Recently, a photo exhibition titled "Valley of Winds" was launched in Bishkek, created by documentary photographer Danil Usmanov. The exhibition is dedicated to the fates of children left in the Batken region under the care of relatives while their parents work abroad. The exhibition has already been shown in Batken and will be open in Bishkek until December 28.
The project was organized with the support of the French Embassy and the Goethe-Institut as part of a cultural initiative of the Franco-German Institute, as well as in connection with the international festival of the Goethe-Institut "Solitude, Loneliness, Freedom".
Danil Usmanov shared with the press the concept of his project:
“We decided that the fate of migrant children would be the central theme of the exhibition. This is a story about children whose parents have gone abroad for work.
I chose the Batken region, where the population is aging and there are many problems, including employment. Although efforts are currently being made to improve the situation, such as the introduction of drip irrigation and the return of people, migration remains a serious issue. People are forced to leave their children with grandparents or other relatives.
I aimed to capture this moment in time and provide children with the opportunity to share their experiences and lives.”
He also noted that international showings of the project are planned:
“If everything goes according to plan, we will be able to present the exhibition at a festival in Berlin, as well as in Paris,” added Usmanov.
“This topic is relevant not only for Kyrgyzstan”
VB.KG on supporting the exhibition:
“This is already the second time we are opening this exhibition. In October, it took place in Batken. The exhibition is dedicated to the lives of Batken residents, especially those whose parents have emigrated, particularly to Russia. How do they cope with this situation? How do grandparents and children live? This issue is relevant not only for Kyrgyzstan but for the whole world. We are pleased to present it in an artistic form. In the future, other Franco-German projects are planned both in Bishkek and in the regions, as we want to reach other parts of Kyrgyzstan. This is part of Franco-German cultural cooperation, and we are happy to see Europe’s interest in our country.”
The ambassador also highlighted the importance of cooperation with the museum:
“It is a great honor for me to receive an award from the National Historical Museum. I am very touched, as our cooperation with the museum is developing very actively. We plan to assist them with translating audio guides and catalogs into French to provide French-speaking visitors with broader access to this national heritage. We have had very close friendly relations with the museum's management for many years, and we will continue our cooperation with one of the largest cultural institutions in the country,” the ambassador concluded.
