The Mukam Palace hosted an unusual performance RITUALS, where ancient Turkmen traditions met European avant-garde. The event, organised with the support of the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan and European partners, gathered a full hall of spectators. This was reported by IIC. The evening began with the performance of the Akdjayar ensemble from the Balkan velayat, which presented the Kushtdepdi dance, recognised by UNESCO as part of the world cultural heritage. The performance featured both Turkmen ensembles and European choreographers, including Italy's Margherita Bergamo. The State Dance Ensemble of Turkmenistan and the Mengli group presented numbers where traditional movements were organically combined with elements of contemporary dance. Multimedia accompaniment - light projections and digital effects - turned the stage into a dynamic artistic space where every gesture of the artists was visually continued. This international project, implemented with the support of the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan and European partners, clearly showed that art remains a universal language capable of uniting different cultures and epochs.
On 9 May, a solemn concert dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War was held at the Maya Kuliyeva Turkmen National Conservatory. The evening began with a poignant moment: host Zamir Aliyev read out the memories of Lyudmila Shelemetova, who was evacuated from Estonia to Ashgabat when she was 8 years old. Her story about bombings, echelons with wounded and fear of a small child moved the hall to tears. This is reported by the Internet publication ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. The concert was opened by the folk melody ‘Kechpelek’ performed by dutarist Ishanmuhammet Gundogdiyev, setting the tone for the evening. Meylis Atageldiyev and bayanist Ruslan Baltayev performed the song ‘Eh, roads’ and caused special emotions. And when the artist proposed the audience to sing the legendary ‘Katyusha’ together, the audience willingly supported. The concert programme included both life-affirming songs of the war years - ‘Smuglyanka’, ‘Accidental Waltz’, ‘Blue Handkerchief’ - and poignant works reminding of the tragic pages of the war: “Cranes” by Jan Frenkel and ‘Schindler's List’ by John Williams. Pianist Perman Yagdiyev performed Rachmaninoff's Prelude in G Minor, adding lyrical depth to the programme. The concert ended traditionally with the hymn ‘Victory Day’, which was sung by the whole hall, paying tribute to the memory of the heroes.
The capital of Uzbekistan is hosting the landmark exhibition "Women Artists of the Turkic World" which brings together talented authors from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan. The exhibition presents a rare synthesis of traditional art and modern artistic endeavours - from national crafts to avant-garde experiments. This is reported by the Internet publication "Turkmenistan: Golden age". Special attention attract the works of Turkmen artists Guncha Gochmuradova and Khatija Amansahedova, teachers of the State Academy of Arts of Turkmenistan. Their works imbued with national colour became a bright part not only of the exhibition, but also of the International Festival of Traditional Art held in parallel. As part of the April festival dedicated to the "green" economy, the Turkmen craftswomen got acquainted with the cultural monuments of Samarkand and Bukhara and took part in a professional conference where they shared the secrets of Turkmen traditional art. This large-scale cultural project contributes to strengthening creative ties between Turkic people and opens new horizons for young talents.
Students of the Turkmen National Conservatory named after M. Kuliyeva together with young performers from CIS countries are preparing a special concert programme to celebrate Victory Day. This is reported by the Internet publication ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. Of particular interest is the performance of the united choir, which will be attended by talented performers from eight countries: Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Active preparations for this large-scale event are underway. Turkmen and Azerbaijani students at the Gnesin Russian Academy of Music under the guidance of rector A.S.Ryzhinsky are rehearsing famous military works. The programme will include such iconic compositions as ‘Holy War’, the anthem ‘Bells’ and the legendary song ‘Victory Day’. Participation in such international projects is of special importance for Turkmen students - it contributes to their creative growth, development of stage skills and strengthening of cultural ties between the countries.
A commemorative exposition was set up in the State Museum, the centerpiece of which was a carpet with the image of Berdymukhamed Annaev, the great-grandfather of the President of Turkmenistan. A book about his exploits with a symbolic epigraph: “Teacher, Soldier, Inspirer” is presented next to it. This is reported by the Internet publication "Turkmenistan: Golden Age". Among the unique exhibits are personal belongings of the war heroes: the gymnaskeleton of Hero of the Soviet Union Kurban Durdy with battle damage, his awards and documents, as well as for the first time exhibited materials about the Knight of the Patriotic War Order Muhamed Shikhliyev and a collection of women's jewelry donated by Turkmen women for the needs of the front. Of special interest are the carefully bound things that Turkmen women sent to the front. The first visitors of the exhibition were honorable elders, cultural figures and students of the Frontier Institute. It was noted that the memory of the ancestors' feat and preservation of peace are the main values for future generations.
