Alexander Parkyn-Smith - Artistic Tradition / Contemporary Practice

Artistic Tradition / Contemporary Practice

In 2024 I carried out research in Central Asia through a British Academy grant. The Stein Arnold Exploration Fund (23/24) supported me to carry out original visual research in Uzbekistan. This page details the research, reports on the pop-up exhibitions held, academic papers from the project and shares insights from the process.

Research Abstract

Cultural identity building through artistic traditions: A visual ethnography of the knowledge, practices and communication of entrepreneurial artistic traditions in Uzbekistan

Artisanal craft plays a significant role in Uzbekistan’s current post-socialist identity building. Central to this is the meaning, history and practice of artistic traditions. This exploratory study uses visual anthropological methods, including photography, vernacular image collection, interviews and participant observation to explore how artistic traditions are recorded and communicated amongst artisanal craft and contemporary art practitioners in Uzbekistan. Building upon an existing research project carried out by NURCE at Nazarbayev University in Kazakhstan, this pilot research explores the viability of using visual methods to both record and communicate cultural art practices. This research focuses on visually recording personal life history narratives, creating a contemporary archive of related materials and documenting contemporary artistic practices. The materials created were then used for a pop-up exhibition held within local communities – offering stakeholder engagement, sharing stories across multiple contexts and traditional craft and contemporary art practices. The legacy will be a contemporary visual archive of artistic practice.

A contemporary visual archive

For this project I have created an evolving contemporary visual archive documenting both the artistic traditions and contemporary practice of those working in diverse activities in Uzbekistan. This includes ceramicists, gold-thread weavers, silk embroiderers, contemporary artists, video artists, curators, photographers and painters. This page includes an overview of the project, summary of the first group of participants and their work, a collection of images of them, as well as access to interview summaries from our interactions (further transcripts available on request).

The research included using an innovative visual methodology of pop-up exhibitions – returning the images to the communities in which they were made, and allowing for reflection on how participants were in the images. Focus groups carried out at each of the exhibitions feed interview material back into this visual archive and some of the ideas are summarised here.

Any researchers wishing to use these resources can contact me for access to digital files and resources through my about page.

An Experimental Academic Zine

In July 2026 I delivered an academic paper at EASA 26 hosted by the European Association of Social Anthropologists in Poznan, Poland.

I was particularly inspired by the ANTART Network activities at the conference, excited to find a place where a combination of artistic practice and anthropological research is accepted and celebrated. I am very thankful to the convenors for putting such an engaging panel together. It can often feel like artistic methodologies are an afterthought for greater ‘impact' in anthropological research, but the panel explored the myriad strengths of combined practices.

The panel provided an opportunity for me to present my paper ‘Co-creating contemporary archives: Art and craft practice through community exhibitions in Uzbekistan’ as an experimental academic zine, combining images with my academic text.

Through the welcome support of the Research and Knowledge Exchange at the University of Cumbria, I was able to attend the conference, connect with a supportive network and provide copies of my printed zine to everyone attending. I loved exploring different modes of presentation: print alongside a in-person talk with slideshow.

You can message me to be sent a copy of the Zine by PDF or physical copy for a physical library.

Page Contents:

Research Participant Case Studies

Baxshilo Jumaev, gold thread weaving, Bukhara

Abdulwahid Bukhariy, Ceramacist, Bukhara

Yana Xarasho, Contemporary Artist, Tashkent

Exhibition Install Images

Pop-up exhibition, Samarkand Academy of Artists, September 21st 2024

Pop-up exhibition, Bukhara Photo Gallery, September 27th 2024

Pop-up exhibition, MOC hub, Tashkent, September 30th 2024

Contextual Images

Bukhara Context Images

Tashkent Context Images

Samarkand & Archaeology Context Images

PDF Summary

Research Participant Case Studies

This free-to-download PDF includes a selection of images from the different project areas. If you are a researcher, artist or interested individual and want to feature or use any images from this evolving contemporary archive please get in touch (details on contact pages)

You can access the FREE PDF HERE

Baxshilo Jumaev, gold thread weaving, Bukhara

(Click images to view full screen)

Baxshilo Jumaev,

Gold thread weaving, Bukhara, Uzbekistan

Baxshilo welcomed me into his workshop and home, located off one of the main squares in the silk-road city of Bukhara. Over multiple sessions we spoke about his life, career and craft. He also attended the public exhibition in Bukhara where his portrait was shown alongside images from his workshop.

To request an PDF of his interview for research or artistic purposes please contact me from the about page of the website.

Abdulwahid Bukhariy, Ceramacist, Bukhara

(Click images to view full screen)

Abdulwahid Bukhariy,

Ceramacist, Bukhara, Uzbekistan

Abdulwahid is well known for his approach to traditional Bukharan ceramics. His work, through experimental approaches and research, to re-discover the Bukharan blue glaze once synonymous with ceramics from the city has led to a reimagining of the traditional practice. I visited his studio, to meet him, his partner and cats as they work together to create ceramic works.

To request an PDF of his interview for research or artistic purposes please contact me from the about page of the website.

Yana Xarasho, Contemporary Artist, Tashkent

(Click images to view full screen)

Yana Xarasho,

Contemporary Artist, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

I met Yana in the closing day of an influential cultural hub she has worked with in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. She took the time to share her life history, showcase examples of her work and to explain her practice.

We collaborated to make portrait images within one of her conceptual projects XXXSTAN, where she reimagines a 6th, fictional Central Asian republic and then reflects on the elements of her life and how they are linked to aspects of this society. In this portrait she took me to visit one of the housing districts in the 6th republic's capital.

To request an PDF of his interview for research or artistic purposes please contact me from the about page of the website.