Rethinking of a new human. Civic responsibility practices through

Project description:

The project – ‘Rethinking of a new human. Civic responsibility practices through social and visual media’ is aimed at exploring the post-socialist context and conditions of modern Tajikistan, which is formed during Soviet period and faced with the realities of free market and capitalist principles after the collapse of Soviet Union. In these conditions, the project aims to understand, analyze, and critically reflect on civic engagement, participatory community development and knowledge transfer practices through social and visual media in modern Tajikistan.

The practical section – cinema workshop – ‘Rethinking of a new human’ was organized by ‘Dushanbe Art Ground’ from March 17 to March 29 and represents a platform for in-depth research of archival video materials, potentials of their use, aesthetics of their adoption, reconstruction, selection and artistic adoption, as well as translation of cinematic language into digital format. The workshop consisted of a series of lectures, seminars, film screenings and practical laboratories (selection of archival resources, translation from analogue to digital format, scripting and editing of final films). Each participant prepared and edited a film using the rethought and re-edited archival material (propaganda films of the Soviet period, fragments of new films, amateur video or private archives, television, and the Internet). Practical sessions were conducted under the guidance and technical support of invited tutors (John Davies (San Francisco, USA) and Mark Boswell (New York, USA). The practical section explored the role of citizenship and civic responsibility in society and, particularly, in an urban context. The cinema workshop provided an opportunity for intercultural exchange between artists and students from Tajikistan and other countries of Central Asian region (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan).

Presentation of publications and screening films of the project – ‘Rethinking of a new human. Civic responsibility practices through social and visual media’, which were implemented by project participants, took place on May 16, 2015 at the Cinema House called ‘Zebunniso’ Cinema.

This is a small publication titled ‘Rethinking of new human. Civic responsibility practices through social and visual media’ includes texts by guest lecturers – Fayzullaev Muhidinjon, Iskandarova Zebiniso, Natalia Kuntuvdy, invited media artists and film studio tutors: John Davis and Mark Boswell and project curator Stefan Russu, photo-documentation of theoretical and practical parts of the project as well as DVD record with the results of cinema workshop.

The DVD record contains works produced during cinema workshop by project participants: Marifat Davlatova, Aytegin Muratbek uulu, Bekbotaev Syrlybek, Alexander Nikolaev, Murodjon Sharipov, Rumyantseva Alla, Sulaimon Sharifi, in addition, the works produced by project team were also included in it: Surayo Tuychieva, John Davies, Mark Boswell and Jamshed Kholikov.

The program consisted of following films:

1. “ДОБРО ПОЖАЛОВАТЬ В НОВУЮ СТРАНУ” [WELCOME TO A NEW COUNTRY] – film by Aytegin MURATBEK UULU – visual artist / sound artist, Bishkek / Kyrgyzstan;

2. “ПРЕКРАСНОЕ ДАЛЁКО” [THE BEAUTIFUL FAR AWAY] – film by Marifat DAVLATOVA – visual artist, Dushanbe / Tajikistan;

3. «ПЕРЕВАЛЫ» [‘MOUNTAINOUS PASSES’] – film by Syrlybek BEKBOTAEVA – visual artist, Almaty / Kazakhstan;

4. ”ЧЕЛОВЕК” [A HUMAN] – film by Alexander NIKOLAEV – visual artist, Tashkent / Uzbekistan,

5. “ИЗ КРУГА В КРУГ” [FROM CIRCLE TO CIRCLE] – film by Murodjon SHARIPOV – visual artist, Dushanbe / Tajikistan;

6. “Я ВСТРЕТИЛ ДЕВУШКУ” [I HAVE MET A GIRL] – film by Alla RUMYANTSEVA – visual artist, Dushanbe / Tajikistan;

7. “ДЕНЬ СУРКА” [GROUNDHOK DAY] – film by Sulaimon SHARIFI and Ozar SHARIFI – visual artists, Dushanbe / Tajikistan

Project partners:

The House of Cinema / Dushanbe; Institute of Fine Arts and Design / Dushanbe; Union of Artists of Tajikistan, Tajikkinoprokat / Dushanbe; Studio Angor / Dushanbe; ArtAREA / Dushanbe

This project is supported by the Small Grants Program of the Democracy Commission of the US Embassy in Tajikistan, and co-funded by the Open Society Institute – Assistance Foundation in the Republic of Tajikistan and the Swiss Cooperation Office in Tajikistan. Technical support provided by: Angor Studio / Dushanbe, ArtArea Studio / Dushanbe

Organizers: Dushanbe Art Ground in cooperation with the House of Cinema

Dushanbe Art Ground (DAG) / Sanati Muosir is a non-governmental organization established in 2012 in Dushanbe. DAG’s mission is to promote and develop contemporary art practices in Tajikistan. We strive to redefine the role of artist in modern society and to rethink the function of the artist from a mere producer to an engaged researcher and critic. DAG’s strategy aims to achieve long-term sustainable development for new media arts and new platforms, where creative and civil communities can jointly create alternative opportunities for social development. Activities of Dushanbe Art Ground / Sanati Muosir are supported by the Open Society Institute – Assistance Foundation in the Republic of Tajikistan and the Swiss Cooperation Office in Tajikistan.

The HOUSE OF CINEMA of the Union of Cinematographers of Tajikistan is the venue for conferences, plenums, congresses of members of the creative Union; honoring anniversaries of national cinema; screenings and premieres of films; a place of meeting for viewers with filmmakers; exhibitions of cinema artists, etc.