Seeing The Savitsky Museum In Nukus

Igor Savitsky, born 1915, was a Ukrainian archeologist who ended up on a dig in Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan in 1950. That area is way out west, near the town of Nukus. He stuck around, started collecting/hoarding traditional crafts, clothing, jewelry. Savitsky moved on to collecting Russian avant-garde, "degenerative" art and works from many local, Central Asian artists. He died in 1984 and it wasn't until the years of perestroika, Uzbek independence in 1991, and the establishment of the Nukus Museum of Art in 2003 that the full extent of the amazing collection became known.

Today, Savitsky's collection is considered one of the most important Russian modern, avant-garde collections in the world. Right there, way out in western Uzbekistan.

A little intro and a big, hero pic of Savitsky, the swashbuckling archeologist.

Most galleries are pure paintings, save for some personal, period objects. Good for context. Make sure to record your visit.

Paintings dominate the exhibits, save for a few traditional textiles, objects.

Amazing chapans, local robes.

Let's get to those paintings. Of course, the glory of manual labor is a major theme. Make sure your picnic lunch next to the wheat field you're harvesting is well stocked.  Here's a painting by U Saparov, titled, Rest.