Regeneration Art Project

The Human Kind Institute is all about finding genuinely human solutions to the rapid changes we all experience today. We don’t just look at tech and science; we also celebrate creativity and nurture talent. After all, before technology and outcomes, it’s our shared consciousness and goodwill that will lead us to a brighter future.

Art has this amazing ability to move people and spark reflection, both personally and socially. It serves as a powerful springboard for dialogue and can inspire us to engage in open, creative exchanges while challenging our ways of thinking. That’s why supporting cultural initiatives—like art exhibitions and installations—has always been a key part of our mission at HKI. We’re excited to expand this focus with the Regeneration Art Project initiatives.

Launched in September 2024, the Regeneration Art Project aims to support a new wave of young artists in Uzbekistan. With 60% of the population under 30, it’s crucial to create positive spaces for youth expression and engagement. Regeneration is all about fostering environments where both art and artists can inspire fresh ideas and perspectives.

True to its name, the Regeneration Project respects the past while encouraging new forms of expression. It brings together young talent from various regions to spark creative dialogue, deeply rooted in Central Asia’s rich culture and artistic traditions.

Nestled in Central Asia, Uzbekistan was once a key stopping point on the famous Silk Roads that connected East and West. These ancient trade routes didn’t just carry precious silks and spices; they also brought ideas, art, and technology. This rich exchange led to thriving cultural hubs and great cities springing up in the desert. With guidance from visionary leaders, the local people drew from diverse traditions, creating a vibrant cultural tapestry that’s still flourishing today. Today, Uzbekistan is celebrated for its stunning Islamic architecture, beautiful ikat silks, and intricate handicrafts.

Now, an exciting wave of talented young artists is emerging from this rich cultural landscape. They come from various regions and work in different mediums, styles, and disciplines, but they all share a deep connection to their cultural roots. Unfortunately, many of these creative individuals lack sufficient support, and their potential could fade without a nurturing environment to help it flourish. It is this realisation that pushed Lola Tillyaeva to kickstart her visionary project—the First Art Fest for Young People, which was just the first of many groundbreaking art initiatives in Uzbekistan.

In northwestern Uzbekistan lies Karakalpakstan, a region facing severe environmental challenges. This area includes part of the Aral Sea, which was once the fourth largest freshwater lake in the world but has now all but dried up leaving a saline desert. In just a generation or two, the Aral Sea has shrunk by an astonishing 90%. The local fishing industry has collapsed, drinking water has become salty, and once-bustling port cities and ships are now abandoned. The young people in this region desperately need our support.

We kicked off our mission by hosting the RE/Generation Art Fest in Tashkent from September 4-12, 2024. This inaugural festival was a groundbreaking event, dedicated to spotlighting up-and-coming young artists in Central Asia. Welcoming over 8,000 visitors and showcasing around 100 talented creatives, it was the region’s first festival of its kind at such a scale.

The Art Fest truly embodied the Human Kind Institute’s values of diversity, inclusivity, and personal exploration. The event featured a vibrant mix of art forms—installations, paintings, graphics, and photographs – along with live performances and interactive shows. Visitors enjoyed digital art displayed on LED screens, immersive black box installations, and experimental electronic music, too.

For many young participants, this event marked a significant milestone in their artistic journeys.

In keeping with our commitment to hands-on education, the Fest also hosted lectures, panel discussions, and workshops led by leading art critics and industry experts. We set aside a special section for a rolling program of innovative events, which included fascinating masterclasses on street art and fun activities designed for children.

Building on the momentum of the Art Fest, we proudly launched the Regeneration Art Gallery —a permanent exhibition space in the heart of Tashkent. Officially opened in October 2024, the Gallery showcases contemporary works by gifted Uzbek artists, including solo exhibitions that highlight their unique vision.

The Gallery is deeply connected to the Human Kind Institute’s mission to enhance learning opportunities, foster personal growth, and encourage meaningful communication through art. With an engaging program of art brunches, masterclasses, and other events, the Regeneration Art Gallery aims to stimulate creative dialogue within the community. By balancing the preservation of cultural heritage with innovative artistic expression, this new space is dedicated to nurturing the creativity of Uzbekistan’s future artists.

December 2024 saw the launch of another major initiative, a new collaboration between the Regeneration Art Project and Tashkent City Mall. Home to top quality restaurants and shops, the Mall is a superb new venue in the capital Tashkent. Spanning 600 square metres on the prestigious third floor, the REGENERATION ART SPACE will host a year-long rolling exhibition that will feature the work of young artists from all over the country, showcasing their diverse talents across various artistic directions and spotlighting new trends and emerging ideas in Uzbekistan’s contemporary art scene.

Versatile and spacious, the Tashkent City Mall venue is ideally suited to displaying installations as well as wall paintings, and the exhibitions will rotate on a three-monthly basis. Unique works by artists from different regions will be shown regularly, reflecting the rich diversity of Uzbek art today.

In keeping with the ideals of both the Human Kind Institute and the Regeneration Art Project, REGENERATION ART SPACE is open to all, and admission is free of charge.

Ongoing projects orchestrated by the Regeneration Art Project include the cataloguing and digitisation of young artists’ work, art masterclasses for children, discussion panels and more.

We believe that art has a wonderfully transformative power. Visionary young artists probe the world around them and distil their experiences through the prism of their own unique artistic calling, reworking reality in a way that can inspire new hope and inspiration. In partnership with Regeneration Art Project, we at HKI hope to nurture these young artists through special study scholarships. In this way, we can achieve far-reaching effect through the reflective, thoughtful process of the young artists themselves, and the ongoing impact that their work will have on the wider public.

We hope to establish a solid foundation of scholarships that will see young people – particularly from outlying areas such as Karakalpakstan – rubbing shoulders with other aspiring creatives in an atmosphere of learning, mutual exchange and inspiring artistic dialogue.

Photos by Sergei Pogosyan

Watch this space