Uzbekistan Blossoms in Milan Design Week

Milan is hosting "When Apricots Blossom," an exhibition by the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation, coinciding with Milan Design Week. The exhibition draws inspiration from Hamid Olimjon's 1937 poem, using the resilient flowering apricot tree as a symbol of beauty and fortitude.

Presented at Palazzo Citterio, the show features centuries-old Karakalpakstan crafts, a region in northwest Uzbekistan impacted by the Aral Sea's environmental crisis. The apricot tree's resilience in the face of this devastation inspired the exhibition's theme of optimism and cultural continuity.

Curated by Kulapat Yantrasast, the exhibition integrates traditional Uzbek elements with contemporary design by international artists. Collaborations with Uzbek artisans are showcased, with each piece conceptually linked to bread, a vital foodstuff. Works by designers like Bethan Laura Wood, Marcin Rusak, and Bobir Klichev are on display, alongside a documentary about the Aral Sea's impact.

The exhibition space itself guides visitors through different levels, culminating in a modern interpretation of a traditional yurt in the palazzo's garden. "When Apricots Blossom" is on view until April 26, 2026, offering a narrative arc of resilience and a unique cultural exchange.