HD Magazine — a magazine about the culture and art of Uzbekistan
Editors' Choice
Only from tandoor
Kettik! 06/26
The week has gathered almost everything at once: an open-door craft school, a dawn bike ride, a vinyl evening, and a lecture on Akhmatova – the one who wrote about wartime Tashkent. At the Bolshoi Theatre, three productions in one go: Prokofiev’s classic, the Eastern drama *La Bayadère*, and a concert by the theatre’s young generation. For those who have time to think, to move, and simply to spend an evening in good company. Well then, let’s go!
Kettik! 06/19
The week opens with light and sound: James Clar's final showcase, featuring a video installation filmed at a solar furnace in Parkent, and a set by Paranoid London at an electronic music night held at the Railway Technology Museum. From there, the programme unfolds into Japanese mysticism à la Murakami, a close reading of Roland Barthes, a conversation on Frida Kahlo and AI art at Christie's, and a performance of Puccini's Tosca at the Navoi — all within a single Saturday. Rounding things out are a lecture on architectural heritage and a simultaneous screening of a French film across both Tashkent and Samarkand. Right then — let's go!
Community
Vyacheslav Akhunov: Yellow Noses of War Veterans, Shot-Up Medals, and the Moment of Creative Intoxication
Vyacheslav Akhunov is one of the key figures of Central Asian conceptualism. His works are held in collections from Urgench to Auckland in New Zealand, and his name is known in Venice and Kassel. In this monologue, he recalls his childhood in Soviet Osh, where war veterans were buried almost every day, and his father was doing performances before the word existed.
How Inclusive Theatre Survives in Almaty
Theatre as an institution relies on transformation. Yet there is a form of theatre where accepting yourself matters more than playing someone else: it is an inclusive theatre. As a rule, it brings together both “ordinary” and “special” performers. Today, Almaty is home to two such projects: the theatre laboratory Deystvie Bukvalno and the social theatre Adamdart. Both are unique projects that deserve a closer look.
Uzbek Game Dev: Difficulty Level – Hope
In the twenty-first century, the struggle is no longer only for territory and resources, but also for players’ attention across the globe. Poland exports millions of copies of The Witcher, Japan offers catharsis through the controller, and China projects soft power through the gacha format. But where does Uzbekistan stand in this global game? And will there be a project capable of making the world learn our myths, remember our names, and explore our architecture, even if only in virtual form?
A Beautiful Shot Isn’t Enough: Uzbek Cinematographers on the State of the Industry
The advantage of a film theorist’s perspective, or simply that of an attentive viewer, is the ability to perceive a film not only as a cohesive and original work, but also as the result of a complex collective effort. Such a view allows to notice the precision of costume choices, the way editing rhythm serves the narrative, the expressiveness of light in relation to genre, and the musicality of the image, the elements that often remain unnoticed by the general viewer, who tend to perceive and evaluate a film as a whole.
News
The Goethe-Institut will launch the 7th season of the GameDev Goethe project.
News
An Australian artist has been accused of copying works by Basquiat and Harding.
News
The Kyrgyz film "Chake" premieres at the House of Cinema Arts.
News
Artists from Uzbekistan to Gain Opportunity to Attend the Venice Biennale: International Competition Now Open for Submissions
News
Sergey Zhuravel held a three-hour masterclass at the Conservatory of Uzbekistan.
News
Andijan Polka Claims Guinness World Record
News
Tashkent Hosts Presentation of Alexandra Spiridonova’s New Book 'At the Border of Evening and Spring'
News
The premiere of the film "Goal Across the Ocean" brought together Tashkent and the American diaspora.
News
Subscribe
Get the latest news, articles and events from the world of art and culture of Central Asia and beyond.
By subscribing, I accept the Terms of Use of HD magazine
music /
Ohang Music Live | Saya Musa — Sen G’olibsan (Muhabbat)
Today on HD Music Live — the updated version of Sen G’olibsan (Muhabbat). A new arrangement, a live performance, and a sound that comes straight from the heart. Saya Musa is an artist who blends ethnic vocals with electronic downtempo music. Her songs carry echoes of her grandmother’s traditional melodies, her uncle’s rock, her mother’s Russian songs, and her grandfather’s love for classical music. In 2025 she released the album Yangi Tong, a musical statement of the modern Uzbek woman — sincere, warm, and deep.
video /
HD View | MOC — Independence vs. Compromise
In this episode of HD View, we headed to the very heart of Tashkent’s creative scene — the MOC hub. It’s a living laboratory of ideas and a production center around which a new cultural ecosystem of Uzbekistan is taking shape. We spoke with the MOC team and its partners about independence and compromise, about victories and vulnerabilities, and about whether MOC can be called a catalyst for cultural processes.
video /
Rabochiy Bag 3: Kunduziy — the most elegant and humble blogger
In the new episode of the "Rabochiy Bag" project, we meet blogger Kunduziy. By looking into her simple bag, we found out why she still prefers wired earphones, why she always carries perfume with her, and which glasses help her work more efficiently. We also learned what she wants to pass on to the next generation and why Rashid Xoliqov’s song "Aziz Yurtim" has become a symbol of homeland for her.
HD Magazine — a space of ideas, stories and voices
Dive into a world of inspiring stories, opinion columns, lively conversations, and fresh perspectives. Where every voice matters and every story tells more than just words.
