The Tolon Museum of Modern Art is a must-visit venue, located just 15 minutes from Kyrgyzstan’s capital, Bishkek, in the village of Kuntuu.
During my time in Kyrgyzstan, I visited the museum twice, captivated by its 2,000 boundary-pushing pieces, representing the work of contemporary artists from Kyrgyzstan and around the world.
The museum is housed in a repurposed 20,000 square meter Soviet-era winery. The juxtaposition of this space and the artwork, creates a dynamic energy in the museum, contrasting architectural memory with contemporary perspectives. This potent sense of place supports deep reflection and productive dialogue, especially when the museum hosts special events, such as public lectures, master classes, and community gatherings.
An exciting feature of the institution is the Kuntuu Art Residency, in which artists from diverse backgrounds are provided with housing, materials, and creative studios. Artists young and emerging, established and renowned, from Kyrgyzstan and abroad, are supported in their careers contributing to the contemporary art scene of Central Asia, finding inspiration and creativity through cultural and intellectual exchange with Kuntuu locals.
The museum is composed of 7 exhibition spaces, several of which hold art in the style of “New Socialist Realism.” This art style represents a reemergence of fine art in Kyrgyzstan. Pieces are created with painstaking precision, without abstraction of any kind. More impressive than its visual realism are the thought-provoking themes these pieces explore. Unlike its antecedent Socialist Realism, New Socialist Realism ponders the landscape of post-totalitarian society, particularly the role of the artist. These works create important discourses about the cooperation and development of Kyrgyz society after the fall of the Soviet Union.
