Savitsky Museum
Nukus, Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan 20012
I’ve never studied art other than my photography classes. I don’t feel qualified to describe the wonderful paintings in the museum: paintings that were saved from destruction by the artist Igor Savitsky. Soviet leaders, who considered these works a danger to communist ideas, were gathering them up and destroying them. Savitsky risked imprisonment as he went to artist’s homes to buy every painting he could.
Serekeev: Painting of Uzbek Woman Sewing
My favorite paintings were of life in Uzbekistan. Torie and I photographed nearly every painting we saw especially those that depicted scenes we had just seen on our travels in the country. Torie had a great idea of what to do with hers. I wished I had thought of it!
For a virtual visit to the museum, see the dvd, Desert of Forbidden Art, which you can get on Netflix.
Or go to this website for more information: http://www.desertofforbiddenart.com/
If you are interested in visiting this fascinating country contact Penelope at www.uzbekjourneys.com