“Not Covered by Nepotism”: A Performance-Exhibition About Corruption in Samarkand’s Art Scene
Hello, my name is Khusen Rustamov. I am an artist and art activist from Samarkand.
On October 19, 2025, I will open my performance-exhibition titled “Not Covered by Nepotism” at the Art Station Gallery in Samarkand.
The exhibition is dedicated to an urgent theme for our city’s cultural life: corruption and nepotism in the art community. It reflects on how these dynamics affect the visibility of independent artists, young creators, and grassroots initiatives — those who often remain on the margins of institutional support.
Background
The idea for “Not Covered by Nepotism” came quite recently — after almost a year of trying to organize a small photo exhibition in my hometown. What was supposed to be a simple artistic event gradually turned into an exhausting confrontation with local cultural institutions.
Instead of support, I encountered resistance, censorship, and exclusion. Negotiations with Art Station showed that even in half-empty galleries, one must overcome numerous obstacles just to exhibit — which is precisely why many give up on such ideas and leave the city due to the lack of prospects and hope.
A year ago, I could not have imagined that such a modest exhibition would turn into a journey of art activism, regular meetings with different institutions, and even personal risks.
Official Support
After months of refusals, obstacles, and delays, the project finally received official authorization through the Virtual Reception of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, which facilitated the confirmation of the exhibition dates at Art Station. Without this step, the exhibition simply would not have happened.
Invitation to Guests
I have invited representatives of the Goethe-Institut Tashkent, the Silk Road International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage, and the Embassy of Switzerland in Uzbekistan to attend the exhibition.
I do not know whether they will actually visit the event, but if they do, their presence would be a meaningful gesture — showing support for independent artistic voices and contributing to a more open and inclusive cultural scene in Samarkand.
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Exhibition Details
Opening date: October 19, 2025
Venue: Art Station Residency-Gallery in Samarkand. Makhmud Kashgary Street 85а, Samarkand, Samarqand Region, Uzbekistan
Title: Not Covered by Nepotism
The project is both personal and collective — a reflection on what it means to be an artist in a city where access to cultural space is often defined not by creativity, but by connections.
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📌 “Not Covered by Nepotism” is not just an exhibition — it is also a question to our community: how do we want our art spaces to function, and for whom should they exist?”
