Time as a Ball in a Curved Space

Art historian and Slavist Robbie Schweiger looks at art from imperial Russia and the (former) Soviet Union. With Elsbeth Dekker he recently published Beginning in the Middle. Conversations on the Post-Soviet; he also is affiliated Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, which added work by Saodat Ismailova to its collection in 2020.

Today, we are showing films based around the experience of time passing. From a linear to a circular understanding of time, without any clear origin or future, but with scope for re-experiencing, breaks in history and collective and personal memories. The title of this programme, Time as a Ball in a Curved Space, comes from a conversation with artist Yerbossyn Meldibekov.

This programme is part of 18,000 Worlds. In this exhibition of installations and video works, Saodat Ismailova explores the invisible foundations of Central Asia. In doing so, she makes use of personal and collective memories, connects myths to the region’s recent history and investigates the healing effects of spiritual heritage.

See exhibition page for the other public programming surrounding the exhibition and the screenings of Central Asian films selected by Saodat Ismailova. Some films specially selected for 18,000 Worlds can also be seen on the Eye Film Player.