On 10 May, an interactive choreographic and digital performance RITUALS will take place on the stage of the Mukam Palace in Ashgabat. The project is implemented within the framework of cooperation between the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan, the French Institute in Turkmenistan, the Delegation of the European Union in Turkmenistan, the embassies of France and Italy, as well as the Goethe Institute in Kazakhstan. This is reported by the IIC of Turkmenistan. The audience will be treated to a unique artistic performance in which national cultural traditions of Turkmenistan are harmoniously intertwined with expressive means of modern European choreography and advanced digital technologies. The production is directed by recognised European choreographers: Jean-Marc Matos (France) and Margherita Bergamo (Italy), working in the postmodern genre. Together with them, the State Dance Ensemble of Turkmenistan and ‘Mengli’ ensemble will take part in the performance. The evening will be opened by the performance of the folklore group ‘Akdjayar’ from the Balkan province, which will perform the traditional Turkmen dance Kushtdepdi, one of the most striking elements of the national choreographic heritage. The performance is held within the framework of the European Spaces of Culture initiative, which is implemented by the European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC) in partnership with the European Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS). The project is aimed at developing international cultural cooperation and expanding the dialogue between European and non-European partners. Entrance to the event is free.
From 1 to 3 May 2025, Ashgabat hosted the Days of Culture of the State of Libya, a large-scale event designed to strengthen humanitarian ties between the two countries. This is reported by the IIC of Turkmenistan. The official start of the event was given at the Museum of Fine Arts of Turkmenistan named after Saparmurat Turkmenbashi the Great, where a thematic exhibition dedicated to the cultural heritage of Libya was opened. The exhibition presented samples of Arabic calligraphy, traditional costumes, books, as well as dishes of national cuisine. The opening ceremony was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan, subordinate institutions, cultural and art workers, teachers and students of universities, as well as representatives of the public and the media. The concert programme included national dances, traditional and modern music performed in authentic costumes. Bright performances elicited a lively response from the audience and left indelible impressions. Within the framework of the Days of Culture, a scientific conference was also held on the topic "The Role of Turkmen Scientists in Uncovering the Cultural Development of Humanity and in Enriching the Arabic Language and Islamic Education", which brought together experts and researchers from both countries. An extensive cultural programme was organised for the Libyan delegation, including visits to the sights of Ashgabat, in particular, the Magtymguly Pyragy Cultural Park Complex and the State Museum of the State Cultural Centre of Turkmenistan. The final chord of the Days of Culture will be a joint performance of creative teams of Libya and Turkmenistan - a symbol of the unity of cultures and friendship between peoples.
The Exhibition Centre of the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan has launched an exhibition of the famous Polish artist Joanna Galecka. This was reported by the Internet publication ‘Turkmenistan: Golden Age’. It is not the first time the artist visits Turkmenistan, and each visit to the country ends with a new exposition of paintings. The current exhibition tells about the Turkmen spring and people of the country. When looking at her works, one can immediately realise that they were painted by a foreigner in love with Turkmenistan. Joanna Galecka works with pastels rather than oil paints, but each of her works looks like a colourful painting. At the grand opening of the exposition, artists from Turkmenistan highly appreciated the work of Joanna Galecka. It was noted that her works show love for Turkmen culture and nature. Joanna creates based on the first impression, not trying to finalise her drawings for too long. This is especially evident in the pastel technique, which implies a certain subtlety, as there is no opportunity to correct mistakes. Thanks to this, one can feel the lightness and freshness of perception in her paintings.
As part of the celebration of the National Day of the Turkmen Horse, large-scale festivities reflecting the rich cultural heritage and modern achievements of the country in the field of horse breeding were held in the city of Arkadag. This was reported by the state news agency TDH. The conference “Arkadag şäheri - ahalteke atlarynyň mekany” discussed the role of Ahalteke horses as a national treasure. It was preceded by an exhibition presenting achievements in equestrian sport, the history of the “Galkynyş” group, as well as books about horses. The event was attended by representatives of the city administration, scientists, horse breeders, elders and students. They noted the importance of the Kopetdag region as the homeland of Ahalteke horses and expressed respect for the contribution of ancestors to the development of the breed. The participants of the event noted that the monuments “Akhan” and “Taýçanak” erected in the city of Arkadag emphasized the importance of horse breeding traditions in the Turkmen culture. Cultural performances completed the festive atmosphere and the conference participants expressed gratitude to the National Leader of the turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov for their contribution to the development of the country and preservation of national values.