October 2, 2008

An amazing museum in the middle of the Kyzylkum desert

The best museum we've seen so far on our trip, and for that matter probably one the best in Central-Asia, is the Savitsky Karakalpakstan State Art Museum. It is located in one of the most impossible places in the world: in remote and otherwise unimpressive Nukus, the capital of Uzbekistan's westernmost province of Karakalpakstan.

Most impressive is its outstanding collection of Russian Soviet-era avant-garde art, forbidden by the Communist Party but safely put up in this backward outpost by Igor Vitalyevich Savitsky (presumably even with support from local authorities). There's also a quite interesting section on local history and craft work from the Karakalpak region.

If you ever happen to pass by, don't give it a miss!

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