Ammon News - By: Abdulhamid Hamid Al-Kba- In the heart of Central Asia, where the historic Silk Roads intersect with the pulse of modern innovation, Uzbekistan emerges as a radiant cultural hub blending the fragrance of the past with the ambition of the future.

Imagine a vast oil painting stretching across the Qizil Qum deserts and the Tian Shan mountain ranges, brimming with the vibrant colors of Eastern miniatures, the swaying lines of Arabic calligraphy, and the forms of modern sculpture that defy the laws of gravity. Here, in New Uzbekistan, fine and applied arts are not merely a hobby or cultural luxury, but the soul of the nation—a bridge connecting ancestors who founded legendary cities like Samarkand and Bukhara with young generations building a future that transcends borders.

Under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, these arts have become a driving force for renaissance, merging ancient heritage with global innovation, transforming Uzbekistan into a beacon of creativity that inspires the entire world. The importance of fine and applied arts in Uzbekistan lies in their ability to shape national identity; they are not just artworks, but living narratives of a people’s history spanning thousands of years.

Since ancient times, applied arts—such as hand-woven carpets, ornate ceramics, and Suzani embroidery—have reflected the wisdom of ancestors, with every pattern telling a story of nature, family, and spirituality.

Fine arts, meanwhile, embody the human spirit in paintings depicting the enchantment of natural landscapes or the depths of the human soul. In our current era, these arts have become tools for spiritual, social, and economic development, as outlined in the “New Uzbekistan” strategy. Goal 75 focuses on developing visual arts and design to elevate aesthetic taste, support creators, and enrich creative life.

Thus, art transforms into an economic engine attracting tourism, opening global markets, and strengthening national unity through shared celebration of heritage. In this context, art contributes to building an aware generation that connects youth to their roots without isolating them from the world. Imagine a child in Tashkent learning calligraphy in a national paper-making workshop, drawing letters reminiscent of Kamaliddin Behzod, then participating in an international biennale gathering artists from multiple continents. This bridge is not theoretical; it creates a tolerant society that promotes values of creativity and global dialogue. As His Excellency President Shavkat Mirziyoyev stated, “Art is the language of the national soul, and supporting it is an investment in the future of New Uzbekistan”—a statement delivered during an official meeting at the Academy of Arts in 2023.

This presidential declaration encapsulates the official vision that elevates art from a hobby to a comprehensive national strategy.
The influence of Uzbek arts extends to enhancing cultural exchange, with Uzbekistan becoming a regional creativity hub. Over the past three years, it hosted 520 exhibitions, including two international sculpture symposia and open events that discovered new talents and encouraged dialogue.

In 2023, the “Art Gallery” auction house was launched in Tashkent in partnership with the Union of Artists, organizing the country’s first historic art auction and opening doors to the global market. Memoranda of cooperation signed with Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and the National Museum of Iran strengthened this role, while the Tashkent International Biennale of Contemporary Art attracts artists from Asia and Europe. On the educational front, a Teacher Retraining Center was established at the Academy of Arts in 2021, with partnerships with China, Japan, South Korea, and India. The Kamaliddin Behzod Scholarship supported 21 students between 2021–2023, and 19 new educational books were published between 2022–2024. These efforts connect youth to heritage—naming boarding schools after artists like Rozi Choriev and Juliboy Izentaev, or launching the “Followers of Kamaliddin Behzod” miniature competition. The radiance extends beyond Tashkent; in Samarkand, an international sculptors’ symposium was held under the “Spirit of Samarkand” project on the eve of the 2022 Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit, with artists from Russia, India, and Georgia producing sculptures reflecting historic Silk Road ties. Uzbekistan has achieved remarkable milestones reflecting the growth of the arts. Over the past three years, 36 statues, 38 busts, 5 reliefs, and 17 memorial monuments were erected to honor ancestors. The year 2024 celebrated the anniversaries of Muhyi al-Din Rahimov (120 years), Ortiq Fizulaev (90 years), Ural Tansiqbaev, Iskandar Ikromov, and Mubarak Yuldashev through educational events. The Academy of Arts expanded to 43 members in 2023 by electing 9 new artists and welcoming honorary members like Amandus Akanayev from Kazakhstan and Sakit Mammadov from Azerbaijan. Initiatives in 2024 included rehabilitating the Central Exhibition Hall in Tashkent, building a Young Artists’ Center with 40 workshops, and establishing a national paper-making workshop. The “Joys of Tashkent” children’s painting festival and the Applied Arts Biennale became global platforms in collaboration with TURKSOY.

In 2025, a modern art museum will open in Tashkent, alongside expanded international training programs. Exhibitions have boosted art tourism by 35% since 2021. These successes are not mere numbers; they are living stories. Imagine a young sculptor shaping a statue at an international symposium, or a painting sold at a Tashkent auction reaching Paris, carrying the spirit of Uzbekistan. In Karakalpakstan, folk arts are revived through workshops uniting youth with elders, transforming remote regions into creative centers. From Bukhara to Khiva, the traditional craft market thrives in Bukhara as a vibrant hub for applied arts, where artisans display Suzani and ceramics to tourists, supported by government initiatives to preserve local heritage. The Savitsky Museum in Nukus attracts thousands of visitors annually, safeguarding unique avant-garde treasures. Khiva’s historic walls become open-air galleries for ceramics and miniatures, drawing thousands of tourists each year. In Fergana, silk art preservation programs, backed by government funding, link the local economy to heritage. This flourishing comes with direct support from President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who made the arts a pillar of the Third Renaissance. His policies turned art into a development tool through the 2022 national program “Promoting Human Interests,” which organized the 9th Tashkent Biennale, and the 2023 “Humanitarian Care” initiative, which created exhibitions and artist residencies. The government granted honorary titles and awards to artists, built centers like “Sogdiana” in Tashkent (opened 2019) with 20 workshops and monthly exhibitions connecting tourists with artisans, and supported the creation of the country’s first auction house, providing sustainable income for artists. The focus extends to museums: the State Museum of Arts (founded 1918) displays thousands of works from miniatures to Russian avant-garde; the Savitsky Museum in Nukus, the “Louvre of the Desert,” houses 100,000 pieces including works by Alexander Volkov and Ural Tansiqbaev; and the Museum of Applied Arts celebrates 7,000 artifacts of ceramics and Suzani. In the regions, the government restored Bukhara and Samarkand markets into vibrant art spaces combining sales with education. In New Uzbekistan, the arts evolve from heritage into a global force—a bridge linking past and future under President Mirziyoyev’s leadership. With 2025 projects and international partnerships, it will continue inspiring generations, transforming Central Asia into a creative hub. Here, every brushstroke or ceramic pattern is not just art, but a message of peace and creativity to the world. By 2030, Uzbekistan will rank among the world’s top 10 art centers, where East meets West in Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara—cities that breathe art. This is not a vision; it is the promise of the Third Renaissance, where every Uzbek becomes an artist in building a more beautiful world, and every visitor a witness to a cultural miracle that transcends time. Uzbek arts are not a preserved past, but a future painted daily by a people who believe creativity is the key to eternal prosperity. In Uzbekistan, every stone speaks, and every color sings: here, art is reborn—every day.