Alexander Ugay and Yuliya Sorokina
Leeza Ahmady interviews artist Alexander Ugay and curator Yuliya Sorokina; both hailing from Almaty, Kazakhstan. Both were on inaugural visits to the U.S. through the CEC ArtsLink residency program. The three are among the foremost promoters of contemporary art from Central Asia, and as they reconnect for the first time since 2008, they candidly discuss the current state of art in the region. During the talk in November 2010 Ugay and Sorokina go in-depth about their US residency projects at the Houston Center for Photography in Houston, TX and the Getty research Institute in Los Angeles, CA respectively.
Ugay came on a mission to complete his series We Are From Texas, which investigated the oil and "cowboy" culture of Southern Kazakhstan – he spent time examining and documenting how exactly that culture was reflective of the American state of Texas. Sorokina came to study with top archivists to receive guidance as she embarks on the daunting, yet overdue, task of spearheading the development of a public access resource of information and images chronicling modern and contemporary Central Asian art. In this thorough conversation listeners will get a first-hand glimpse into the hardships facing contemporary art in Central Asia, but more importantly will feel the passion as the three share their enthusiasm for the region’s art and their hopes for the future. (51 minutes)
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Dialogues in Asian Contemporary Art
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In collaboration with Clocktower Radio (formerly ARTonAIR.org), Leeza Ahmady, independent curator and director of Asian Contemporary Art Week (ACAW), conducts interviews with artists, curators, critics, and experts working both inside and outside of Asia. The program will include Ahmady's reports from around town and will feature select recordings of conversations, talks, and panel discussions across venues in New York City.
Born in Afghanistan and based in New York, Ahmady is an independent art curator, educator, and noted specialist in art from Central Asia. As the director of Asian Contemporary Art Week (ACAW) at Asia Society, Ahmady brings together leading New York City galleries and museums to participate in special exhibitions, receptions, lectures, and performances citywide.
Asian Contemporary Art Week connects leading New York City galleries and museums in a citywide event comprised of public exhibitions, receptions, lectures and performances. The Week focuses on the broad spectrum of artworks produced by Asian contemporary artists working in their home countries and abroad. Asian Contemporary Art Week is organized by Asian Contemporary Art Consortium. Clocktower Radio is a media sponsor for the events and the recordings collected over the years are available in this section of the archive.
more Born in Afghanistan and based in New York, Ahmady is an independent art curator, educator, and noted specialist in art from Central Asia. As the director of Asian Contemporary Art Week (ACAW) at Asia Society, Ahmady brings together leading New York City galleries and museums to participate in special exhibitions, receptions, lectures, and performances citywide.
Asian Contemporary Art Week connects leading New York City galleries and museums in a citywide event comprised of public exhibitions, receptions, lectures and performances. The Week focuses on the broad spectrum of artworks produced by Asian contemporary artists working in their home countries and abroad. Asian Contemporary Art Week is organized by Asian Contemporary Art Consortium. Clocktower Radio is a media sponsor for the events and the recordings collected over the years are available in this section of the archive.
Clocktower Radio was launched by MoMA/PS1 in 2004 as the Web's first art radio station. It has been independent since 2009 and is licensed to host content created under PS1 management. Programs produced prior to 2011 may refer to our earlier URLs and station IDs, including WPS1.org, artonair.org, and Art International Radio. For the complete history of Clocktower Radio, read our Mission & History section.
