Saodat Ismailova. A Seed Under Our Tongue

On the occasion of the retrospective “A Seed Under Our Tongue,” an extensive monograph dedicated to Saodat Ismailova gathers and presents the works exhibited. The volume retraces the artist’s practice through a plurality of voices and perspectives, with contributions from international scholars and critics specializing in diverse fields. Among these, a text by critic Erika Balsom explores Ismailova’s distinctive use of moving images, while an esssay by researcher Dilda Ramazan contextualizes her work within the historical and artistic landscape of Central Asia. Alongside a text on the retrospective by curator Roberta Tenconi, the book also includes extensive photographic documentation of all the works on display and thematic essays, including a contribution by curator Marcella Lista, which highlights the philosophical and spiritual dimensions in Ismailova’s work, and an essay by Rolando Vàsquez, professor of post and decolonial theory. The catalog, designed by Metodo Studio, opens and closes with a visual sequence of images from the artist’s personal archive.