Come March, and the British arm of one of the world’s largest auctioneers will open its first-ever selling exhibition of contemporary art from Central Asia and the Caucasus. Aptly entitled ‘At the Crossroads’, this exhibit, that begins on the 4th of March and continues for eight days, will showcase over 50 contemporary pieces by iconic artists from the Great Wall of China to the Caucasus mountains. Countries throughout the Caucasus and Central Asia have experienced rapid growth in recent years, and this is also true of the art scene there, says Jo Vickery, senior director and head of Sothebys Russian art department in London.
Among the works of several pioneering artists from several former Soviet republics of the present-day Russian federation, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhsthan, Kyrgyztan, Tajikstan, and Uzbekistan, some highlights include Kyrgyz photographer Alimjan Jorobaevs Mirages of Communism #1. 1994, which is a part of Jorobaevs photographic series of works during his search for symbols of the past in Kyrgyztan. The photograph shows a reverse communist sign in Cyrillic to bring his concept of the road away from communism to the forefront.
Georgian artist Kote Sulaberidzes vivid and colourful By Eyes of the Colourblind, depicts two reflections of the world, one through the eyes of a person with regular vision and the other from a colourblind persons perspective, exhibiting the artists exploration of colour. The master of Azerbaijani expressionist painting, Toghrul Narimanbekov, will also make an appearance; his Gazelle Hunt portrays an engrossing Orientalist story and is the last remaining panel from a trio used for the film set of Dede Gorgud (1975), based on a famous epic poem of the region.
All in all, the exhibition promises to offer a slice of contemporary history from a lesser-explored part of the world, that art buffs won’t want to miss. The price estimates of the artworks are yet to be disclosed by the auction house.
Text by Aashmita Nayar