"A Look into the Ancient City of Uzbekistan: Transforming into a Global Cultural Center for Heartbreak Recipes"
The Bukhara Biennial is a highly anticipated contemporary art event set to take place in the historic city of Bukhara, Uzbekistan, from September 5 to November 20, 2025[1][2]. This ten-week extravaganza is the brainchild of the Uzbekistan Art & Culture Development Foundation (ACDF), an organisation dedicated to preserving and promoting Uzbekistan's rich heritage, arts, and culture while fostering cross-cultural conversations and the creative economy[3].
The Biennial, titled "Recipes for Broken Hearts," promises to be a platform for international artistic expression and cultural dialogue, rooted in the historic and poetic context of Bukhara as a city of makers and poets[2]. The specific thematic details for the 2025 event are not explicitly described in the available sources, but it is clear that the Biennial will showcase a diverse array of contemporary artworks spanning various disciplines and geographies.
Some of the notable artists and works include Laila Gohar's Navat, Delcy Morelos' earth and spice dome, and Subodh Gupta's repurposed enamel dishes. Architect Suchi Reddy has designed a protective canopy for the House of Softness, inspired by Uzbek ikat casting patterns.
The House of Softness, a transformation of the 16th-century Gavkushon Madrasa, will serve as a space for public programs, children's workshops, and storytelling during the Biennial. A three-day symposium titled "The Craft of Mending" will take place at the House of Softness, bringing together thinkers, historians, and artists to explore repair as both a physical and political act[4].
Food plays a central role in the Biennial, with a goal to explore loss, resilience, and belonging through meals. The Biennial begins with the aroma of fermentation at Cafe Oshqozon, where Buddhist monk and chef Jeong Kwan prepares kimchi on the first day[5]. The final week of the Biennial hosts the Rice Cultures Festival, featuring various rice dishes cooked in the open air[6].
The Bukhara Biennial is part of a broader national strategy to reintegrate Uzbekistan into global cultural networks, with support from President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. It is also connected to restoration projects, museums, and creative platforms launched by the Uzbekistan Art & Culture Development Foundation (ACDF) internationally, including the Venice Biennale pavilion and the Expo 2025 in Osaka[7].
The Biennial is entirely free and open to the public, with immersive programming in Uzbek, Russian, and English[8]. Visitors can easily access the Biennial by high-speed rail from Tashkent and Samarkand, with boutique hotels and guesthouses nestled among its UNESCO-listed architecture[9].
For more information about the Bukhara Biennial, visit bukharabiennial.uz/en or follow @bukhara.biennial on Instagram.
[1] bukharabiennial.uz/en [2] The Art Newspaper, "Uzbekistan to launch its first Biennial in 2025," 2021 [3] Uzbekistan Art & Culture Development Foundation (ACDF) website [4] bukharabiennial.uz/en [5] bukharabiennial.uz/en [6] bukharabiennial.uz/en [7] Uzbekistan Art & Culture Development Foundation (ACDF) website [8] bukharabiennial.uz/en [9] bukharabiennial.uz/en
- The Bukhara Biennial, with its focus on contemporary art, cultural dialogue, and food, offers a unique opportunity for travelers to immerse themselves in the rich lifestyle and heritage of Bukhara while enjoying the diverse food-and-drink offerings and engaging with artworks from various geographies.
- Exploring the Bukhara Biennial, from attending the three-day symposium "The Craft of Mending" to tasting various rice dishes at the Rice Cultures Festival, provides a captivating cultural-travel experience that showcases Uzbekistan's dedication to preserving and promoting its arts, culture, and heritage.
