Uzbekistan Showcases The Aural Sea at Venice Biennale

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan has presented its national pavilion titled “The Aural Sea” at the 61st Venice Biennale of Contemporary Art. The project attracted significant international attention and focused on the Aral Sea, which is presented not only as an ecological disaster but also as a space of cultural memory and artistic reflection.

The theme of this year’s Biennale, “In Minor Keys,” is described by organizers as a framework for more restrained and reflective artistic expressions about the contemporary world. Within this context, the Uzbek pavilion was presented as a work addressing the region’s complex historical and environmental processes.

During the inauguration ceremony of the national pavilion, speakers emphasized the project’s significance as a multilayered artistic exploration. The Aral Sea was interpreted within the exhibition as a site of memory and myth-making, rather than solely as an environmental crisis.

Head of the Presidential Administration of Uzbekistan Saida Mirziyoyeva noted on her Telegram channel that the country’s participation in the Biennale was an important cultural event. She said the “The Aural Sea” project attracted the attention of visitors and participants and contributed to growing interest in the region and its cultural heritage.

She also stressed that Uzbekistan’s national pavilion traditionally draws sustained international interest, helping to promote awareness of the country’s culture and the broader region.