 30 (Sat)
Public Lecture and Discussion on Public Art and Ecology with artist and curator Kendal Henry (New York, USA) and artist sTo Len (New York, USA)
The event will be held in English with Russian translation
Location: Gapar Aitiev Fine Arts Museum
October 2–3 (Mon–Tue)
Workshop with Ronja Römmelt for Young Artists and Students
Location: Square across from Ala-Too Cinema
Time: October 2, 2:00–4:00 pm
October 3, 2:00–4:00 pm
October 5 (Thu)
Art Exhibition Opening
Location: in and around Oak Park Gallery, 78a Pushkin Street
Exhibition dates: October 5–19
4:00 pm
Welcome speech
4:30–5:30 pm
Artist-led tour
6:00–7:00 pm
Performance by Ronja Römmelt and Sara Koller, square across from Ala-Too Cinema
7:00–8:45 pm
DJ storytelling session Whispers with the Earth by Diana Ukhina and DJ set by omi_kami, second floor of the gallery
October 6 (Fri)
Festival Program
Location: Oak Park Gallery, 78a Pushkin Street
12:00–1:00 pm
Performance by Ronja Römmelt and Sara Koller, square across from Ala-Too Cinema
4:00–5:00 pm
Performance by Ronja Römmelt and Sara Koller, square across from Ala-Too Cinema
5:00–7:00 pm
“Art and Ecology” public talk with artists and environmentalists
October 7 (Sat)
Public Art in Altyn Kazyk
1:00 pm
Tour group meet-up and departure from the Maldybaev Opera and Ballet Theater bus stop, 167 Sovetskaya Street
2:00–3:00 pm
Opening of the People’s Landfill Museum of Bishkek by sTo Len
3:00–4:00 pm
Public space opening
4:00–5:00 pm
Performance by Ronja Römmelt and Sara Koller
4:00–6:00 pm
Two creative field trips/tours around Altyn Kazyk with Lera Lerner, one for adults and one for children
6:00–7:00 pm
Performance by Ronja Römmelt and Sara Koller
7:00–8:30 pm
“A Cozy Evening” with the library staff curated by Marzhan Jeenbekova
8:30–10:00 pm
Central Asian discotheque/DJ storytelling session Warble with the Earth by Diana Ukhina
October 10–19 (Tue–Thu), 2023
The Ecology of Consciousness: Upcycling
Public Program
Details (in Russian): https://bishci.com/article/...
Location: second floor of Oak Park Gallery, 78a Pushkin Street
Curator of the program and exposition: Diana Ukhina
October 10 (Tue)
1:00–3:00 pm
Curatorial tour of the exhibition and program, Oak Park Gallery, 78a Pushkin Street moderated by Diana Ukhina
3:30–4:30 pm
The Shining Mountain book presentation
Tazar and Bishkek School of Contemporary Art
October 11 (Wed)
1:00–5:00 pm
Trash-4: Follow the River of Trash zine presentation and collective reflection on Interpreting the History of Pollution: Art Prospect & Trash-5, moderated by Diana Ukhina
October 12 (Thu)
2:00–4:00 pm
Collage workshop “How to collect material for a collage”, conducted by Adel Ismailkhanova
(by pre-registration)
October 13 (Fri)
2:00–4:00 pm
Antonín Brinda presents documentation from his artistic interactions with Bishkek residents around the urban environment
October 14 (Sat)
09.00 - 14.00
14.00 - 16.00
Vladislav Ushakov, Yaroslav Tartykov, PF “Environmental Monitoring and Investigations” (EсoMiR). Bird watching trip in honor of Eco-Activist Day
(by pre-registration)
14.00 - 16.00
Screening of the documentary TRASH into TREASURES. Moderation: Bermet Borubaeva
October 15 (Sun)
12:00–5:00 pm
Craftism Day hosted by Alima Tokmergenova
October 18 (Wed)
3:00–4:00 pm
The Shining Mountain puppet show, Art Jashoo Multimedia Theater
October 19 (Thu)
3:00–5:00 pm
Tour of the Open-Air Sculpture Museum in Oak Park led by Alima Tokmergenova (by pre-registration)
Background information: This year’s festival, Interpreting the History of Pollution: Art Prospect & Trash-5, unites the international festival Art Prospect with the Kyrgyz event Trash Fest. Art Prospect is a project of CEC ArtsLink that has traveled to five countries over the past 10 years. This year is Trash Fest’s fifth in Bishkek, where it is organized by local nonprofits the Bishkek School of Contemporary Art and Tazar Kyrgyzstan.
