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Alexander Nikolaev’s exhibition “JOURNEY TO THE PRESENT” is an artist’s statement about the modern reality, the events taking place in the world. The large-scale exposition presented in the Central exhibition hall – retrospective of creativity of Nikolaev. It is unique in its own way: we have never had personal exhibitions of this type. The exhibition reflects the breadth of conceptual ideas and searches of the artist, and also opens up an opportunity for the viewer to understand how the problems studied by him are relevant for the present and the future.

His way in the field of conceptual art Nikolaev passed, not looking for “special ways”, he reflected the General pattern of the artist began with painting, then moved from the became narrow for him, the framework of the easel painting to the installations, readymade, kinetic objects ( “Modulor”, “in search of perfection”, “Evolution”). As the artist explains: over time, it has come to understand that the conceptualist is not a “poet of the beautiful and the sublime”, he explores, understands and sees the world in the context of current problems of modernity. 

In the 2000s, Nikolaev moved to video art and created laconic works with a capacious meaning on the themes of urbanism, environmental disaster – “Aral sea”, “Fish”, “Elevator”, “Shaman”. Video art “I Want to go to Hollywood”, which reflected the mood of the whole generation, was a milestone in the artist’s work and was shown at many international exhibitions and Biennale.

The exhibition project “Constellation” (2005, Swiss Bureau) – the first exhibition of conceptual art in Uzbekistan, held on the territory of the former repair and mechanical plant became a landmark for creativity of Nikolaev. Nikolaev presented readymade “Aral water”, kinetic installations” in search of perfection”,”Wings of Icarus”.

The kinetic installation “in search of perfection” is an original invention of Nikolaev-a machine with white plaster hands, with a cold dimension, without stopping the figures of people. The artist reflects on cloning, on the crisis of human uniqueness in the globalized world, on what the notorious “search for perfection and harmoniously developed person”usually ends with.

At the 2007 Venice Biennale, Nikolaev presented a meditative video “Prayer”, which reflected the study of spiritual problems.

At the 54 Venice Biennale, the artist participated in the project “World of good people”. This is 16 panels made in the textile technique of the master of the textile artist according to the sketches of the artist. Examples of naive art and kitsch with an Oriental accent come to life in these richly decorated doll – icon “portraits”, as if imprisoned in elegant salaries.

The anti-war position of the artist is reflected in several projects of 2015-2018, presented at the exhibition – a series of paintings “Real worlds “, as well as kinetic installations “camera obscura”, the project “Assets”, objects “Soft toys”, “Sniper”, “Box. Crimson bells.”  Nikolayev analyzes the modern situation, military conflicts, catastrophes occurring in the world, using everyday objects, sometimes toys, it is unexpected for the viewer updated with a new meaning, deducing them from the private world of the layman. Paradoxically combining real and idealistic subjects and objects, the artist combines aggressive with harmonious, the result is a certain, somewhat ridiculous, contradictory, but very real world.

The exhibition project “Journey to the present” is an invitation of the artist not to the space of exotic and distant myths, history, but an attempt to talk about the present in art, to ask questions about what is happening in the world.  

For Uzbekistan, this exhibition is quite extraordinary and relevant against the background of the mainstream in art. The question asked to the viewer is designed for reflection and evaluation of the events of modernity by means of contemporary art.

Alexander Nikolaev together with his colleagues “on the shop floor” passed the period of “storm and onslaught”, it’s time to analyze what was done for the future prospects. He calls himself a realist, believing that the truth of life, the study of reality, has now moved into new forms and Express new meanings. 

The exhibition consists of three main sections:

• “Ilkhom” period – early painting
• Structural-optical painting, non-figurative, experimental painting and objects (modulators), graphics.
• Conceptual art: installations, videos, kinetics, graphics, “new” painting “Real worlds”.