In the Central Exhibition Hall of the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan hosted the opening ceremony of the exhibition "Ecology and Climate Change through the Eyes of Artists." The event was organized by the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change in collaboration with the Union of Artists of the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan.

For information, from October 28 to November 7, 2023, plein airs were organized and held throughout the country with the aim of creating artistic paintings of natural heritage, its preservation, and environmental protection.

The autumn plein air involved 30 artists from different regions of the country and Tashkent, who visited five natural sites in the republic over a period of 10 days: the Lower Amu Darya Biosphere Reserve in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, the Ugam-Chatkal National Park and the corresponding reserve in the Tashkent region, the Zarafshan Nature Park in the Samarkand region, the Khorezm National Nature Park, and the Surkhandarya State Reserve in the Surkhandarya region.

"The exhibition features about 100 paintings. It is noteworthy that all the works were created in protected natural areas. The goal is not just to depict beautiful natural landscapes but to draw public attention to the ecology of our country, in particular, the preservation of nature reserves and a responsible approach to environmental protection. In the future, we intend to organize plein airs and exhibitions dedicated to climate change, water scarcity, the negative consequences of improper waste disposal, and other environmental issues," said Matnazar Elmuradov, an advisor to the Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change.

It is worth noting that in addition to renowned artists, young talents also participated in the exhibition and competition. In most of the works, the authors depicted nature in its pristine form, which served as a source of creative ideas.

The purpose of organizing the plein air is to protect the environment in the republic, promote the rational use of natural resources, strengthen the sense of love and attachment to the country's natural treasures—mountains, forests, rivers, the animal and plant world—in the minds of youth, as well as popularize the autumn nature of Uzbekistan through the medium of visual arts.

"In the recent plein air, our group visited Surkhandarya, which allowed us to discover the beauty of Uzbekistan's autumn in a new way. We explored the pristine corners of the region, where human footprints have yet to tread. Over the course of 10 days, we had the opportunity to work creatively in good conditions and create new paintings," shared Valery Yenin, a culture worker who has served in Uzbekistan.

It should be noted that regular plein airs are organized to attract talented landscape artists to depict the unique corners of our country and present the works of professional artists from remote areas.

The exhibition will run until December 20, 2023.