An archive serves not only as a means of preserving the past but also as a canvas for our imagination - an opportunity to reflect on who we were, who we are becoming, and where we might be headed. The fundamental question that opens the exhibition is how Central Asia in the 1990s and 2000s conveys through the lens of contemporary art. 

The digital archive titled Documentation, a project by the Tselinny Center of Contemporary Culture, is at the heart of the exhibition. Rather than presenting a traditional retrospective or a straightforward narrative, the showcased objects each narrate their own stories. Together, these narratives weave a complex, dynamic, and multifaceted portrayal of a vibrant era marked by both fragmentation and fluidity.

The period from the late 1990s to the early 2000s serves as a starting point for exploring the integration of the Central Asian countries into the contemporary global art scene after gaining independence. This exploration reveals how these nations are redefining their identities, both in how they see themselves and how the rest of the world perceives them. The region is presenting itself as an ‘uncharted territory’ within the global cultural landscape, while simultaneously taking strides to reclaim its narrative, knowledge, and autonomy.

Exploring the archive transforms into a dynamic act of creative engagement. Archival objects do not act as pure relics; instead, they undertake a lively role. They engage in dialogue with artists, viewers, and researchers as well. Through this exchange, images of the past acquire fresh interpretations and prompt critical questions about the present. Who is shaping the narrative of the region today? Moreover, in what ways is it evolving within the landscape of contemporary art?