Exhibition of Saodat Ismailova

Description

Kunsthalle Bern is pleased to present the first solo exhibition of Uzbek artist and filmmaker Saodat Ismailova in Switzerland. Ismailova’s films and installations unfold along the fault lines of Central Asian landscapes, characterized by rituals and myths, shifting borders and migration, as well as the invisible forces of imperial power that shape the psychical-material living worlds of the present. Central to the exhibition is Ismailova’s newly commissioned film Amanat (2026). The title refers to something entrusted to someone's care and simultaneously indicates a sacred responsibility that must be respected, preserved, and passed on. The film concludes Ismailova’s years-long exploration of Arslanbob, an expansive walnut forest in present-day Kyrgyzstan, which has been revered as a spiritual place for centuries. In her works, which combine film, installations, archival material, and sound, Ismailova investigates the cultural and spiritual narratives of Central Asia through myths, oral traditions, rituals, and lived experiences. Amanat was realized in collaboration with the Swiss Institute (New York) and the LUMA Foundation (Arles).

Highlights

• First solo exhibition of Saodat Ismailova in Switzerland
• Features the newly commissioned film Amanat (2026)
• Explores Central Asian landscapes and cultural narratives

General Information

Kunsthalle Bern presents the first solo exhibition of Uzbek artist Saodat Ismailova, showcasing her films and installations. The exhibition includes the film Amanat, which delves into the spiritual significance of the Arslanbob walnut forest in Kyrgyzstan.

Location

Helvetiaplatz 1, 3005 Bern, Switzerland

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