ABSTRACT
This chapter explores contemporary art in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan focusing on art practices and artists that challenge the power, creating new meanings and counter-discourses in not so open societies of Central Asia. Contemporary artists experiment with forms and materials, deploy new art media, explore performance and collective actions and through art practices raise critical issues and reflect on socio-cultural transformations of post-socialist societies. In a situation with shrinking formal public sphere and limited freedom of expression, the art constitutes an important space for free artistic expression, discussions and opposition for official narratives and governmental discourses.
