The opening discussion of the exhibition “When Apricots Blossom” — Uzbekistan’s debut project at Milan Design Week — took place at Palazzo Citterio.
The discussion was moderated by Max Fraser, Editorial Director of Dezeen. Speakers included Gayane Umerova, Chairperson of the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation; Kulapat Yantrasast, curator of the exhibition and founder of WHY Architecture; and designer Bethan Laura Wood.
The speakers discussed how the exhibition brings together contemporary designers and Uzbek artisans around traditional materials — wood, silk, felt, ceramics, and reed — while telling the ecological and cultural story of the Aral Sea region.
“When Apricots Blossom” is rooted in the Aral Sea region and does not end in Milan. It continues through the Foundation’s long-term cultural and educational programs in Karakalpakstan, as part of Uzbekistan’s ten-year national strategy for the region’s social, economic, and cultural revitalization.