Saodat Ismailova: A Seed Under Our Tongue

Pirelli HangarBicocca presents “A Seed Under Our Tongue”, curated by Roberta Tenconi, the first Italian survey of Saodat Ismailova, a prominent contemporary artist from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, who operates between Paris and Tashkent. Known for her work at the crossroads of cinema, sound, and visual art, Ismailova’s films and installations feature vivid iconography and captivating narratives that delve into themes such as the power of nature, the impacts of colonization, and humanity’s fragile relationship with the environment. Her art explores collective memory, ancestral knowledge, and femininity, rooted in the socio-political and cultural heritage of Central Asia, while addressing universal concerns. The exhibition, which includes new works commissioned by Pirelli HangarBicocca, showcases a broad selection of Ismailova’s two-decade career, including films, sculptures, and installations within a specially crafted spatial environment. Central to the exhibition is the concept of transmission—of knowledge, stories, memories, and landscapes—inviting visitors into a rich, multi-layered experience that immerses them in the cultural, social, and political realities of Central Asia through a complex weave of memories, landscapes, and imagery.