October 24, 2011
The second day of Style.Uz Art Week 2011 offered 10 memorable events: exhibitions, fashion shows, meetings with film stars and an epic concert by music legend Ennio Morricone.
The day started with Traditional Uzbek Art, Fashion and Design Exhibition at the Youth Creativity Palace. Housed across the two floors of the Palace is a treasure trove of creativity, imagination and dedication. The first floor offered a stylish exhibition of masterpieces by leading Uzbek masters of traditional and applied art: members of IJOD Association of Artists, Art Historians and Craftsmen, an organization which groups contemporary artisans from all parts of Uzbekistan. The second floor is housing showrooms of novelties by world-famous brands: Presented here are contemporary clothes, shoes, perfumes, accessories, jewelry showrooms and brand new collections by internationally known brands – in a word, everything that is certain to strike the fancy of Tashkent`s hipsters.
Another highlight was the opening of an exhibition of works by students of Kimyung Universoty College of Fashion (South Korea), which included a presentation of student projects talking about the development of the fashion industry in South Korea. The Korean designers showcased unusual collections in black-and-white tones, combining simplicity and luxury.
In the midday Tashkent`s Center of National Arts offered a fashion show by the Japanese fashion designer Kamishima Chinami, who showed her Spring-Sumer 2012 Collection. The Japanese designer demonstrated how refined and elegant simplicity can be. Flowing silhouettes of dresses and blouses, strict skirt cuts, coats, warm and soft colors and tones drew a wave of applause from the audience.
The Center of National Arts hosted an exhibition of works by French comics artist Alexandre Clerisse. Visitors to the show had the opportunity to view works made with the use of computer graphics, pen and pencil. Clerisse is one of the youngest artists showing at this year`s Style.Uz Art Week in Tashkent. That said, he has many artistic achievements under his belt. His works are full of humor and irony that can be read not only in his plots but also in the way he creates his cartoons. However, while filled with humor and irony, the Frenchman`s art conveys artistic and philosophical messages. The French artist`s creativity is deeply rooted in social issues. His comics art is thought-provoking and mirrors situations from daily life as well as philosophical issues linked with religion and human life as a whole. Through his creations, Clerisse expresses his attitude toward the cultural legacy. One of his series of works deals with a campaign to boost the importance of Roman-style temples located in a French province.
Another in the series of historic events at Art Week was a Blitz Briefing with prominent film industry professionals at the Fund Forum Conference Room. The meeting was an opportunity for journalists, talented young people and artists to ask questions to prominent professionals: members of the jury for “Golden Guepard” Tashkent International Cinema Forum as well as Art Week guests such as film directors Yegor Konchalovski, Pavel Lungin, Sergei Solovyov (Russia), Leo Khasin (Germany) Shahram Mokri (Iran), actors Valeriy Barinov (Russia), Ingeborga Dapkunaite (Lithiania), Matthias Hues (USA), Irene Visedo (Spain) and Russian TV host Sergei Sholokhov.
Next followed a catwalk show by Italian fashion label Billionaire, which presented its latest men`s designs for the autumn and winter of 2012: leather coats and jackets with fur details, sweaters with graphic prints and bright shoes with colors matching the gloves. The show also included a collection of leather and velvet jackets with flower prints and elegant patterns complemented by bow-tie accessories.
The most unpredictable, bold, colorful and stunning show of the Week – Underground – demonstrated local young fashion designers` new creations crafted in the spirit of non-conformism. The catwalk show presented over 20 collections. Just as noteworthy is the stage design for the show. Reflecting its title, the show featured a subway tunnel with dimmed light and incoherent shades. Out of the tunnel came out models clad in jodhpurs, with variations, ever-impressive ikat, leather belts, chains, fringes, complemented by solutions in the military and grunge styles.
Music legend Ennio Morricone, one of the world`s most influential composers and conductors, played an epic concert in Tashkent as part of Style.Uz Art Week, his first-ever appearance in Central Asia, in what was a major cultural milestone for Uzbekistan. The white grand piano, the choir and the Roma Sinfonietta orchestra performing under the baton of the genius of music made for a breathtaking and unforgettable experience. The chorus guided by the Italian conductor Stefano Cucci, performed widely known pieces from legendary films authored by the Italian maestro. The pieces included soundtracks to movies such as The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Once Upon a Time in the West, Once Upon a Time in America, The Untouchable and The Mission. Up to 50% of the tickets to Morricone`s two-hour concert in Tashkent were distributed free of charge among young talented people in Uzbekistan. The opportunity for the young talented people to attend the maestro`s concert is seen as a fresh impetus in their artistic endeavors and a source of inspiration.
The day concluded with Yves Saint Laurent fashion show that breathed Parisian chic. For the first time in Tashkent, the iconic fashion label presented its collection at Radisson SAS Hotel. Kicking off amidst applause from the audience that included professional fashionistas, artists, celebrities and simply YSL fans, the label showcased 25 classical-style looks. The collection featured a mix of colors: emerald-green, solid blue, purple and grey. Flawless cuts, smooth lines and minimum detail went into the coats, skirts, pants and blouses that were paraded on the catwalk. Of special note are the accessories that were reserved and ladylike at the same time. The show, which was a celebration of flawless elegance and sensuous clothes, amounted to a memorable highlight certain to have made a lasting impression on the audience and left those with passion for YSL fashion wanting for more.
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Act four