'The art of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan might be the last territory not represented on the global art scene. This exhibition is another attempt at filling this gap.

'This attempt is justified not only by the cultural and historic peculiarity of these countries, but also by their singularity in terms of ethnicity and art. The interest directed toward this region must be motivated by the fact that these countries are a legitimate part of modernity. One of the subjects of Soviet modernisation, Central Asia participated in decisive collisions and endured many historic experiences during the 20th century. At the same time, its collisions and experiences of the past-communist period transformed it into a full member of the global order. The same applies to art, where Central Asian artists, involved in the reform of the Russian avant-garde, created their own original context and their own perspectives on contemporary discourse.' (Excerpt from p.3)

Published to accompany 'Art from Central Asia: A Contemporary Archive' presented in the Central Asia Pavilion, the 51st Venice Art Biennale in 2005, the catalogue offers an overview of the participating artists and their works of multiple media—ranging from installation art to video art and performance—which focus on such issues as identity, post-Soviet experience, politics, consumerism and beyond.