On February 13, an exhibition of paintings titled "The world of unique migratory species" was opened at the "Art Residency" by Silk Road University, in Samarkand, timed to coincide with the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP14).

The event was attended by the Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change of Uzbekistan, Aziz Abdukhakimov, Chairman of the Committee on Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, Bahodur Sheralizoda, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Inger Andersen, Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, Dr. Musonda Mumba, artists, students, and media representatives.

"The exhibition features paintings of migratory animals. Young and talented painters have been drawing various animals and birds for a month.  Each creature depicted in the painting has significance for environmental protection and biodiversity conservation. Our goal is to instill in future generations a sense of love for nature and animals, to form a sense of attachment to nature", said Aziz Abdukhakimov.

The exhibition presented about 100 paintings by 40 young artists, obtained as a result of a "plein air" organized by the Ministry of Ecology together with the Academy of Arts and the State Art Museum of Uzbekistan in January 2024.

"It is a great pleasure to be here, I am very impressed with the extraordinary paintings that we are seeing, which truly depict the beauty of this part of the World and Central Asia, with a focus on Uzbekistan. What is particularly exciting is that these are all paintings by young painters, to show their skill and their craft", said Inger Andersen.

For information: The main purpose of the creative "plein air" was the desire to strengthen the feeling of love for rare migratory animals included in the Red Book of Uzbekistan, to present the unique natural heritage of the country, and to increase the ecological culture and consciousness of the younger generation.

"The exhibition made a great impression on foreign guests at the conference. Thanks to the creativity of the artists in the paintings, one can see what the migrating wild animals of Uzbekistan look like", said Director of the State Art Museum, Vasilya Faizieva.

The exhibition will be open to the residents and guests of Samarkand from February 1 to 29, 2024.                                                                                           

According to its results, a competent jury of honored artists of the republic will select the best works, and their authors will be awarded cash prizes.