A position space is the set of all position vectors in the fundamental space of geometry. If the position vector of a point particle varies with time, it will trace out a path, which marks the trajectory of a particle. This short interview series traces given lines of thought by artists, marks the trajectories of their practice, and models the physical and ideological space of the contemporary art world across a finite dimension.

What recent exhibition did you see that made a strong impression on you and why? 

Il Nostro Tiempo (Our Time) at Fondation Cartier, part of Triennale Milano. It was a group exhibition with films by Artavazad Pelechian, Paz Encina, Agnes Varda, Wang Bing and others. Bringing together filmmakers of different generations, geographies and experiences, the exhibition spoke about the fragility of “Our Time”, beautifully presenting film work with great care for sound isolation. It was truly a deep experience.

What are you working on right now and where will you present your work next?

Arslanbob: The Talking Forest is a performative piece I am preparing for Kunstenfestivaldesarts in Brussels. It will premiere on May 20, 2025. It is a layered work that offers an immersive journey into Kyrgyzstan’s ancient walnut forest, which is steeped in myth and history. Walnut trees are famed for their hallucinatory effects, attributed to the release of carbon dioxide and the presence of juglone, a natural compound. I am taking this effect as a possibility to speak about recent collective unsettling experiences that we have had in the region during the Perestroika period.

What are the biggest challenges in sustaining your practice where you are based?

I think the most important and fragile part of our practice is to always be inspired by the possible horizons.

Saodat Ismailova is an Uzbek filmmaker and artist who came of age in the post-Soviet era. Interweaving rituals, myths and dreams within the tapestry of everyday life, her films investigate the historically-complex and layered culture of Central Asia. Her work is frequently based on oral stories in which women are the lead protagonists, in exploring systems of knowledge suppressed by globalized modernity. Ismailova graduated from Tashkent State Art Institute and Le Fresnoy, National Studio of Contemporary Arts, France. She lives and works between Paris and Tashkent. In 2021 she initiated the Davra research collective in Central Asia to develop the local art scene. In 2022 she participated in the 59th Venice Biennale and documenta fifteen. In 2022 she also received the Eye Art & Film Prize, organized by Eye Filmmuseum in Amsterdam. Ismailova’s film Melted Into the Sun was commissioned by Fondazione In Between Art Film and presented in the group exhibition Nebula during the Venice Biennale in 2024.

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