Saodat Ismailova: Trust

In 2026, Saodat Ismailova, an emerging figure in contemporary art, will unveil ‘Amanat,’ her first solo exhibition in the United States. The work, born from a deep engagement with the sacred Arslanbob forest in Kyrgyzstan, explores the inextricable links between myth, geopolitics, and memory. The central film, ‘Amanat,’ recounts an ancestral legend: a young boy entrusted with a date seed, warned never to fall asleep in the shade of the woods. This narrative, infused with hallucinatory visions induced by nuts, overlays the contemporary issues of the region, marked by empires, shifting borders, and ethnic tensions. Accompanied by enigmatic sculptures – a golden date pit, a Kyrgyz nut, a hybrid of seed – and an immersive sound installation, the exhibition invites reflection on the fragility of reality and how our perceptions are shaped by time and space. Kurpacha rugs, designed for contemplation, complete this sensory and intellectual experience. Free, this event is a unique opportunity to discover an art deeply rooted in landscape and history.