MISSION
DAVRA research group's mission is to connect and develop the Central Asian art scene by fostering dynamic exchanges of experiences and knowledge within the region as a priority.
The research group’s focus is to study and re-imagine Central Asia today.
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![Taming Waters and Women in Soviet Central Asia]()
Taming Waters and Women in Soviet Central Asia
June 14, 2024 - September 29, 2024 | Biennale Matter of Art, Prague
The project explores the historical connections between inadequate water exploitation and female labor in Soviet-era Central Asia. Centered around The Great Fergana Canal and the cotton production, the project examines the intentional manipulation of both water resources and women for industrial ends.
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![Friendship of Peoples: Tashkent, Film, Exchange]()
Friendship of Peoples: Tashkent, Film, Exchange
September, 2023 | Survival Kit, Riga
"Friendship of Peoples: Tashkent, Film, Exchange" is a project exploring the legacy of the Tashkent International Film Festival of Asia, Africa, and Latin America through "Tashkent 58-88," a curated short film comprising archival footage, essay and research vitrine.
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![Chilltan/Winter Chilla]()
Chilltan | Winter Chilla
December 25, 2022 - February 5, 2023
On the 19th of December, 2022, we started our Winter Chilla mirroring public programme with a group show in Tashkent.
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![Chilltan/Summer Chilla]()
Chilltan | Summer Chilla
June 25 - August 5, 2022 | documenta fifteen, Kassel
During the 100 days of documenta fifteen the forty chilltans were introduced to the public via DAVRA collective‘s ongoing research.
DAVRA CURATING
DAVRA Curating conceptualises our visions into exhibitions or screening programs.
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DAVRA and Beyond: Videos of Central Asian Artists
March 21-30, 2024 | JOAN, Los Angeles
This program is part of the exhibition, Saodat Ismailova: Other Time and DAVRA research collective on view at JOAN through March 30. On the occasion of this exhibition, DAVRA invited Sorokina to curate a selection of films by young Central Asian artists working with moving image, which will be screened from March 21-30 within the installation space.
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![Davra presents three generations of Central Asian video artists]()
DAVRA presents three generations of Central Asian video artists
February, April, June 2023 | Eye Film Museum
DAVRA is happy to present three screenings of film and video of three generations of Central Asian artists at the Eye Museum online player as part of Saodat Ismailova’s exhibition “18,000 worlds” at Eye.
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![Central Asian Moving Image]()
Central Asian Moving Image
April 26 - May 5, 2023 | goEast Film Festival 23, Wiesbaden
For the 23rd goEast Film Festival in Wiesbaden, Germany DAVRA’s short films screening from Central Asia was presented in Mumau cinema. Screening was followed by Q&A with artists Aïda Adilbek and Zumrad Mirzalieva and the discussion “Post-, neo- and de-colonial Central Asia: human rights activism and collective filmmaking”.
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![DAVRA Suhbat]()
DAVRA Suhbat
13 August 2023 | Almaty, Dom 36
DAVRA Suhbat’s goal is to set up a transgenerational and multidisciplinary bridge amongst experts in culture and arts of Central Asia. Through dialogue and conversation we would like to empower the bonds between our countries, art scene and practitioners of different disciplines.
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![DAVRA texts]()
DAVRA texts
February, April, June 2023 | Eye Museum Magazine
Within the framework of Saodat Ismailova’s solo show ‘18,000 worlds’ at Eye Filmmuseum, DAVRA has prepared a series of texts specifically for the institution’s website.
DAVRA PUBLISHING
DAVRA Publishing reveals our thinking in the form of a printed matter.
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![Fridzine]()
Fridzine
2022 | documenta fifteen
fridzine - derived from Fridericianum zine - is a small publication that attempts to find answers to a simple and yet important question: what can we do in a museum?
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![Chilltan: Shapeshifting Eternal Spirits from Central Asia]()
Chilltan: Shapeshifting Eternal Spirits from Central Asia
2022 | documenta fifteen
Chilltans are shape-shifters, fluid sacred spirits that have essentially been present in spiritual traditions in Central Asia. In this publication by DAVRA Collective, research on Chilltans is presented through academic texts, prose, poetry, photographs, illustrations and collages.
DAVRA CONNECTING
DAVRA Connecting highlights the projects shared with other artists and creatives.
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![Proxy Conference: In Forest]()
Proxy Conference: In Forest
December 2023 - April 2024 | Green snake women-centered ecologies
Proxy Conference is a process driven project by AFSAR that facilitates modes of collective gathering. For the second edition, the conference is joined by DAVRA, who has been practicing as circles, collectivizing ties of belongingness between practitioners in Central Asia.
