Mahalla Stories

“Mahalla Stories at the Uzbekistan Pavilion” is a series of events and educational programs created in the context of the Uzbekistan Pavilion at the 17th International Venice Architecture Biennale, titled Mahalla: Urban Rural Living.

Within this open-ended three-dimensional collage inviting us to consider new possibilities for living together, “Mahalla Stories at the Uzbekistan Pavilion” will give us an insight on Uzbek local music and sound ecology; on how the mahallas have influenced the work of artists; on the process of creation behind the exhibition; and of course architecture through a series of concerts organized by the sound artist and filmmaker Carlos Casas, and talks organized by the ETH Zurich.

Tuesday, August 24
11am–1pm / 4pm–6pm (also streaming on e-flux.com/live)
Concert: Shodiona Ensemble and Makam singer Khushnud Solijonov
Curated by Carlos Casas

Wednesday, August 25 at Teatrino di Palazzo Grassi
6–7pm (also streaming on e-flux.com/live)
Open Talk with Chloe Drieu (CNRS Researcher), moderated by Saodat Ismailova (filmmaker and artist)
7–8:30 pm
Film: The whole mahalla speaks about this, directed by Shuhrat Abbosov (Uzbekistan)

Thursday, August 26
11am–12pm
CCA LAB presentation with Aziza Pulatova, Anastasia Galimova, Malikakhon Zayniddinova, Rinata Mansurova moderated by Saodat Ismailova and Alexey Ulko
2pm–5pm (also streaming on e-flux.com/live)
“Architecture of the Commons”
Emanuel Christ and Christoph Gantenbein, curators of the Uzbek Pavilion, will engage in a discussion with Tom Avermaete, Artyom Kosmarsky,  Anna Puigjaner, Alexey Ulko, and Gayane Umerova on the implications that the commons, as social, economical, and political processes, have in architecture and urban design.

Friday, August 27
11am–12pm
“Sound Ecology and contemporary sound practices”
Dialogue between Francesco Bergamo and Carlos Casas
2–5pm (also streaming on ACDF’s Youtube channel and Facebook)
“The Image of Architecture”
Emanuel Christ and Christoph Gantenbein curators of the Uzbek Pavilion will engage in a discussion with Gayane Umerova, Bas Princen, Kersten Geers, Ekaterina Golovatyuk, and Saodat Ismailova on the topic of Uzbekistan and the mahallas as a source of inspiration for artistic work and cultural exchange transfer.
5–6pm
“Sound sessions at the Uzbekistan Pavilion”
Concert with Carlos Casas and Armand Lesecq

Saturday, August 28
11am–1pm (also live streaming on Zachęta National Gallery’s Facebook)
“Shifting the Gaze”
This roundtable will be moderated by Milica Topalovic and hosted collaboratively by the pavilions of Uzbekistan Poland and Israel. The roundtable exploring the territory the rural and the community will attempt to present alternative perspectives on viewing what we define as “territory.”
1–3pm
live performance by Carlos Casas and Andrew Packler
 
Tuesday, August 31
11am–1pm
Lecture: “Composing in space and time: the composition for the Uzbekistan Pavilion by Carlos Casas”
3–6pm (also streaming on e-flux.com/live)
Concert: “Sound sessions at the Uzbekistan Pavilion”
Enrico Malatesta (percussion/objects), Giovanni Lami (samples, electronics), Glauco Salvo (field recordings, electronics)

Talks and concerts are accessible to all Biennale ticket holders. The film screening can be booked through Teatrino di Palazzo Grassi’s website.

A special thanks to Palazzo Grassi-Punta della Dogana, Pinault Collection for the support.

For press inquiries please contact:
MAY, Communication & Events
Claudia Malfitano, claudia [​at​] mayvenice.com
Press release available here.