Client: American University of Central Asia

Overview

Assembly Complex
2015-16
silk dyes, archival pigment print, embroidery on silk, wall
4.3 x 20 meters
Project Manager: Karen Davidov
Project Coordinator: Aida Sulova
Production: Dilbar Fashion House
Forum space at the American University of Central Asia, Bishkek, Kyrgyz, Republic
Architects: Henry Myerberg, HMA2 Architects, New York

Goals

American University of Central Asia (AUCA), HMA2 Architects and The Christensen Fund created a public art initiative for AUCA under the name "TopografiCA" (Topography Central Asia). The central theme of "TopografiCA" was "Land, Culture, Connectivity". Artists from Central Asia and New York were included in the TopografiCA exhibition and artworks for the new AUCA campus were commissioned. V-SU's "Assembly Complex" was created in two phases. Phase 1 was created as a temporary vinyl wall drawing, created in July 2015, until the collaboration with Dilbar was approved for production in Summer 2016.

Process

Vargas-Suarez Universal (V-SU) collaborated with DIlbar Ashimbaeva (Dilbar Fashion House) to create silk fabrics installed as an oversized maplike artwork in the central forum space at AUCA. V-SU hand painted, designed and installed this monumental artwork, while Ms. Ashimbaeva co-designed, managed and produced the embroideries, printed and cut the fabrics. The entire project planning, design, production and installation period was 1 year and 1 month (July 2015-August 2015)

Additional Information

This collaboration was the first project for V-SU in Central Asia, and Ms. Ashimbaeva's first public art project. As a result, both artists have plans to collaborate on a line of women's dresses featuring V-SU's designs on silk. Their collaboration will conclude with a fashion show at the AUCA forum space in 2017.