From tram depot to contemporary art: A new cultural centre looks beyond the Silk Road

A train depot and diesel station dating back to 1912 has been given a new purpose in the center of Tashkent. Reimagined by Paris-based studio Keio, the industrial building is now home to Uzbekistan's first permanent center dedicated to contemporary art. The Center for Contemporary Arts Tashkent is designed not only for exhibitions, but also as a place where artists can research, collaborate and develop new work. President Shavkat Merzioev visited the center ahead of its public opening, presenting it as part of Uzbekistan's effort to give greater visibility to contemporary culture. Its inaugural exhibition, Khikma, meaning Wisdom, features 11 works by Uzbek and international artists, including new commissions created specifically for the space. The program reflects the center's broader aim to give contemporary artists in Uzbekistan a permanent institutional base, while connecting them with wider international networks. Among the Uzbek artists exhibiting here is Shafrukh Rahimov, a 7th generation ceramicist. His installation explores color through the teaching of the Central Asian Sufi scholar Najmeddin Kubra, linking contemporary practice with an intellectual tradition rooted in the region. The opening exhibition is intended as a starting point for a year-round program of performances, education and public events. That vision extends beyond the creators, with the center conceived as a shared cultural space open to wider audiences. It is something living, renewed through encounter and curiosity. What we open here today, I believe, shows what collective effort and genuine commitment to culture as a public good can achieve. For visitors, it offers a different way to experience Tashkent beyond its historic heritage. The center adds a new institution to Uzbekistan's cultural landscape, giving contemporary art a permanent space. Delbar Primpa, Euronews, Tashkent.