Produced by CEC ArtsLink (USA), Tazar Kyrgyzstan, and Bishkek School of Contemporary Art (BiSCA)
The project is funded by the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Russia, the U.S. Embassy in the Kyrgyz Republic, the Trust for Mutual Understanding and The Kettering Family
Organizers and curators: Tazar Kyrgyzstan (Aimeerim Tursalieva, Irina Agofonova, Begimai Zhunusova ), CEC ArtsLink (Susan Katz, Lizaveta Matveeva, Natalia Shapkina, Anastasia Skvortsova), Bishkek School of Contemporary Art (Bermet Borubaeva, Oksana Kapishnikova)
Curator of the public program "Ecology of Consciousness: Upcycling": Diana Ukhina (Bishkek School of Contemporary Art, SYNERGY art studio)
Production managers and works installation: Begimai Zhunusova, Bermet Borubaeva, Aimeerim Tursalieva, Munara Borombaeva, Diana Ukhina, Ravshan ta Jing, Talgat Berikov
PR: Nurzhan Chunueva
SMM: Adel Ismailkhanova
Designer: Maria Kheysina
Artists: Alena Abitova & Begimay Zairbek Kyzy (Kyrgyzstan), Cholpon Alamanova & Altyn Kapalova (Kyrgyzstan), Rakhat Asangulova (Kyrgyzstan), Cathy Byrd (USA), Antonin Brinda (Czech Republic), Nellya Dzamanbaeva (Kyrgyzstan), Ellen Harvey (USA), GLUKLYA / Natalia Pershina-Jakimanskaya (Russia/ The Netherlands), Kendal Henry (USA), Adel Ismailkhanova (Kyrgyzstan), Ermek Jaenisch (Kyrgyzstan), Syinat Joldosheva (Kyrgyzstan), Chynarkul Jusupkeldieva (Kyrgyzstan), Anton Karmanov (Russia), Kirpi (Kyrgyzstan), Chingiz Narynov (Kyrgyzstan), Zarina Nazarbek kyzy (Kyrgyzstan), sTo Len (USA), Lera Lerner (Russia), the Laboratory of Climate Solutions (Olga Mnishko, Ilya Kuleshov, Nurzhan Chunueva, Dmitry Pereyaslavsky), the Library of Saved Books group (Kyrgyzstan), Iara Lee (Brazil) & Nthabiseng TeReo Mohanela (Lesotho), Anna Martynenko (Russia), Nurperi Orunbaeva (Kyrgyzstan), Dmitrii Petrovskii DOXA (Kyrgyzstan), Anton Polsky MAKE (Russia/ Germany), Rahat Joroeva & Alienora Kurmanbekova, Eco-Batken (Kyrgyzstan), Ronja Römmelt & Sara Koller in collaboration with Sherikul uulu Amangeldi, Jibek Birikova, Olcha Schetinina and Chagaldak Zamirbekov (Switzerland), Ilya Sibiryakov (Russia), Steven Siegel (USA), Mishiko Sulakauri (Georgia), Saule Suleimanova (Kazakhstan), Textile Zero Waste (Bermet Borubaeva, Aimeerim Tursalieva, Oksana Kapishnikova, Kyrgyzstan), Yaroslav Tartykov (Kyrgyzstan), Alima Tokmergenova (Kyrgyzstan), Diana Ukhina (Kyrgyzstan), Vladislav Ushakov (EcoMir) & Gamal Soronkulov, Iskender Aliev (Kyrgyzstan), Chingiz Aidarov & Sasha Filatova (Kyrgyzstan), Mirrahim Opposh - Sherden (Kyrgyzstan), Ayan Bugebaev and Nazerke Toleutai - Ekinshi (Kazakhstan); Umsunai MusaevaAdelia Aitymbetova , Akgul Omurakunova, Janyshbek Botoi, Aidai Musabekova - Art Jashoo (Kyrgyzstan); Idiris kyzy Dinara, Karagulov Argen, Taalaibek kyzy Anara, Kaseinov Jyldyzbek, Ainura Kachkynbek kyzy ; Crafts by Unknown Artisans (Kyrgyzstan).
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More about organizers and the festivals
CEC ArtsLink is a New York-based non-profit organization which supports dialogue between artists and communities through individual encounters, public events, transnational networks, and virtual platforms. Founded in 1962, CEC ArtsLink believed that it was essential for citizens of the United States and the Soviet Union to meet and build mutual trust, while their governments engaged in the Cold War. Today, artists and arts leaders play a vital role in nurturing civil societies. Through the simple act of bringing people together in a shared experience, through exploration of the unfamiliar, art can dissolve borders and help communities overcome distrust and insularity. As nations increasingly retreat behind their borders, it becomes imperative for the work of artists and arts leaders to catalyze communities in mitigating conflict and prejudice locally, nationally, and globally.
The Bishkek School of Contemporary Art (BiSCA) is a self-organized socially engaged art platform that offers to accumulate and promote practices, reflections, and experiences of art in its various manifestations both at the level of mediums and at the level of artistic solutions / gestures / acts. Our platform works on the principle of circulation, accumulation, formation of “knowledge” about art, creation of a space for communication, interchange, and, possibly, but not necessarily, will contribute to the development of a methodological and theoretical basis, the creation of archival space and practices for the implementation of contemporary art in Kyrgyzstan and beyond.
www.bishci.com, bishkekartschool@gmail.com, https://t.me/bishci, insta: @bishkek_art_school.
Tazar Kyrgyzstan is a sorting and recycling platform and mobile application in Kyrgyzstan. We teach citizens how to properly separate waste and hand it in their garbage/waste/recyclables to collecting points or recycling factories. We spread information about recycling and disposal in Bishkek and in the regions. We also teach offices and HORECA to become responsible for their ecological footprint.
tazarapp@gmail.com, insta: @tazar.app. Download the Tazar app: App Store и Play Market.
Art Prospect Festival
ART PROSPECT is an annual public art festival founded by the non-profit organization CEC ArtsLink in 2012. The festival changes the usual urban landscape and fills the streets, courtyards, parks and other public spaces with works of contemporary art.
The Trash Festival
The Trash Festival and the creation of the Library have been initiated by the Tazar Kyrgyzstan and the Bishkek School of Contemporary Art. The Festival was started in 2010 by graduated students of the School of Contemporary Art ArtEast, initiated by Gulnara Kasmalieva and Murat Djumaliev. Since it began its meaning did not change - artists together with experts, activists, and citizens are attracting attention to environmental pollution with tools of art.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CwNJAVyLru4/?igshid=NzZhOTFlYzFmZQ==
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