Uzbek pavilion presents “A Matter of Radiance” project at Venice Biennale

Venice, Italy. At the beginning of the week, the famous architecture biennale opened its doors for the 19th time, bringing together the world’s top architects and experts in one place. This year’s curator, Carlo Ratti, titled the main exhibition at the central pavilion in the Arsenale “Intelligensia – Natural, Artificial, and Collective.” Under this theme, experts from around the world are showcasing their work. The 2025 biennale highlights innovation, adaptability, and climate change-related themes.

Uzbekistan’s Foundation for the Development of Culture and Art is participating in this prestigious exhibition for the third time, but this year's involvement stands out for its fresh and bold ideas. At the Arsenale, the Foundation is presenting its large-scale project titled “A Matter of Radiance”. 

Chairperson of the Foundation for the Development of Culture and Art of Uzbekistan, Gayane Umerova, spoke about the project and Uzbekistan’s participation in the Biennale: “This pavilion is very important for us because it not only marks Uzbekistan’s third appearance at the Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition but also reflects our country’s commitment to a sustainable future. In 2025, Uzbekistan will officially celebrate the ‘Year of Environmental Protection and the Green Economy,’ highlighting our dedication to environmental stability and advanced innovation. Building on exhibitions in Milan, Sharjah, and Tashkent, we hope that the “A Matter of Radiance” exhibition will contribute to global collaboration by presenting Uzbekistan’s architectural and scientific heritage — a timeless crossroads of ideas and civilizations”, – she said. 

The pavilion showcases several exhibits from the “Sun” Institute, including:
– a heliostat
– a dispatch console
– a solar-shielding façade screen
– a magnificent chandelier
– portraits of scientists
– and other reconstructed artifacts with a unique transformation.

The Uzbek pavilion continues the work of the major research project “Tashkent XX/XXI Modernism,” which began in 2021. Developed by Foundation Chairperson Gayane Umerova and coordinated by the GRACE Bureau, the project aimed to document, analyze, and preserve 24 key architectural sites from the modernist era in Tashkent for the first time, uniting a broad team of international experts.

Ester Sheinfeld contributed to the “Power Place” and “The Dazzling Light of the Timeline” installations, reflecting the daily life and scientific innovations of the Solar Materials Science Institute. It was emphasized that the exhibits on the table represent not only scientific discoveries but also some of the main artifacts of the Institute’s heritage.

Also featured is Muhiddin Riskiyev’s Uzbek-language “Nur” (Light) meditation project, created using concentrated sunlight managed at the Sun Institute. The ceramic structure contains a central focal point that symbolizes the intersection of solar energy and human consciousness. A 40-cm ceramic disc is marked by a single central point and was fired using concentrated sunlight — a method also used in the Institute’s experiments.

In short, Uzbekistan’s national pavilion will showcase unique and large-scale ideas, scientific innovations, and a new architectural vision under the “A Matter of Radiance” project until May 11.