National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan

The opening ceremony was attended by Adviser to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Environmental Issues and Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change Aziz Abdukhakimov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Arab Emirates to Uzbekistan Saeed Matar Al Qemzi, Regional Adviser to the Embassy of Switzerland Denis Pisoni, representatives of the foreign diplomatic corps, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Global Green Growth Institute, the World Bank, international organizations, young environmental activists and members of the media.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Aziz Abdukhakimov noted that through simple repetitive movements and scenes, the artist encourages viewers to reflect on how modern life affects individuals, society and the
environment.

“The image of ‘marionettes’ symbolizes how people sometimes live within the same patterns and everyday routines without realizing the impact their actions and choices have on society and the environment. At the same time, the exhibition promotes the important idea of responsibility and conscious awareness. It demonstrates that even small changes in human thinking and behavior can lead to positive transformations in society, the environment and harmonious relationships with nature,” the Chairman stated.

For reference, Peter Aerschmann has been working in the field of video installation art for more than twenty years. He creates digital tableaux vivants — distinctive “living pictures” in which characters repeatedly perform the same movements and everyday actions. These continuous cycles resemble the rituals of modern life and serve as metaphors for the systems that influence people, including technology, social norms, economic processes and environmental change.

The exhibition is presented as a series of spaces characterized by a slowed rhythm and hidden internal contradictions. Within them, the characters appear to exist between freedom and submission. The image of marionettes becomes the central metaphor of the exhibition, portraying human beings as part of systems that simultaneously shape and limit their daily lives.
The exhibition of the Swiss artist is being presented in Uzbekistan for the first time. The display encourages visitors not to repeat the same mistakes that harm the environment and to adopt a responsible attitude toward nature conservation.

“Today, there are many questions surrounding new technologies, the changing world, and the impact these changes have on nature. As an artist, I realized that not only the artworks themselves are important, but also the spaces where people can meet and engage in dialogue. We are now in the gallery of Green University. Therefore, my wish is to speak here precisely about nature, water, forests, plants and everything that surrounds us. My images are connected to the real world. They are not artificial images created by computers, but footage taken from real life. The world is changing today, and we are facing extremely important decisions. In my view, ‘ARTepa’ is the ideal place to reflect on these very themes,” the artist noted.

Peter Aerschmann also explained why the exhibition was titled Marionettes.

“When I revisited the video works I created over the past 25 years, I realized that this particular theme kept recurring throughout them. For 25 years, this idea has continued to return again and again. By observing the world around me and working with the camera, I see the interconnection between humanity and nature. It often feels as though people are unable to act without some external force. These hidden forces are symbolized by the marionettes. That is the essence of the exhibition’s main theme,” he said.

UAE Ambassador Saeed Matar Al Qemzi emphasized that the exhibition serves as a powerful and innovative impulse capable of inspiring the youth of Uzbekistan to rethink new forms of artistic expression.

“Peter Aerschmann’s works present a new vision of art, in which the harmony between humanity and nature is conveyed in a highly expressive and innovative manner. The works also deeply reflect the influence of electronic technologies and modern machinery on human life,” he stressed.

The exhibition, located at the gallery in Astronomy Park, will run until July 31. Admission is free.